Columbia was strategically important for its railroad, size and abundant crop and livestock production. Confederate failure to disable the Union at Columbia set up major Confederate defeats at Franklin and Nashville.
Columbia’s most significant combat role occurred November 24 through 29, 1864, during Confederate General John Bell Hood’s campaign to capture Nashville. On a main route between the state capital and the Deep South, Columbia was important in the struggle for control of the area due to its Nashville & Decatur Railroad, its status as Middle Tennessee’s second largest town, and its abundant crop and livestock production. U.S. Brigadier General Thomas Ruger’s eight hundred men had been occupying Columbia, protecting railroad and Duck River bridge crossings. They joined General John M. Schofield’s sizeable incoming army to thwart Hood’s plan.
The resulting series of skirmishes slowed Hood’s march to Nashville, and ultimately resulted in a Union victory since the Confederates were not able to capture Columbia.
The Confederate failure to disable the Union at Columbia was a missed opportunity that set up the major Confederate defeats at Franklin and Nashville. Schofield’s troops were able to bypass Hood’s soldiers on the night of November 29th to beat them to Franklin, and then ultimately combine forces with other Federal troops for their decisive victory in the state’s capital.
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- This series of skirmishes slowed Hood’s march to Nashville, and ultimately resulted in a Union victory since the Confederates were not able to capture Columbia.
