Battle of Brentwood

Battle of Brentwood
Part of American Civil War
Date March 25, 1863 (1863-03-25) Location Williamson County, Tennessee 36.0363°N 86.7855°W / 36.0363; -86.7855 Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Edward Bloodgood	Nathan Bedford Forrest
Units involved
22nd Wisconsin Infantry 33rd Indiana Infantry Regiment 19th Michigan Infantry 1st Division, 1st Cavalry Corps	Forrest's Division
Strength
400
Casualties and losses
305	6

The Battle of Brentwood was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on March 25, 1863, in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Union Lt. Col. Edward Bloodgood held Brentwood, a station on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, with 400 men on the morning of March 25, 1863, when Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, with a powerful column, approached the town. The day before, Forrest had ordered Col. J. W. Starnes, commanding the 2nd Brigade, to go to Brentwood, cut the telegraph, tear up railroad track, attack the stockade, and cut off any retreat.

Forrest and the other cavalry brigade joined Bloodgood about 7:00 am on March 25. A messenger from the stockade informed Bloodgood that Forrest's men were about to attack, and had destroyed the railroad tracks. Bloodgood sought to notify his superiors and discovered that the telegraph lines were cut. Forrest sent in a demand for a surrender under a flag of truce, but Bloodgood refused. Within a half-hour, though, Forrest had artillery in place to shell Bloodgood's position and had surrounded the Federals with a large force. Bloodgood decided to surrender.

Forrest and his men caused considerable damage in the area during this expedition, and Brentwood, Tennessee, on the railroad, was a significant loss to the Federals.

References

• National Park Service battle description
• CWSAC Report Update

External links

• Graham, Stacy. "Battle of Brentwood (March 25, 1863)." Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, accessed December 25, 2014.