He had sent his wagons in advance, and Stanley had gone with them with two divisions to protect them.

Cheatham's corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went into camp at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th.
Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring Hill, where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without molestation, though within half a mile of where the Confederates were encamped.

On the morning of the 30th he had arrived at Franklin.
Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an attack the same day.

The fight was very desperate and sanguinary.

The Confederate generals led their men in the repeated charges, and the loss among them was of unusual proportions.