"The Battle of Thompson' Staton - March 5th, 1863"
In the aftermath of the Battle of Stones River, the Union Army of the Cumberland and Confederate Army of Tennessee went into winter quarters at Murfreesboro and Tullahoma, TN respectively, to prepare for the coming spring campaign. However, winter was not a complete time of rest for either side, in particular for the cavalry. The Union cavalry was rebuilding under new leadership and to test themselves they went after Confederate General Braxton’ Bragg’s right flank east of Murfreesboro held by Gen. John Hunt Morgan. The Confederate cavalry in the West, meanwhile, had been built to its greatest strength of the war; some 16,000 veteran troopers under Generals Joe Wheeler, John Hunt Morgan, Van Dorn, Forrest and William Hicks Jackson. All of them would see a lot of action, especially under Van Dorn, Jackson and Forrest, who would hurl themselves at Federal outposts on Bragg’s left flank. One of these outposts was at Thompson’s Station not too far south of Franklin, TN.
A brigade of Union troops under Col. John Coburn headed south from Franklin towards Columbia on a raid and foraging expedition for food and animal fodder. While heading south he collided with Confederate cavalry under corps commander Earl Van Dorn and two divisions lead by William Jackson and Forrest near Thompson’s Station on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad. Initially repulsing Jackson’s dismounted assault, it was when Forrest gained Coburn’s rear taking his wagons that Coburn found himself in deep trouble. He would end up surrendering his entire brigade of some 1500 men.
Noted historian Thomas Cartwright, well known to all of us in Tennessee, will inform us of the events of this battle and some of the lesser known incidents involved including the participation of two 17 year olds, Willie Forrest, the general’s son and Annie Thompson, who lived in Homestead Manor literally on the battlefield, as well as Forrest’s horse Roderick. Cartwright is currently writing a book on this famous raid which ended up driving a wedge between Van Dorn and Forrest. He will also inform us of current preservation plans for the battlefield.
Thomas Cartwright is the former director of the Carter House Historic Site in Franklin, TN. He has been involved with Civil War television shows like Civil War Journal, and has spoken to dozens of Civil War groups across the country. A gifted storyteller, Cartwright is currently leading tours for the Lotz House Museum in Franklin as well as with noted historian David Hinze of Missouri. Thomas will have copies of his new CD entitled, The Battle Of Franklin: A Driving Tour, for sale at our meeting.