Subject to orders from Brig. Gen. Sooy Smith, Col. Benjamin Grierson (commanding 1 st Brigade, XVI Corps USA) mounted an expedition to Moscow and Somerville, Tennessee to “strike” Confederate forces that had previously attacked a train at Moscow. In the course of the expedition the camp of the 6 th Illinois Cavalry (Lt. Col. Reuben Loomis) was attacked on the evening of March 29 by the 12 th Tennessee Cavalry (Col. R.V. Richardson) about two miles southwest of Belmont at the plantation of Mr. Rives. Loomis reported losses of 52 killed/wounded; Confederate losses were reported to be higher including the wounding of Col. Richardson.
Overall’s Creek
The Union Army marched across the Nashville Pike bridge at Overall Creek while advancing to the Stones River battlefield. The bridge was