Confederate General Hood headed north into Tennessee, while Union General Sherman headed south. Unfortunately for him, Sherman had left more than enough forces behind. Hood's forces first met Union forces at Franklin on the road to Nashville. On November 30, 1864, a battle was fought in Franklin, where Union casualties numbered 2,300; while Confederate casualties totaled 6,300.

Hood went on to attempt to beseige the Federals at Nashville. On December 16th, Federal troops numbering 55,000, under General Thomas, attacked Hood's 20,000 men. The Confederate army was decimated and ceased to exist as a fighting unit.