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On January 26th； Bragg ordered Wheeler on an expedition to capture Fort Donelson。 Wheeler directed Forrest to move his brigade with four guns on the river road； via the Cumberland Iron Works； to the vicinity of Dover； which was the real position occupied and fortified by Federal forces； and not the old site of Fort Donelson； while Wheeler with Wharton's command of some twenty…five hundred men moved on a road to the left。 Rosecrans； hearing from his scouts that this movement was contemplated； ordered Davis in command of his division and two brigades of cavalry under Minty； to march by the Versailles road； and take Wheeler in the rear。 Steedman was directed to watch Wheeler's movements by way of Triune。 Davis despatched Minty to move with his cavalry around by way of Unionville and Rover； while he moved with the infantry direct to Eaglesville。 At Rover； Minty captured a regiment of some three hundred and fifty men。 Davis and Steedman's forces united at Franklin； the latter marching by way of Nolinsville。 Wheeler； advancing rapidly； passed between the troops in pursuit； and； on February 3d； his entire force attacked the post at Dover； occupied by Colonel Harding with the Eighty…third Illinois； some six hundred men in the command。 The rebels opened fire at once； and made vigorous assault in force upon Harding's position。 His little command repulsed the enemy with heavy loss。 Again they advanced； making a more determined assault than before； but again they were driven back with still greater loss。 In this last repulse Harding ordered his men to charge beyond his works； which they did with great gallantry； capturing forty…two of the rebels。 Wheeler then withdrew with a total loss of one hundred and fifty killed； four hundred wounded； and one hundred and fifty captured。 Colonel Harding lost sixteen killed； sixty wounded； and fifty captured。 Efforts were made to cut off the retreat of Wheeler's force by Davis's command； re…enforced by five hundred cavalry； which went as far west as Kinderhook and Bon Aqua Springs； but Wheeler took the road through Centreville； where he crossed Duck River。
In the latter part of the engagement at Dover； Harding was aided by the fire from six gunboats which were acting as convoys for a fleet of transports conveying reinforcements to Rosecrans's command； consisting of eighteen regiments of infantry； with four batteries of artillery that had been serving in Kentucky under the command of General Gordon Granger。 The troops forming this column were under the immediate command of Crook； Baird； and Gilbert。 After the danger at Dover had passed； the fleet steamed up to Nashville； and there the troops disembarked。 During February Crook was sent with his command to take post at Carthage； on the Cumberland River； and watch the movements of the enemy from there to Rome； and Gilbert was ordered to proceed with his brigade to Franklin。
On March 4th； Gilbert at Franklin ordered Colonel Coburn； with five regiments of infantry； four detachments of cavalry under Colonel Jordan； and Aleshire's battery； the whole command nearly three thousand strong； to proceed south from Franklin with a wagon…trail of one hundred wagons； ostensibly on a foraging expedition； but also to reconnoitre the enemy's front toward Columbia。 Coburn's command some twelve miles south of Franklin； was to meet a force moving from Murfreesboro toward Columbia； and these commands were to co…operate and determine the position of the enemy。 Unknown to Gilbert； Van Dorn； on assuming command in Columbia； in February； determined to establish outposts and picket…lines within sight of Franklin and Triune； and to move his headquarters north of Duck River to Spring Hill。 Jordan's cavalry struck the enemy only three miles from town； formed in line of battle。 Opening with artillery； Jordan advanced； and； after a sharp conflict； the enemy retreated to Spring Hill。 That night Coburn notified Gilbert that he was confronted by a largely superior force； and suggested that he fall back。 Gilbert； however； ordered him to advance。 Proceeding next morning； the column met the enemy drawn up in line of battle a short distance from Thompson's Station。 Forrest's command occupied the extreme right； with a battery of artillery on the left of this； and some paces retired was Armstrong's brigade。 On the left of his command and in line with it was the Texan brigade under Whitfield； with two guns on each side of the Columbia turnpike； making a force of 10；000 men under Van Dorn。 It was about half…past nine o'clock in the morning when Coburn struck these troops in line。 He immediately deployed his infantry across the pike and to the right； and ordered his command to advance。 The enemy's battery posted at the pike opening fire； Coburn's troops charged it handsomely； his entire command moving in line of battle down the pike。 When within one hundred and fifty yards； Armstrong's and Whitfield's brigades sprang forward and opened a destructive fire。 Coburn's troops held their lines for over half an hour under heavy fire； replying with the same； when he ordered his command to fall back。 Finding this large force in his front； he directed Jordan with his cavalry to cover his retreat。 Van Dorn now advanced his line； pressed forward his right and left to surround Coburn and capture the entire force。 Jordan formed two detachments； dismounted behind a stone fence to check the advance of Forrest and enable the artillery to escape。 Forrest made two sustained attempts to dislodge these detachments from their position； but he was repulsed each time； on a third attempt they were surrounded and captured。 The regiment in charge of the train with the artillery and cavalry now moved off rapidly on the pike to Franklin； and Coburn； being surrounded by the rebels in overwhelming numbers； and finding his ammunition exhausted； surrendered。 His loss was 40 killed； and 150 wounded； and 2；200 prisoners； including his wounded。 The enemy's loss was 35 killed and 140 wounded。 The rebels lost heavily in officers； several of the most valued of Forrest's falling in the repulses of his command。
The surrender of Coburn weakened the forces at Franklin； and revealed the enemy in such strong force on the immediate front； that Gordon Granger at once ordered Baird to proceed by rail to Franklin； and moving his own headquarters there； assumed the command in person。
On the 7th； Sheridan's division was ordered to the front to reconnoitre the enemy's position。 He reached Franklin； and the force at that place was further increased by the arrival of a brigade from Nashville。 On the 9th； Minty's brigade of cavalry also reported； and on the day following； Granger with his troops advanced from there upon Van Dorn's encampment at Spring Hill。 In support of Granger's movement on Van Dorn； Rosecrans ordered Davis to move with his division from Salem to Eaglesville； with R。 S。 Granger's brigade in supporting distance； posted at Versailles。 Gordon Granger drove Van Dorn from Spring Hill； and the next day compelled his entire command to retire south of Rutherford's Creek。 On account of the high water the pursuit was not continued further。
During March the rebel cavalry under Morgan met with one of the most decisive repulses yet experienced by that command。 On the 18th of March Colonel Hall with his command； the second brigade of Reynolds's division； was sent from Murfreesboro after Morgan。 Starting northeast from that place he advanced beyond Statesville； when hearing that Morgan was advancing on him he retired toward Milton； posted his command on some high ground near that place and awaited the attack。 Morgan endeavored first to turn the right and then the left of Hall's command； but in each of these attempts he was driven off with heavy loss。 He then dismounted the main portion of his command and ordered an attack to be made on the front。 A vigorous assault was at once made with a heavy force； but this was also repulsed； Morgan losing a large number of men。 After an engagement lasting some four hours； in which Hall's brigade fought with the utmost determination； Morgan's command； being repulsed at all points and in every assault； withdrew from the field with a loss of some ninety…five killed； three hundred and fifty wounded； and twenty prisoners。
Early in April； Morgan's troopers were defeated with great loss。 On the 2d of April Stanley advanced with his cavalry to Liberty； where Morgan met them with his entire command。 The two forces encamped within two miles of each other。 On the morning of the 3d； Stanley advanced； intending to engage Morgan's command at once； but found that he had retreated to what he regarded as a very strong position at Snow Hill。 Morgan； however； had left a strong force at Liberty to watch Stanley's movements。 As Stanley advanced； he struck this force and quickly drove upon it with part of his command； sending a portion around to the right； which turned the enemy's left flank。 Pressing Morgan's command from both positions； it soon gave way at all points； and was in full retreat。 Morgan's officers tried to rally their men； but the latter were thoroughly demoralized and had no fight in them。 The teamsters became panic…stricken and added to the general rout。