The Battle of Brentwood

On March 25, 1863, with the Western Campaign of the American Civil War in full swing, the South managed to gain a minor strategic advantage with very little bloodshed, using overwhelming manpower and clever planning to batter Union forces at the Battle of Brentwood.

Located in Williamson County, Tennessee, Brentwood was a station on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, making it essential to the Union for supplies and troop movement. The South recognized the town's importance and scored a shockingly swift and decisive victory.

Union Lt. Col. Edward Bloodgood was defending Brentwood with a force of around 400 men. The Confederate forces, led by Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, were far superior in number, but they still proceeded with caution, using some devastating indirect attacks to soften the enemy. Before approaching Brentwood en masse, Forrest ordered Col. J.W. Starnes to lead his 2^nd Cavalry Brigade to cut the telegraph lines, tear up the railroad tracks, and cut off any means of escape.

Once Brentwood was isolated, Forrest demanded surrender. Bloodgood initially refused. Forrest proceeded to convince his adversary, surrounding the town with his immense army and positioning artillery to shell the Union troops. Faced with unbeatable odds, Bloodgood relented and surrendered.

Although Forrest and his men did severe damage to the surrounding Brentwood area, virtually crippling the town, only one soldier on each side was killed during the brief skirmish. Five Confederates were wounded, while 305 Union troops were either wounded or captured, marking one of the South's easiest triumphs.