As part of his West Tennessee “Christmas Raid,” Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked Trenton, Tennessee on December 20, 1862 and defeated the Union garrison commanded by Col. Jacob Fry. Forrest captured 400 federal soldiers, including Colonels Issac Fry and Jacob Hawkins, several field officers, 300 negroes, 1000 horses and mules, 13 wagons and ambulances, 7 caissons, 20,000 artillery rounds, 400,000 small-arms rounds, 100,000 rations of subsistence, large amounts of cavalry equipment, quartermaster stores, and soldier baggage, collectively valued at more than $500,000.
Germantown Road
On December 14, 1864 the 4th Iowa Cavalry was attacked and dispersed on the Germantown Road losing several killed, wounded