The Battle of Nashville, fought on December 15–16, 1864, was a significant engagement during the American Civil War, marking the climax of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, the battle saw the Union Army of the Cumberland, led by Major General George H. Thomas, clash with the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lieutenant General John Bell Hood. The Union Army achieved a decisive victory by attacking and routing Hood's forces, causing extensive damage and rendering the Confederate Army largely ineffective.

Thomas devised a strategy to launch a diversionary attack on the Confederate right, while his primary force would execute a wheeling maneuver against the Confederate left. The diversion failed to distract the Confederates significantly, but the primary attack effectively collapsed the Confederate left flank. Over the two days of battle, Confederate defensive positions were overwhelmed in stages, with Union forces pushing them back continuously. By the end of the second day, the Confederates were in full retreat, with Union forces closely pursuing them.

The Battle of Nashville marked the effective end of the Army of Tennessee. Historian David Eicher remarked, "If Hood mortally wounded his army at Franklin, he would kill it two weeks later at Nashville."^[65] Although Hood blamed the entire debacle on his subordinates and the soldiers themselves, his career was over. He retreated with his army to Tupelo, Mississippi, resigned his command on January 13, 1865, and was not given another field command.^[66]