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The Battle of Thompson's Station
March 5, 1863 in Williamson County, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee Operations
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In a period of relative inactivity following the Battle of Stones River, a reinforced Union infantry brigade, under Col. John Coburn, left Franklin to reconnoiter south toward Columbia. They made several foraging expeditions into this area collecting food and hay. Four miles from Spring Hill, Coburn attacked with his right wing, a Confederate force composed of 2 regiments; he was repelled. Then, Maj. Gen. Van Dorn seized the initiative.
Brig. Gen. W.H. "Red" Jackson's dismounted 2nd Division made a frontal attack, while Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's division swept around Coburn's left flank, and into his rear. After three attempts, characterized by hard fighting, Jackson carried the Union hilltop position as Forrest captured Coburn's wagon train and blocked the road to Columbia in his rear.
Out of ammunition and surrounded, Coburn surrendered. Union influence in Middle Tennessee subsided for a while. Col. John Coburn and 1,220 officers and men were captured. The outcome was decided by Forrest's Brigade which overran the Federal left several hundred yards northeast in a flank attack. In this action Forrest's famous horse "Roderick" was killed.
