Peach Orchard Hill, also called Overton Hill, was the site of significant fighting on the second day of the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864. Most of the soldiers there were from the 12th, 13th, and 100th United States Colored Troops within the 2nd Colored Brigade under Maj. Gen. James Steedman. With little to no combat experience, almost 40% of the 13th regiment were wounded or killed as they fought to reach the Confederate line, including 5 color bearers. Continued pressure by the United States Colored Troops regiments forced the Confederates to send two brigades from the left flank to reinforce troops at Peach Orchard Hill. That maneuver thinned the Confederate line, led to the fall of Shy's Hill, and contributed to Confederate defeat. Both U.S. and Confederate leaders praised the bravery of the United States Colored Troops, and as U.S. Gen. George Thomas inspected the battlefield, he told his staff, "gentlemen this settles it, the Negro will fight!"
