The next day General Schofield crossed the Harpeth without trouble, and fell back to the defenses of Nashville.
Meantime General Thomas had organized the employees of the Quartermaster's Department into a corps, commanded by the chief-quartermaster, General J.Z.Donaldson, and placed them in the fortifications of Nashville, under the general direction of Major-General Z.B.Tower, now of the United States Engineers.

He had also received the two veteran divisions of the Sixteenth Corps, under General A.J.Smith, long absent and long expected; and he had drawn from Chattanooga and Decatur (Alabama) the divisions of Steedman and of R.S.Granger.

These, with General Schofields army and about ten thousand good cavalry, under General J.H.

Wilson, constituted a strong army, capable not only of defending Nashville, but of beating Hood in the open field.

Yet Thomas remained inside of Nashville, seemingly passive, until General Hood had closed upon him and had entrenched his position.
General Thomas had furthermore held fast to the railroad leading from Nashville to Chattanooga, leaving strong guards at its principal points, as at Murfreesboro', Deckerd, Stevenson, Bridgeport, Whitesides, and Chattanooga.