The 1864 Franklin-Nashville Campaign: The Finishing Stroke

by Michael Thomas Smith

Overview

This appealing narrative history of one of the Civil War's most pivotal campaigns analyzes how the western Confederate army under John B. Hood suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of George H. Thomas's Union forces.

Ideal for general readers interested in military history of the Civil War as well as those concentrating on the western campaigns, The 1864 Franklin-Nashville Campaign: The Finishing Stroke examines how the strategic and tactical decisions by Confederate and Union commanders contributed to the smashing Northern victories in Tennessee in November–December 1864. The book also considers the conflict through the lens of New Military History, including the manner in which the battles both affected and were affected by civilian individuals, the environment, and common soldiers such as Confederate veteran Sam Watkins.

The result of author Michael Thomas Smith's extensive research into the Civil War and his recognition of inadequate coverage of the final western campaigns in the existing literature, this work serves to rectify this oversight. The book also questions the concept of the outcome of the Civil War as being essentially attributable to superior Northern organization and management—the "organized war to victory" theory as termed by its proponents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313392344
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/15/2014
Series:	Battles and Leaders of the American Civil War
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	710,750
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Michael Thomas Smith is associate professor of history at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA.

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Maps vii

Series Foreword ix

Introduction xi

1 Background to the Campaign 1

2 The Spring Hill Affair 23

3 The Battle of Franklin 43

4 After Franklin 63

5 The Battle of Nashville 75

6 After Nashville 91

Appendix 1 Union Order of Battle 103

Appendix 2 Confederate Order of Battle 113

Appendix 3 Reports of Major General George H. Thomas 121

Appendix 4 Reports of General John B. Hood 143

Notes 157

Bibliographical Essay 167

Index 171