March 5, 1863 (Saturday): "Three regiments of infantry are missing.."

Homestead Manor, Thompson Station Battlefield (Civilwaralbum.com)

NASHVILLE, March 5, 1863.
General ROSECRANS:
     General Gilbert telegraphs that Colonel Coburn is engaged 6 miles out on the Columbia pike. Heavy artillery firing going on. Am holding troops here in readiness to support Gilbert, if necessary.


     G. GRANGER,
     Major-General.

     [P. S.]-Later dispatch says fight is going on at Spring Hill. Gilbert is going down with his whole force.   Baird leaves here at once with his troops.


NASHVILLE, March 5, 1863.
Brigadier-General GARFIELD,
Chief of Staff:
     One-half of Baird's command has already gone down on the cars. The other half goes soon, I accompanying.


     G. GRANGER,
     Major-General.


MURFREESBOROUGH, March 5, 1863.
Brigadier General C. C. GILBERT, Franklin:
    The general commanding directs me to say that he regrets exceedingly that you did not support Coburn and help to bring off the infantry. He desires now that the commanding officer at Franklin keep him fully advised of the strength, position, and movements of the enemy, and give such immediate information as will enable him to give Sheridan proper instructions. We must strike a blow back, to counterbalance the injury we have sustained.
     Respectfully,


    FRANK S. BOND,
    Aide-de-Camp.


MURFREESBOROUGH, March 5, 1863.
Brigadier General C. C. GILBERT, Franklin:
     The general commanding desires a fuller and more complete report of the affair in your front. He desires to know what force the enemy have, and the composition of it; whether you were repulsed or routed. Why did Colonel Coburn engage the enemy to such an extent, and what were his instructions?
     Respectfully,


    FRANK S. BOND,
    Aide-de-Camp.

FRANKLIN, TENN., March 5, 1863.
GENERAL: Colonel Jordan, with the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, next in rank to Colonel Coburn, represents the force of the enemy at 10,000, and even more, nearly all infantry, five pieces of artillery, and between 2,000 and 3,000 cavalry. Three regiments of infantry are missing; the artillery and cavalry have returned without much loss. The infantry in the retreat broke for the woods and hills, and many have come in during the night. Colonel Coburn did not believe the enemy was in force, as he had repulsed them yesterday, but he [had] only met the advance cavalry. Colonel Jordan says Van Dorn was on his way to attack me yesterday, and was taken by surprise by our advance on them. Colonel Coburn's instructions were issued from the telegram from headquarters, signed by Brigadier-General Garfield, to go to Spring Hill to ascertain the force in our front. He was fully apprised of the importance of not becoming vulnerable.


     C. C. GILBERT,
    Brigadier-General.


Brigadier-General GARFIELD.
NASHVILLE, March 5, 1863.
GENERAL: The following just received from Franklin, to General Granger:

FRANKLIN, March 5, 1863.
Major-General GRANGER:
   Major [L. S.] Scranton, Second Michigan Cavalry, gives the following account of the expedition send out yesterday forenoon:About 2 o'clock the enemy offered his first opposition. He showed about 1,200 cavalry and four pieces of cannon. This force contested the advance of Colonel Coburn, chiefly with artillery, for about one hour, and then yielded the ground for the day, showing only some force on each flank, but as a distance. The command went into camp about 4 miles from here. In the morning, about 8 o'clock, the march was resumed, and about 2 miles skirmishing ensued, which continued some 2 miles farther, up to Thompson's Station, on the railroad, the enemy stoutly contesting the ground. Just before reaching the station here, a battle began, and continued about two hours and a half. Colonel Coburn having achieved some success, proceeded to storm one of the enemy's batteries, when he was drawn into a line of greatly superior forces, enveloping him on both flanks. The artillery and cavalry and train were extricated, but most of the infantry is still missing, and probably is captured or destroyed. I presume Colonel Coburn thought he was contending only with the forces he had driven the previous day, as the enemy kept concealed among the wooded knobs. After the action had continued some time, the ammunition on our left beginning to fail, the enemy closed in strongly on our left, and our lines gave way.


     C. C. GILBERT,
     Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS,
Camp at Eagleville, March 5, 1863.
    COLONEL: I am in receipt of a dispatch from the general commanding, dated this evening.
    General Steedman drove the enemy from Chapel Hill to-day. I am sorry he did not open communication with me before he went on, as I could have thrown a brigade and the cavalry to Godionville, and intercepted the force he was driving, said to be 2,500 men (cavalry). I have directed General Steedman to take position at Triune at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning, and will myself take position at the junction of the Chapel Hill pike and this pike (about 4 miles south of Triune). I can thus operate in the direction of Franklin, or in this direction, and be entirely secure if any infantry advance was made on me. This is a strong place, but there is no particular reason that it should be held.

     I cannot make anything by a second dash on Rover at present, but can threaten the enemy in their attack on Franklin, which it is said they intend to make.
    From all I can learn, no troops have left Shelbyville for Tullahoma. Colonel Long was sent out to-day, as soon as I found from the scouts what had become of Steedman. Long was too late to intercept the enemy.
    The enemy have again occupied Rover, in strong force, infantry, it is said.
     Perhaps it is safest to send communications to me by Franklin road, via Triune.


    Very respectfully,

    P. H. SHERIDAN,
    Brigadier-General, Commanding.

 
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 23, Part 2, Page 109, Official Records, Series I., Vol. 23, Part 1, Page 76

After Stones River the armies warily faced each other, both bruised enough by the battle not to initiate a reengagement.  In early March Coburn's Brigade left Franklin on a scouting and foraging mission south to Columbia.  Four miles from Spring Hill he attacked to Confederate regiments and was repulsed.  Then Van Dorn seized the initiative, attacking in front with Brigadier-General Red Jackson's infantry and around the left flank of the Union force with Forrest's cavalry division.  Forrest captured Coburn's wagon train and blocked his escape to Nashville.  Much of the Union force dissolved into the woods and Coburn surrendered.  1220 Union soldiers were captured and this caused a temporary loss of momentum for Union forces in Middle Tennessee.