page_title: 44th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union)
section_title: Spring Hill and Franklin
hierarchical_section_title: 44th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union) / History / Spring Hill and Franklin
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the Battle of Franklin of the American Civil War, showing the Union defensive lines at 4:30 PM. Drawn in Adobe Illustrator CS6 by Hal Jespersen. Graphic source file is available at http://www.cwmaps.com/
context_page_description: 44th Missouri Infantry Regiment was a infantry unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the latter part of the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in August and September 1864 to serve for 12 months, with the tenth company only serving six months. Beginning in November, the unit fought in the Franklin–Nashville Campaign. At the Franklin on 30 November 1864, the regiment suddenly found itself in the center of an extremely bloody fight. In March and April 1865, the regiment was part of the expedition that seized Mobile, Alabama. The soldiers were mustered out of Federal service in mid-August 1865.
context_section_description: After its formation, the 44th Missouri Infantry was attached to the District of Rolla, Department of Missouri through November 1864. The regiment moved to Rolla, Missouri by railroad on 14–18 September and remained there until 6 November. Due to sickness and various duties, the regiment did not have enough time for drill. When the soldiers were notified that they were to serve outside of Missouri, many soldiers expressed dissatisfaction. The unit took part in an expedition from Rolla to Licking, Missouri from 5–9 November. The 44th Missouri Infantry moved to Paducah, Kentucky on 12–16 November. The regiment was briefly attached to Paducah, Department of the Ohio. From Paducah, the unit traveled to Nashville, Tennessee on 24–27 November and to Columbia, Tennessee on 28 November. At this time, the regiment transferred to the XXIII Corps but was not assigned to a brigade. The IV Corps and XXIII Corps were led by John M. Schofield.
  On 22 November 1864, Schofield learned that John Bell Hood's Confederate Army of Tennessee was advancing north into Tennessee from Florence, Alabama. The Union commander started a hasty withdrawal of his 22,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry from Pulaski, Tennessee to Columbia. On 24 November, Schofield's army reached Columbia and took up defensive positions. On the morning of 29 November, Hood's army established a foothold on the north bank of the Duck River east of Columbia and began crossing with the goal of cutting off Schofield's army from Nashville. In the Battle of Spring Hill, Hood's maneuver brought 19,000 Confederate troops against 6,000 Federals in Schofield's rear. Believing he would capture the Union troops in the morning, Hood went to bed, not realizing his plan would miscarry. When Schofield became aware of the situation and retreated, his army made a desperate night march past the Confederate army. The 44th Missouri came into action for the first time at Spring Hill, holding a blocking position while most of the army marched past. The regiment formed part of the rearguard until 10:00 am the following day. During the retreat to Franklin, a Union veteran noticed that the new recruits discarded their unneeded possessions along the roadside, "Pocket bibles, book marks, pots of jam, whiskbrooms, euchre decks, poker chips, love letters, night shirts". 
  The 44th Missouri fought in the Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864. Angry at the missed opportunity the previous day and over the objections of his generals, Hood ordered a massed assault. Meanwhile, the Federal troops improved an old line of entrenchments that covered the southern side of Franklin. Soon the earthworks were 5 ft (1.5 m) high and 4 ft (1.2 m) thick, with a ditch. Because there was a gap at the Columbia Pike, the Union soldiers built a second entrenchment about 70 yd (64 m) behind the first and only 100 yd (91 m) long. The 44th Missouri Infantry was posted behind this second breastwork near the Columbia Pike and the Carter House. Out in front of the Union fortifications were two brigades from George D. Wagner's division. Despite pleas from his brigadiers to pull back, Wagner misconstrued his instructions and insisted that his two brigades hold their ground "at the point of bayonet". 
  Hood's 20,000 charging infantry hit Wagner's two brigades, routing them and sending the soldiers fleeing back toward the main Federal lines. The stampeding troops blocked the fire of the Union soldiers in the trenches and the pursuing Confederates quickly seized a 200 yd (183 m) section of fortifications. Three Federal regiments in the front line and parts of two others from the second line joined the rout of Wagner's two brigades. Emerson Opdycke commanded Wagner's third brigade which was positioned in reserve 200 yd (183 m) north of the Carter House. When the mob of fleeing Union soldiers swept past them, Opdycke's regiments spontaneously charged and recaptured the second line. Once there, Opdycke's men were joined by rallied soldiers of the routed regiments so that they were formed four or five ranks deep. Men in the rear ranks loaded and pas
caption: Battle of Franklin: The 44th Missouri is at the retrenchment near the Carter House.
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