Rippa Villa: History
Rippa Villa and the Cheairs family have been part of the Spring Hill and Maury County story since the early 1800s. The Greek Revival-style home that stands today was built in the early 1850s by Nat Cheairs, who served as a major in the 3rd Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. He and his wife, Susan, were one of the wealthiest families in the region, along with families like the Thompsons and the Polks. Large numbers of enslaved people and substantial agricultural production were the bedrock of farms like Rippa Villa. During the war, the Battle of Spring Hill unfolded across the property on November 29, 1864.
The Battle of Spring Hill
On the afternoon of November 29, 1864, over 25,000 Federal and Confederate soldiers, commanded by Gens. John Schofield and John Bell Hood, respectively, converged on the small village of Spring Hill. Just before sunset, combat exploded southeast of town between elements of Gen. George Wagner’s Division, 4th U.S. Army Corps, and Gen. Pat Cleburne’s Division of Confederate troops. Several hundred men were killed or wounded during the fighting and as darkness fell, confusion and misinformation clouded further Confederate efforts. Hood’s intent had been to gain control of the Columbia Turnpike (now U.S. Highway 31) between Spring Hill and Rippa Villa. Nothing went as planned.
That night Schofield’s troops, having determined that the pike was not held by the Confederates, marched north into Spring Hill, then to Thompson’s Station, and ultimately on to Franklin. Over the course of about 6 to 8 hours, Schofield slipped away with four of his divisions, totaling some 20,000 soldiers. Around 5 am on the morning of November 30, Wagner’s Division also quietly withdrew. The escape was complete.
Around dawn, Hood, who had been headquartered at Oaklawn about a mile southeast of Rippa Villa, learned what had transpired. He met briefly with Gen. Frank Cheatham, and perhaps Gen. A. P. Stewart, at the Cheairs home. Shortly thereafter Hood ordered an immediate pursuit toward Franklin.
The Battle of Spring Hill was the genesis of the nightmare that unfolded on the fields south of Franklin on the afternoon of November 30, 1864, in the waning autumn light, as the American Civil War spiraled toward its violent conclusion.
Preservation and Restoration
By the 1980s, Rippa Villa was still surrounded by a largely rural setting. The house and the land around it were transformed by the arrival of General Motors. A movement soon began to preserve the historic home, and a restoration of the house ensued. Over the years, 98 adjacent acres of the Cheairs property have been preserved along with the house. In addition, 84 acres to the north have been preserved by the American Battlefield Trust.
Rippa Villa is owned by the City of Spring Hill and is managed by The Battle of Franklin Trust, a private, non-profit organization. Thousands of guests from across the country visit to learn about the Civil War, the years leading up to the conflict, and its aftermath.