Advancing into Tennessee from Florence, Alabama the Confederate Army of Tennessee (Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood) created a diversion at Columbia, Tennessee as part of a maneuver to cross the Duck River upstream. After skirmishing with Forrest’s cavalry, Union forces under Maj. Gen. John Schofield occupied Columbia on November 24-25, 1864. Anticipating an assault from Hood, Schofield constructed earthworks south of town before withdrawing to Spring Hill on November 29.
Johnsonville
On November 4, 1864 Confederate Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest positioned artillery on ridges across the Tennessee River from Johnsonville