Founded 1892 as the Campus School, near Vanderbilt University, by William C. Branham and William Hughes. Moved to Spring Hill 1897, and operated as Spring Hill School. The name was changed to Branham and Hughes School in 1898, and to Branham and . . . — — Map (db m62311) HM
Cleburne's division moved west from the Rally Hill Pike at approximately 4:00 p.m. Cresting the hill west of the pike, it crossed a light strip of woods and moved into an open field. Their arc of march took them across the front of Bradley's . . . — — Map (db m208518) HM
Cleburne's advance rolled north in pursuit of Bradley's brigade which fled north of McCutcheon Creek to establish new lines at the southern edge of town. Reacting promptly to the retreat of Bradley, Lane's brigade began to reposition itself to . . . — — Map (db m87562) HM
On November 29, 1864, General Nathan B. Forrest approached Spring Hill from the east at 11:30 a.m. From here, General James Chalmers launched an attack to seize the Columbia-Nashville Pike to the west. Surprised by strong Union forces, Chalmers was . . . — — Map (db m75085) HM
By 4:00 p.m., Patrick Cleburne had marched his division north on the Rally Hill Pike. A brief meeting with several of Forrest's officers indicated that Federals were located in force between the Rally Hill Pike and the Columbia-Franklin Pike due . . . — — Map (db m188479) HM
After the sun set, Confederate plans began to quietly fall apart. Hood appeared confident that Forrest held the pike north of Spring Hill, and thus was not unduly concerned with cutting the pike south of town. Hood’s orders suggest an unfamiliarity . . . — — Map (db m208502) HM
On a knoll just southwest of the railroad depot is the antebellum home of the widow Lizinka Brown. Her son, Campbell Brown was a staff officer with Confederate General Richard S. Ewell of the Army of Northern Virginia. Ewell and Mrs. Brown married . . . — — Map (db m188409) HM
This was the last home of Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell, CSA. Here his wife and her son, Maj. Campbell Brown, with Capt. M.C. Campbell and W.J. Webster, brought the first Jersey cattle imported from the Channel Island to Tennessee. Here, also, was . . . — — Map (db m188407) HM
On the morning of November 29, 1864, Spring Hill was guarded by a small Union garrison. Throughout the morning this garrison would be strengthened by additional Federal units consisting of the 103rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, and several companies . . . — — Map (db m208542) HM
In this area Forrest's Confederate Cavalry Corps engaged the newly formed Federal Cavalry of Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson. By aggressive action and skillful maneuvering, Wilson was cut off from contact with Schofield and deflected from his mission of . . . — — Map (db m148444) HM
As Forrest's cavalry fought their way to the outskirts of Spring Hill by 2:30 p.m., they observed Brigadier General George Wagner's division marching into the town. Forrest, aggressive as ever, determined to attack quickly to seize the town and . . . — — Map (db m87561) HM
Gen. Hood and staff spent the night in the Absalom Thompson House, 2.8 miles. Advance units of his army, moving by country roads, had contacted Federal units at Spring Hill, but had not gained control of the road to Nashville. In the morning, Hood . . . — — Map (db m151188) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m82255) HM
In Spring 1863, Confederate Major General Earl Van Dorn established the headquarters of his cavalry command of the Army of the Mississippi at Spring Hill. On March 5, 1863 Van Dorn had commanded his cavalry in a fight at Thompson’s Station, which . . . — — Map (db m201742) HM
Just west of this site is the antebellum Nashville and Decatur Railroad. During Sherman’s Campaign against Atlanta, from May to September 1864, this railroad played a critical logistical role when it served as the northbound or return route for his . . . — — Map (db m188411) HM
Late in the afternoon of November 29, 1864, Hood established the headquarters of the Army of Tennessee at this location. Hood spent part of the evening sitting on a log near the fish pond of the house while officers and generals came and went . . . — — Map (db m212317) HM
When Nathaniel Cheairs III and his family settled here in 1811, they likely brought with them twelve slaves that were listed on the 1810 Federal Census in North Carolina. By 1820, there were sixteen slaves at Rippa Villa. By the time Nathaniel . . . — — Map (db m208547) HM
In 1847, Nat Cheairs purchased nearly 500 acres of land along Columbia Turpike. (You are standing in the northwest corner of that property). That same year construction began on a smokehouse and two-story interim brick home, which was later . . . — — Map (db m208645) HM
In 1811, the Cheairs family settled at this site. Nathaniel and Susan McKissack Cheairs began construction of this home, Rippavilla, in 1851. Cheairs raised two companies for the Confederate Army in 1861. In February of 1862, Maj. Cheairs carried . . . — — Map (db m75069) HM
For a number of reasons, Major General John Schofield had been tardy in evacuating his position at Columbia and retreating to Franklin. Although starting late, the Federal army performed a well planned and executed retreat. Schofield and his . . . — — Map (db m208501) HM
Before the Civil War, 75 enslaved people toiled at Rippavilla, and many of them worked the fields in front of you. That changed after the January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation. While the decree freed slaves only in areas not under Federal . . . — — Map (db m209551) HM
In 1864, Spring Hill was a small, prosperous farming community. Although the town had been occupied by both Confederate and Federal forces at various times, it had not been seriously impacted by the war. All that changed as Hood's and Schofield's . . . — — Map (db m62194) HM
By 3 P.M. on November 29, 1864, Union Gen. John M. Schofield realized that his command was in great danger. The bulk of his army was posted near Columbia, Tennessee, while Confederates Gen. John Bell Hood’s troops were north of him, approaching . . . — — Map (db m208632) HM
By 3 p.m. on November 29, 1864, Union Gen. John M. Schofield realized that his command was in great danger. The bulk of his army was posted near Columbia, Tennessee, while Confederates Gen. John Bell Hood’s troops were north of him, approaching the . . . — — Map (db m208633) HM
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. . . . — — Map (db m209589) HM
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. . . . — — Map (db m209595) HM
After nightfall, Confederate Gen. Edward Johnson's division began moving into position on the left of Gen. William B. Bate's division. Johnson, whose unit was part of Gen. S.D. Lee's corps, had been ordered forward from the vicinity of Rutherford . . . — — Map (db m209788) HM
After nightfall, Confederate Gen. Edward Johnson's division began moving into position on the left of Gen. William B. Bate's division. Johnson, whose unit was part of Gen. S.D. Lee's corps, had been ordered forward from the vicinity of Rutherford . . . — — Map (db m210012) HM
The area on which most of the town of Spring Hill is located was originally part of land grants to three Revolutionary War veterans, George Doherty, John Hardin and Ezekiel Polk.
Albert Russel of Virginia, another Revolutionary War veteran, . . . — — Map (db m62195) HM
Born June 30, 1855, in a house which stood here, he graduated from the Naval Academy, 1875. Served in USS Brooklyn, War with Spain. As commander, Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, conducted Vera Cruz landing, 1915, & occupations of Haiti & Santo . . . — — Map (db m218274) WM
About ½ mile east, Buford's Division of Forrest's Cavalry Corps drove in pickets from Opdyke's and Lane's Federal Brigades and contained their defenses, extending west to the railroad. Meanwhile, Stewart's Corps, marching north further . . . — — Map (db m75097) HM
Foaled 1889, in the barn 200 yards west, he was the son of Brown Hal and Sweepstakes. His owner was Capt. Henry P. Pointer, who also bred Hal Pointer. Pacing at Readville (Boston), Mass., on Aug. 28, 1897, he became the first harness horse to go a . . . — — Map (db m149643) HM
