Spring Hill in Maury County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Left of the Union Defensive Position
Opdycke's Brigade Line
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 23, 2014
1. Left of the Union Defensive Position Marker
Inscription.
Left of the Union Defensive Position. Opdycke's Brigade Line. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on November 29, 1864, Col. Emerson Opdycke’s veteran brigade known unofficially as “Opdycke’s tigers,” marching in the lead of Wagner’s division, swept through Spring Hill to secure the town from Confederate cavalry which was working its way north of the town. Opdycke established his lines from the Nashville and Decatur Railroad extending east across the Columbia-Franklin Pike to the Mount Carmen Road where he connected with Lane’s brigade. His regiments occupied a slight rise of ground with a small flooded stream guarding their front. This ridge is located approximately one mile west of here. Several miles to the north, an attempt would be made by Forrest’s cavalry to sever the pike at Thompson’s Station, but the arrival of Federal infantry rapidly cleared the road. There would be no further attempt to cut Schofield’s retreat route north of Spring Hill., Opdycke experienced no combat action at this location, and his brigade served as the rear guard for Schofield’s army. Opdycke’s last men did not leave the town until 5:00 a.m. on November 30th, just before first light. That afternoon, this brigade won eternal fame when it repulsed a Confederate breakthrough at the Carter House in Franklin., (captions) , (lower left) Map by Chuck Brown, White Star Consulting, 1996 , (upper right) Ken C. Turner Collection, courtesy Blue Acorn Press
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on November 29, 1864, Col. Emerson Opdycke’s veteran brigade known unofficially as “Opdycke’s tigers,” marching in the lead of Wagner’s division, swept through Spring Hill to secure the town from Confederate cavalry which was working its way north of the town. Opdycke established his lines from the Nashville and Decatur Railroad extending east across the Columbia-Franklin Pike to the Mount Carmen Road where he connected with Lane’s brigade. His regiments occupied a slight rise of ground with a small flooded stream guarding their front. This ridge is located approximately one mile west of here. Several miles to the north, an attempt would be made by Forrest’s cavalry to sever the pike at Thompson’s Station, but the arrival of Federal infantry rapidly cleared the road. There would be no further attempt to cut Schofield’s retreat route north of Spring Hill.
Opdycke experienced no combat action at this location, and his brigade served as the rear guard for Schofield’s army. Opdycke’s last men did not leave the town until 5:00 a.m. on November 30th, just before first light. That afternoon, this brigade won eternal fame when it repulsed a Confederate breakthrough at the Carter House in Franklin.
(captions)
(lower left) Map by Chuck Brown, White Star Consulting, 1996
(upper
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right) Ken C. Turner Collection, courtesy Blue Acorn Press
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1864.
Location. 35° 44.573′ N, 86° 55.63′ W. Marker is in Spring Hill, Tennessee, in Maury County. Marker can be reached from Kedron Road, 0.2 miles north of Old Kedron Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located on the entrance road to Spring Hill Battlefield-Jerry Erwin Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spring Hill TN 37174, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 10 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
