The Army of Tennessee was nearly ruined after the Battle of Franklin

The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865. For illustrative purposes, the reported organization and strength of the Army of the Tennessee as of April 30, 1863, when it numbered approximately 150,000 in total, can be seen in the Official Records. The Army of Tennessee participated in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater, including the Battle of Franklin.

After the battle with John Bell Hood, John McAllister Schofield resumed his withdrawal towards Nashville, now decisively ahead of the Confederate army. John Bell Hood continued to pursue, although his army had been devastated at the Battle of Franklin and stood no chance of defeating a united Federal force. At the Battle of Nashville, fought from December 15-16, 1864, the reinforced Union army left its fortifications and brought Hood to battle, routing the Army of Tennessee once and for all. It would never fight again as a cohesive force. Hood’s unwillingness to withdraw during the Battle of Nashville compelled Schofield to comment that “I doubt if any soldiers in the world ever needed more cumulative evidence to convince them that they were beaten.”