Near Spring Hill in Maury County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

The Battle of Spring Hill

Blocking the Columbia Turnpike

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

1. The Battle of Spring Hill Marker

Inscription.

The Battle of Spring Hill. Blocking the Columbia Turnpike. , Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood hoped to block the road in front of you, the Columbia Turnpike, and cut off Union Gen. John M. Schofield's force at Columbia from a larger Federal army to the north at Nashville. Confederate divisions under Gens. William B. Bate and Patrick Cleburne neared the turnpike about nightfall on November 29, 1864, and encountered the leading elements of Schofield's troops at and around the pike., While Cleburne engaged in an intense fire-fight closer to Spring Hill, Bate advanced across this field. His men exchanged a spattering of rifle fire with Federal troops before Bate was ordered to pull his division away from the road and connect with Cleburne's division. Bate protested the order to his superior, Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham, but was told he could either follow the directive or report under arrest. Grudgingly, Bate withdrew his division and in the darkness managed to connect his right flank with Cleburne's left. The best opportunity to block the pike had been lost, and Federal troops continued their northward movement along the road., "I was moving so as to strike the turnpike to the right of Maj. Nat. Cheer's residence when I received an order from General Cheatham to halt. My main line was within 200 yards of the turnpike." - Gen. William B. Bate, CSA, (captions) , (upper left) Not well known to most Civil War enthusiasts, Tennessee native William Bate started the war as a private and ended it as a major general. Wounded three times, and with six horses shot out from under him, Bate later became governor of Tennessee and a United States Senator. Courtesy Army Heritage Education Center, (lower left) There are no known 19th-century photographs of Columbia Turnpike near Spring Hill. This view, however, taken some two decades after the war along the pike just south of Franklin, approximates what the troops would have seen at Spring Hill. - Courtesy Army Heritage Education Center, (right) Bate's division halted just short of the Columbia Turnpike and connected with Cleburne's division. Maintaining a light defensive position outside Spring Hill, Union forces marched on, division after division, toward Spring Hill and Franklin.

Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood hoped to block the road in front of you—the Columbia Turnpike—and cut off Union Gen. John M. Schofield's force at Columbia from a larger Federal army to the north at Nashville. Confederate divisions under Gens. William B. Bate and Patrick Cleburne neared the turnpike about nightfall on November 29, 1864, and encountered the leading elements of Schofield's troops at and around the pike.

While Cleburne engaged in an intense fire-fight closer to Spring Hill, Bate advanced across this field. His men exchanged a spattering of rifle fire with Federal troops before Bate was ordered to pull his division away from the road and connect with Cleburne's division. Bate protested the order to his superior, Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham, but was told he could either follow the directive or report under arrest. Grudgingly, Bate withdrew his division and in the darkness managed to connect his right flank with Cleburne's left. The best opportunity to block the pike had been lost, and Federal troops continued their northward movement along the road.

"I was moving so as to strike the turnpike to the right of Maj. Nat. Cheer's residence when I received an order from General Cheatham to halt. My main line was within 200 yards of the turnpike." - Gen. William B. Bate, CSA

(captions)
(upper

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

left) Not well known to most Civil War enthusiasts, Tennessee native William Bate started the war as a private and ended it as a major general. Wounded three times, and with six horses shot out from under him, Bate later became governor of Tennessee and a United States Senator. Courtesy Army Heritage Education Center

(lower left) There are no known 19th-century photographs of Columbia Turnpike near Spring Hill. This view, however, taken some two decades after the war along the pike just south of Franklin, approximates what the troops would have seen at Spring Hill. - Courtesy Army Heritage Education Center

(right) Bate's division halted just short of the Columbia Turnpike and connected with Cleburne's division. Maintaining a light defensive position outside Spring Hill, Union forces marched on, division after division, toward Spring Hill and Franklin.

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails & Civil War Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1864.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 35° 44.019′ N, 86°

The Battle of Spring Hill Marker Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

2. The Battle of Spring Hill Marker Map

57.04′ W. Marker was near Spring Hill, Tennessee, in Maury County. Marker could be reached from the intersection of Main Street and Northfield Lane, on the right when traveling north. Located on the grounds of Rippavilla Plantation. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 5700 Main Street, Spring Hill TN 37174, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named The Battle of Spring Hill (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Spring Hill (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Battle of Spring Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Slave Fields To Battlegrounds (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rippa Villa (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Rippa Villa (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rippavilla Plantation (approx. ¼ mile away); Billy Direct (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spring Hill.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Updated ABT Marker At This Location also titled "The Battle of Spring Hill".

Also see . . . The Battle of Spring Hill. Civil War Trust (Submitted on September 25, 2015.)

William Bate image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

3. William Bate

Columbia Turnpike image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

4. Columbia Turnpike

The Battle of Spring Hill Marker & Columbia Turnpike image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

5. The Battle of Spring Hill Marker & Columbia Turnpike

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

6. The Battle of Spring Hill Marker & Columbia Turnpike

Marker in distance (yellow arrow)

The Battle of Spring Hill Marker & Rippavilla image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 29, 2014

7. The Battle of Spring Hill Marker & Rippavilla

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 623 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on November 6, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 24, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.