Third Battle of Murfreesboro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Third Battle of Murfreesboro |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lovell H. Rousseau Robert H. Milroy |
Nathan Bedford Forrest | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Murfreesboro Garrison | Forrest's Cavalry Corps | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000 | 7,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 225 | 197 | ||||||
The Third Battle of Murfreesboro was an important fight during the American Civil War. It happened from December 5 to 7, 1864, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This battle was part of a larger plan called the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. The battle is also sometimes called Wilkinson Pike or the Cedars. It was a victory for the Union army.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
In late 1864, the Confederate army, led by General John Bell Hood, was trying to stop the Union army from taking over Georgia. General Hood moved his troops north towards Nashville. He had just lost many soldiers in a tough battle at Franklin.
As Hood moved, he worried about the Union soldiers stationed at Murfreesboro. These soldiers could attack his army from the side (his "flank"). They could also cut off his supplies or block his escape route if he needed to retreat. To deal with this threat, Hood sent Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to Murfreesboro. He also sent an infantry (foot soldiers) division led by Major General William B. Bate.
Who Fought in the Battle?
The Union forces at Murfreesboro were commanded by Major General Lovell Rousseau. He had about 8,000 soldiers ready to defend the city.
The Confederate forces were led by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He had around 7,000 soldiers, mostly cavalry, but also some infantry divisions.
What Happened During the Battle
On December 2, General Hood told General Bate to destroy the railroad and small forts (called blockhouses) between Murfreesboro and Nashville. These were important for Union supplies. On December 4, Bate's soldiers attacked Blockhouse No. 7, but the Union troops successfully defended it.
On the morning of December 5, General Forrest and his troops marched towards Murfreesboro. They attacked two more blockhouses and a fort at La Vergne. Forrest demanded that the Union soldiers surrender, and they did. Forrest then joined up with Bate's division. Together, they pushed the Union forces back into their strong defenses at Fortress Rosecrans in Murfreesboro. The Confederates then camped outside the city for the night.
The next morning, December 6, there was some fighting for a few hours. But then, both sides stopped firing and just watched each other for the rest of the day. More Confederate soldiers arrived that evening, making Forrest's army stronger.
On the morning of December 7, Major General Rousseau, who was in charge of the Union forces in Murfreesboro, sent two brigades (groups of soldiers) out to find the enemy. These brigades were led by Colonel Minor T. Thomas and Colonel Edward Anderson. Colonel Thomas's brigade was in the front line, and Colonel Anderson's was behind them.
The Union soldiers attacked the Confederates. At one point, some of Bate's Confederate troops started to run away. General Forrest tried to stop them and get them to fight again, but he couldn't. Bate also tried to rally his men without success. The rest of Forrest's army slowly and calmly retreated from the battlefield. They camped for the night outside Murfreesboro.
What Was the Result?
Even though the Confederates retreated, General Forrest had achieved some important goals. He destroyed parts of the railroad track, several blockhouses, and some buildings. This caused problems for the Union's operations in the area. Most importantly, he kept the Union forces in Murfreesboro busy and stopped them from interfering with General Hood's main army. He also helped keep a vital supply line and retreat route open for the Confederates. The Union army won the battle itself, but Forrest's actions were still helpful to the Confederate cause.
