Historic Lookback: November 1864, The Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin

In the final months of 1864, Tennessee became the stage for one of the Civil War’s most dramatic and consequential campaigns. As Confederate General John Bell Hood sought to reclaim lost ground and strike deep into Union territory, his army clashed with Federal forces under General John M. Schofield in a tense and chaotic encounter near Spring Hill.

The Clash at Spring Hill

On November 29, 1864, Hood’s Army of Tennessee launched an attack on Schofield’s Union forces near the small town of Spring Hill. Hood’s goal was to seize the Columbia Turnpike, cutting off the Union army’s route north toward Nashville. If successful, he could have isolated and destroyed Schofield’s command before it could join the larger Union force waiting near Nashville.

That morning, Confederate cavalry under General Nathan Bedford Forrest crossed the Duck River and quickly advanced toward Spring Hill, driving back Union cavalry led by General James H. Wilson. By late morning, Forrest’s men had reached the outskirts of town, where they engaged elements of General George Wagner’s Union division. Soon after, Confederate infantry divisions under Patrick Cleburne and others arrived to press the attack.

Throughout the afternoon, the Confederates launched a series of assaults, but the Union defenders held firm. Miscommunication among Hood’s commanders and the fading daylight brought the fighting to a halt. As Confederate units rested for the night, Schofield quietly moved his army and supply wagons north along the very turnpike the Confederates had intended to block.

By dawn, Hood realized the Federals had slipped past him. Furious at the missed opportunity, he ordered his exhausted troops to pursue Schofield toward Franklin.

The Battle of Franklin

The next day, November 30, 1864, the Confederate army caught up with Schofield’s forces at Franklin. There, Hood ordered a massive frontal assault across open fields against entrenched Union positions. The attack was one of the most devastating of the entire war.

In just a few hours, over 6,000 Confederate soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. Six Confederate generals were killed in the fighting, including Patrick Cleburne, one of Hood’s most capable officers. The assault failed to dislodge the Union army, which continued its withdrawal to Nashville.

Aftermath and Legacy

The twin battles of Spring Hill and Franklin marked the beginning of the end for the Confederate Army of Tennessee. Hood’s hopes of retaking Nashville—and of turning the tide of the war in the Western Theater—were shattered. When his battered army reached the outskirts of the state capital, it faced overwhelming Union forces under General George Thomas, who would soon crush Hood’s remaining strength at the Battle of Nashville in mid-December.

Today, Spring Hill and Franklin stand as somber reminders of the chaos, courage, and tragedy that defined the Civil War’s closing chapters in Tennessee. Visitors can explore preserved battlefields, monuments, and museums that tell the story of the soldiers who fought and fell there—and how those two fateful days shaped the course of history.

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Visit the Battlefields

In the heart of Franklin, Tennessee, history comes vividly to life through the Battle of Franklin Trust. This remarkable organization preserves and interprets three of the region’s most significant Civil War sites—Carter House, Carnton, and Rippa Villa—each offering a unique window into one of the war’s bloodiest days and the lives forever changed by it.

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The Battle of Franklin

On November 30, 1864, the quiet town of Franklin found itself at the center of a ferocious Civil War battle. As Union troops fortified their positions through the early morning hours, Confederate General John Bell Hood’s army advanced from the south, determined to break through. By late afternoon, nearly 20,000 Confederate soldiers charged across open fields toward an equally large Union force. Within hours, the town was engulfed in chaos and destruction. By midnight, the Union army had withdrawn, leaving behind over 10,000 casualties.

Carter House

Located just steps from downtown Franklin, the Carter House stands as one of the most powerful reminders of that fateful evening. Built in 1830, the home served as Federal headquarters during the battle, with its brick walls still scarred by hundreds of bullet holes. Visitors can explore the home, outbuildings, and grounds while learning about the Carter family’s harrowing experience as they sheltered in the basement while the fighting raged outside.

Carnton

A short drive from the Carter House, Carnton offers a deeply personal perspective on the aftermath of war. Built in 1826 and owned by John and Carrie McGavock, Carnton became the largest field hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Franklin. The home and grounds tell a moving story of compassion amid devastation. Behind the house lies the McGavock Confederate Cemetery, where nearly 1,500 soldiers are buried—many identified by Carrie McGavock herself.

Rippa Villa

Just up the road in Spring Hill, Rippa Villa connects the story of Franklin to the events that unfolded the day before. This stately Greek Revival home, built in the early 1850s by Nat Cheairs, was witness to the Battle of Spring Hill on November 29, 1864. The property reveals how plantation life and war intertwined, offering visitors insight into the lives of both the wealthy Cheairs family and the enslaved people who sustained their estate.

Experience History Firsthand

The Battle of Franklin Trust invites visitors to explore these sites through guided tours, exhibits, and special programs that bring history out of the textbooks and into the real world. Each location reveals a different side of the Civil War—one of strategy, suffering, and survival.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about Tennessee’s past, a visit to the Battle of Franklin Trust is a moving and unforgettable experience that connects you directly to the people and places that shaped the nation’s story.