{"id":577,"date":"2021-08-15T01:40:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T01:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/ofp\/?p=577"},"modified":"2025-12-21T21:04:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T21:04:15","slug":"upper-cumberlands-region-civil-war-study-guide-national-park-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/ofp\/upper-cumberlands-region-civil-war-study-guide-national-park-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper Cumberlands Region Civil War Study Guide (National Park Service)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Civil War in the Upper Cumberland Plateau and Its Effects on the Local Population: A Guide of the Major Events and Themes, for Teachers and Interested Citizens of the Upper Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Kentucky<\/h2>\n

by Stephen McBride, Ph.D.
\nDavid Pollack, Principal Investigator<\/p>\n

Kentucky Archaeological Survey Report 236<\/p>\n

Submitted to
\nBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area
\n4564 Leatherwood Road
\nOneida, Tennessee 37841
\nContact: Tom Des Jean
\n(423) 569-9778<\/p>\n

Submitted by
\nKentucky Archaeological Survey
\n1020A Export Street
\nUniversity of Kentucky
\nLexington, Kentucky 40506-9854
\n(859) 257-1944<\/p>\n

October 2012<\/p>\n

\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This document provides teachers and other interested parties information describing the actions and effects of the American Civil War in the Upper Cumberland Plateau.  The guide is organized into nine major themes, 1. Secession Crisis, 2. Military Occupation, 3. Military Enlistment, 4. Major Battle\/Campaigns, 5. Small Skirmishes, 6. Guerrilla Warfare, 7. Other Effects on and Responses by Civilians, 8. The End of Slavery, and 9. Post-War, Long Term Effects.   Information is presented in concise bullets, with some statistical data from voting patterns, enlistment data, and federal census data. <\/p>\n

While this area was not the scene of major strategic battles that shaped the outcome of the Civil War, the reader can see from the data presented that the Civil War entailed a host of encampments, minor skirmishes, two major campaigns, and especially a significant amount of guerrilla activity in the Upper Cumberland Plateau.  The Civil War is a topic of considerable interest to scholars of and residents in the area, as evidenced by the substantial number of published sources cited at the end of the guide. The focus in the Resources section is on published works, but given the growing reliance on internet sources, several useful web sites are also listed.   <\/p>\n

The guide is being distributed to libraries and schools in Fentress, Pickett, Morgan, and Scott Counties, Tennessee, and McCreary County, Kentucky, and can be made available to other interested parties by request to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. A Microsoft Powerpoint presentation containing most of the information in the nine themes, with select illustrations, is also available from the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.<\/p>\n

Theme 1. Secession Crisis<\/h2>\n

Following election of Abraham Lincoln, Republican (Abolitionist Platform), seven states seceded between Dec. 1860 and Feb 1861 (SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX).  All of these states explicitly state that protection of slavery is the reason for secession.   Following South Carolina\u2019s April 1861 attack on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln\u2019s Call to Arms to put down the rebellion, four more states secede (TN, ARK, VA, NC).<\/p>\n

Kentucky<\/h3>\n

Never secedes.<\/p>\n

Gov. Beriah Magoffin declares the state neutral after Lincoln\u2019s call to arms, but Pro-Union Legislature, elected in July, 1861 and Sept. 1861, overturns this policy and Magoffin resigns.<\/p>\n

Kentucky is one of four slave states to remain in the Union (with Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware). Some Kentuckians join the Confederate Army, but more join the Union Army.<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/h3>\n

Defeated the referendum supported by pro-secession Gov. Isham Harris on whether to call a secession convention in Feb 1861.<\/p>\n

After Fort Sumter, the legislature approval an ordinance calling for secession in May 1861.<\/p>\n

June 1861 \u2013 voters approved it (with No Convention).<\/p>\n

Most Tennessee Upper Cumberland Plateau counties  voted against the secession convention in February 1861 and against secession in June 1861 (see Table 1).<\/p>\n

Scott County sends petition to secede from Tennessee; it is ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Special Election on Secession Convention<\/strong>
\nFeb 9, 1861<\/strong><\/td>\n		Special Election on Secession<\/strong>
\nJune 8, 1861<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/em><\/strong><\/td>\nFor<\/strong><\/td>\nAgainst<\/strong><\/td>\nFor<\/strong><\/td>\nAgainst<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fentress<\/td>\n334  (51%)<\/em><\/td>\n325 (49%)<\/td>\n128 (16%)<\/em><\/td>\n651 (84%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Morgan<\/td>\n13   (2.6%)<\/em><\/td>\n488 (97.4)<\/td>\n50   (7%)<\/em><\/td>\n630 (93%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scott<\/td>\n29   (7%)<\/em><\/td>\n385 (93%)<\/td>\n19   (3.5%)<\/em><\/td>\n521 (96.5%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overton<\/td>\n563 (39.5%)<\/em><\/td>\n863 (60.5)<\/td>\n1471 (80%)<\/em><\/td>\n364 (20%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 1. Results of Special Elections (from Campbell 1961 and Fisher 1997).<\/p>\n

Theme 2. Military Occupation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kentucky<\/h3>\n

Intermittent Union Army Occupation by small forces in Upper Cumberland Plateau.  Pro-Union Home Guard organized to protect border and watch for Confederate invasion.   <\/p>\n

Some recruitment camps set up nearby.  Camp Clio, Pulaski County.<\/p>\n

Harassment of Pro-Confederate citizens and curtailment of trade with Tennessee.  <\/p>\n

Brief Confederate military occupation (3,565 troops) in Wayne and Pulaski Counties, late 1861, early 1862, prior to Battle of Mill Springs (Jan. 19, 1862).<\/p>\n

After Knoxville Campaign of August-Sept. 1863, less Union occupation and area seen as backwater.  Still some effects as soldiers take livestock and goods.<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/h3>\n

Confederate Occupation July 1861 (District of East Tennessee, Generals Zollicoffer, Kirby Smith, Buchner in command with HQ at Knoxville) until Aug-Sept 1863. <\/p>\n

Small Confederate force guarding border, suppressing Pro-Union activities, arresting Pro-Union leaders, and raiding Pro-Union farms.   They suppressed local government and services, since these were controlled by Pro-Unionists. <\/p>\n

Most Upper Cumberland Plateau population Pro-Union.<\/p>\n

November 1861. Pro-Union men under William Carter burn seven of nine railroad bridges. This leads to martial law and crackdown on Pro-Union citizens. Supposed to be pre-cursor to Union invasion under Gen. George Thomas, but it was called off by Gen. William T. Sherman in Kentucky.<\/p>\n

Lincoln wanted to capture Pro-Union E. Tennessee since the beginning of the war.<\/p>\n

Mid Nov. 1861 \u2013 3565 Confederate under Zollicoffer camped at Wartburg, Nov. 22-24, left for Kentucky, Battle of Mill Springs January 19, 1862.   <\/p>\n

March 1862 \u2013 Andrew Johnson appointed U.S. Military Governor of Tennessee.  Pro-Confederate Governor had to flee Nashville after Battle of Fort Donelson. All of Tennessee except East Tennessee under Union control.<\/p>\n

After April 1862, Confederates begin the draft.  In East Tennessee this leads many men to flee, hide, or join Pro-Union guerrillas.<\/p>\n

U.S. Army Occupation after Sept. 1863.  Local government gradually reestablished.<\/p>\n

U.S. Army sends various Cavalry units to fight Confederate guerrillas.  Mostly unsuccessful until Summer 1864, when they begin a harsher policy against Pro-Confederate citizens.<\/p>\n

Encampments.<\/u>  These often entailed some destruction of property, such as for firewood, and troops foraging for food (Figures 1, 2, and 3). [Transcriber’s note: There is no Figure 3 in the original document.]<\/p>\n

Figure 1. Map showing many Civil War sites in the Big South Fork
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: BigSouthForkCountry.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Summer 1861 \u2013 Travisville, Pickett County, Confederate recruitment camp.<\/p>\n

Summer 1861 \u2013 Overton County, Camp Zollicoffer and Camp Myers, Confederate camps.<\/p>\n

Feb 1862 \u2013 Morgan County, (4 miles east of Wartburg), Confederate Camp Schuyler (or Schooler), 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (C.S.).<\/p>\n

May 1862 \u2013 August 1862 \u2013 Hill near Huntsville.  Camp of 7th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf. (U.S.), 250 to 400 men.<\/p>\n

\n

Figure 2. Map of the region from the Official Records of the Civil War Atlas (Davis 1983).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Figure <\/strong>November 15-25, 1862 \u2013 Wartburg, Morgan County.  3500 Confederates under Gen. Felix Zollicoffer encamp before Battle of Mill Springs (Jan 19, 1862).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1862+ – Southern Pulaski County, Union Camp Clio.<\/p>\n

March 1863 \u2013 Pt. Isabel (Burnside), Pulaski County.  U.S. Army Depot established, Camp Burnside for Gen. Burnside\u2019s Knoxville Campaign.<\/p>\n

Summer 1863 \u2013 McCreary County, at golf course near Stearns, Union camp.<\/p>\n

August 26-28, 1863 \u2013 Flat Gap, near Winfield, Scott County, U.S. Camp Chitwood.  Large force of Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside\u2019s Army of the Ohio.<\/p>\n

August 30-31, 1863 \u2013 White Oak Creek (1 mile east of Sunbright). U.S. Camp Ragweed.  Large force of Burnside\u2019s army.<\/p>\n

February 1864 \u2013 Wartburg, Morgan County.  U.S. camp under Lt. William Estrada, 2nd<\/sup> E. Tennessee Cav.<\/p>\n

n.d. \u2013 Three Forks of Wolf River, Pickett County.  Camp McGinns Confederate guerrilla base of Champ Ferguson\u2019s men.<\/p>\n

n.d. East Fork of Obey River, Fentress County. Mountain Cove, base of Tinker Dave Beaty.<\/p>\n

Theme 3. Military Enlistment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of largest impacts of the Civil War was the enlistment of men into both armies.  Many men left the area, some never to return.  The loss of these men had a major economic, political and social impact on the region.  Loss of labor and management and farms and businesses declined, many had to be run by family members \u2013 wives, children, elderly parents.  Numerous men also joined local Home Guard Militia and guerrilla bands.<\/p>\n

Summer 1861 \u2013 Travisville, Pickett County and Camps Zollicoffer and Myers, Overton County, C.S. enlistment camps established (Figures 2 and 3).<\/p>\n

Aug-Sept 1861 \u2013 Camp Dick Robinson (Garrard County, Kentucky) founded as U.S. army enlistment center.<\/p>\n

Sept 1861 \u2013 approximately 1000 East Tennessee men enlisted at Camp Dick Robinson.<\/p>\n

March 1862 – approximately 4000 East Tennessee men enlisted at Camp Dick Robinson.<\/p>\n

A total of 20- 30,000 East Tennessee men joined the U.S. Army.<\/p>\n

Most Upper Cumberland area Kentucky and Tennessee men joined the Union Army, but some did join the Confederate Army (see Table 2).  These Units were mostly in action in the Western Theatre.  Some Units, such as the 7th<\/sup> Tennessee Infantry (U.S.) and 5th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (U.S.), performed local anti-guerrilla activity.<\/p>\n

Table 2. Enlistment figures, compiled from Roy 2001, Smith 1985.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Men enlisted<\/strong><\/td>\nU.S.<\/strong><\/td>\nC.S.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scott<\/td>\n541<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wayne<\/td>\n448 (July 1863)<\/td>\n?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Whitley<\/td>\n501 (July 1863)<\/td>\n?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pulaski<\/td>\n1032 (July 1863)<\/td>\n?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Regiments joined by local men include 12th, 13th, 18th<\/sup>, 26th<\/sup>, 30th, 32nd, 49th Kentucky Inf. (U.S.), 1st, 6th, 7th, Kentucky Cav. (U.S.), 1st<\/sup>, 2nd<\/sup>, 4th<\/sup>, 7th<\/sup>, 8th<\/sup>, and 11th Tennessee Inf.(U.S.), 1st<\/sup> and 4th Tennessee Cav. (U.S.), 1st<\/sup> Tennessee Light Artillery (U.S.), 10th<\/sup> Kentucky Cav. (C.S.), 8th<\/sup>, 25th<\/sup> and 28th Tennessee Inf. (C.S.), 4th<\/sup> and 13th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (C.S.).<\/p>\n

African-American enlistment includes at least 47 men from Wayne County. The numbers from other Upper Cumberland Plateau counties are unknown. Most would have been mustered in at Camp Nelson, Kentucky after Spring 1864 or at larger Union encampments in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Theme 4.  Major Battle\/Campaigns<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Only one large battle occurred near this region; the Jan. 19, 1862 Battle of Mill Springs\/Logan\u2019s Crossroads in Pulaski County, Kentucky. A large Confederate force under Gen. Felix Zollicoffer moved through Big South Fork area to Wayne County and southern Pulaski County in December 1861.  They were attacked by a U.S. Force under Gen. George Thomas at Nancy, KY. The Confederates were defeated and retreated and Gen. Zollicoffer was killed. Thomas wanted to invade Tennessee but was ordered back and the Union army moved to north of Cumberland River following orders of Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell.  Tension now increases in Big South Fork area and more people forced to choose sides.<\/p>\n

Knoxville Campaign \u2013 June\/August-Sept. 1863. This campaign under U.S. Gen. Ambrose Burnside\u2019s Army of the Ohio was the largest to move through the study area. Col. William Sanders with 1500 U.S. cavalry rode through Big South Fork area in June 1863 as precursor to Knoxville campaign and burnt bridges and captured some Confederates.  Almost two thirds of Burnside\u2019s 16,000 men march through Big South Fork area August 20 \u2013 Sept 3 on way to Knoxville.  They move through Jamestown, Pine Knot, Chitwoods, Huntsville, Montgomery, Warburg, Emory Iron Works and encamp at numerous places (Figure 4).<\/p>\n

Prior to the march, Burnside commissions Union guerrillas in Tennessee counties and orders them to spy and harass (bushwhack) Confederate forces.<\/p>\n

Local citizens help U.S. forces over bad roads in Big South Fork area.  Stories of this from local informant France Miller, via Will Miller reflect importance and drama of this event to local citizens.<\/p>\n

Knoxville abandoned by Conf. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Sept 1863. Union victory in Battle of Knoxville, Nov. 1863, and Battle of Chattanooga Nov. 1863, lead to Confederate abandonment of Big South Fork area and most of East Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Figure 4. Map of General Burnside\u2019s Campaign (Davis 1983)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(routes outlined in red by W. Stephen McBride)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Theme 5. Small Skirmishes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A few skirmishes involving regular troops occurred in the Upper Cumberland area.  Most involved regular C.S. or U.S. troops against local partisans\/guerrillas, but some had regular troops on both sides.<\/p>\n

Sept. 29, 1861 \u2013 Travisville, Pickett County \u2013 1st<\/sup> Kentucky Cav. (U.S.) and Kentucky Home Guard surprised and dispersed about 100 Confederates encamped at Travisville (often called the first battle in Tennessee).<\/p>\n

February 2, 1862 \u2013 Morgan County, NW or Wartburg.  1st<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (C.S) under Lt. Col. J. W. White skirmished with U.S. forces and killed 5 U.S. who retreated.<\/p>\n

March 28, 1862 \u2013 Morgan County, near Montgomery.  Confederates clash with local Union Home Guard forces who retreated. Confederates had five killed, 12 wounded.  Union, 15 killed, 7 prisoners.<\/p>\n

April 1-2, 1862 – Brimstone Creek, Scott County. Capt. John C. Vaughn (C.S.) surrounded house of Capt. W. H.H. Robbins, 7th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf. (U.S.), but Robbins on ridge above and attacked Vaughn\u2019s men.  U.S. held ground on ridge, Confederates withdrew.<\/p>\n

April 13, 1862 \u2013 Battle of Huntsville, Scott County.  Col. William Clift and 250 men of 7th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf. (U.S) had fortified a hill southwest of Huntsville. They were attacked by Confederates (600 Infantry, and 300 Cavalry) under Capt. T. M. Nelson.  U.S. forces defeated and retreat.<\/p>\n

January 15, 1863 \u2013 \u201cBattle for the Bacon,\u201d New River, Scott County, January 15, 1863. Confederate Capt. Thomas Butler and 30 men attacked U.S. detachment under Capt. Noah Doherty.  Six U.S. soldiers killed or wounded, rest escaped.  Butler captured 2000 pounds of bacon.<\/p>\n

June 1863 \u2013 Scott and Morgan Counties.  Col. William P. Sanders (U.S.) and 1500 men raided into East Tennessee as a precursor to the Knoxville campaign.  Passed through Huntsville, Wartburg, and Montgomery. They captured a Confederate garrison of 100 soldiers in Wartburg.<\/p>\n

January 1864 \u2013 Col. William B. Stokes\u2019 5th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (U.S) sent to defeat Confederate guerrillas. Engaged them near Sparta and kill 17 guerrillas.<\/p>\n

February 22, 1864 \u2013 A company of 5th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav. (U.S.) ambushed on Calfkiller River in White County by Champ Ferguson\u2019s men. 30 U.S. soldiers killed, many after surrendering.<\/p>\n

Theme 6. Guerrilla Warfare<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From the beginning of the war, irregular warfare between Pro-Confederate and Pro-Union partisans or guerrillas (sometimes called Home Guard, Independent Scouts, etc) took place. This activity actually increased from 1861 to 1864 as the area had less regular military presence.  Sometimes these guerrillas fought regular troops (C.S. and U.S.), but often they fought each other or raided\/terrorized the farm families of on opposite sides.  While a few of these raids may have had military objectives, most were related to maintaining local power and control, acquiring supplies, horses, or money, spreading fear and terror, or settling personal vendettas (some dating to pre-War times). <\/p>\n

This quote, from historian James A. Baggett\u2019s \u201cHomegrown Yankees\u201d is instructive.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anywhere else in Tennessee and the adjacent areas of Kentucky, the Cumberlands possessed the conditions to foster guerrilla warfare. The section\u2019s isolated territory, much of it \u201crough and inaccessible,\u201d made it suitable terrain for irregular warfare. Moreover its population clung to those traditions that encouraged the growth of guerrilla bands: retribution in kind, family feuds, class conflicts, vigilantism, and backwoods wars against authority.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guerrilla activity lead to numerous deaths (many have been called murder); property destruction \u2013 buildings, livestock, crops; and depopulation. Also, the danger was so great that the men involved could not live on or work their farms.<\/p>\n

Leaders \u2013 Some had official military affiliation, others did not. Those that did were often on \u201cdetached\u201d duty, and fought as irregulars\/partisans\/guerrillas.<\/p>\n

Confederate- Col. John M. Hughs (25th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf.), Champ Ferguson (Figure 5), Capt. Willis Scott Bledsoe (Co. F, 4th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav.), Capt. James W. McHenry (Co D. 4th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav.), James Rule, Lt. Col. Oliver P. Hamilton (Hamilton\u2019s Cavalry Battalion), Captain James Gatewood.<\/p>\n

Union \u2013 Col. William Clift (7th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf.), Tinker Dave Beaty (Independent Scouts) (Figure 6), Capt. Rufus Dowdy (Co. D, 1st<\/sup> Tennessee Mounted Infantry), Elam Huddleston.<\/p>\n

Initially Confederate guerrillas would mostly raid into Kentucky and Union would raid Confederates in Tennessee. But later, with less military occupation, they raided each other within Tennessee, and Kentucky.<\/p>\n

Numerous attempts by regular U.S. Army to defeat Confederate guerrillas after the Knoxville campaign, but most were unsuccessful until very late in the war.  It was very hard to catch small mobile bands in rugged terrain.<\/p>\n

Figure 5. Champ Ferguson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: Wikipedia.org<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Figure 6. Jonathan Hale and Tinker Dave Beaty<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: photo provided by the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Mid-1864-65- U.S. Army began harsh policy of occupation and punished Pro-Confederate supporters of guerrillas by confiscating property, arrests, and burning property.  This policy led to less support for guerrillas and much hardship.  Also, no-quarter policy for guerrillas was established.  U.S. forces, used the loyalty oath to identify Pro-Confederate citizens.<\/p>\n

End of War \u2013 Some guerrilla activity continued, especially by Champ Ferguson.  U.S. offered amnesty to any (except Ferguson) who would surrender.  If not, the army would declare them outlaws.  Most did surrender, or left the area (to Texas).  Ferguson arrested, tried, hanged.<\/p>\n

Guerillas Skirmishes and Major Events<\/u><\/h3>\n

Summer 1861 \u2013 Pickett County. Pro-Union citizen (later guerrilla) Elam Huddleston and others recover his confiscated goods from his house. Pursued by cousin Col. Stokely Huddleston, C.S., Tennessee Militia.  Col. Huddleston shot and killed and Elam escapes to Kentucky.<\/p>\n

November-December 1861 \u2013 Champ Ferguson murders William Frogge while sick in bed in Clinton County, Kentucky.  Reuben Woods also killed by Ferguson\u2019s men.<\/p>\n

January 1862 \u2013 Fentress County.  Tinker Dave Beaty\u2019s Union Independent Scouts formed.<\/p>\n

March 1862 \u2013 Overton County.  Monroe Compromise to stop guerrilla warfare agreed upon, but soon broken, some say by Champ Ferguson.<\/p>\n

March 1862 \u2013 Fentress County, Tennessee and Clinton County, Kentucky.  Champ Ferguson and gang kill Alexander Huff in Fentress and others in Clinton.  John Duncan and John Rick also killed by Confederate guerrillas.<\/p>\n

June 1862 \u2013 Fentress County. Champ Ferguson and band kill James Zackary.<\/p>\n

Summer 1862 \u2013 Scott County. Confederate guerrilla raid on homes of Jimmy Slavin, Esquire Blevins, and Hiram Marcum; the latter on Buffalo Creek.  Here Julia Marcum fought and killed a guerrilla with an ax. She lost an eye and a finger.<\/p>\n

September 1862 \u2013 W. Lafayette Allen killed by Union guerrillas at Hale\u2019s Mill, Pickett County. In retaliation, Ferguson\u2019s men burn the mill and nearby houses.<\/p>\n

October 1862 \u2013 Wayne County, Kentucky.  Champ Ferguson and gang killed John Williams and an unnamed enslaved man.<\/p>\n

October 1862 \u2013 Tinker Dave Beaty\u2019s men raid into Fentress\/Pickett and kill Miligan and Henry Richardson.<\/p>\n

October\/November 1862 \u2013 Scott County.  Confederate guerrillas raid Parch Corn Creek, No Business Creek, and Buffalo Creek. Attack farms of Mr. Chitwood, Carroll Cross, Dennis Trammel, and James Chitwood, burn houses, steal 103 horses and capture two men that they hanged. At head of Buffalo Creek they skirmish with Union men (7th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf.) under Capt. James Duncan. Four Confederate guerrillas killed.<\/p>\n

Late 1862 \u2013 John Riley on Wolf River killed by Union guerrillas.<\/p>\n

January 1863 \u2013 Wayne and Adair County, Kentucky. Champ Ferguson and gang surround and attack house of Elam Huddleston (Adair Co.).  Huddleston killed, Elam\u2019s brother Moses and cousin David captured. Ferguson has four men killed in skirmish with Union Home Guard (Wayne Co.).<\/p>\n

January 1863 \u2013 Ferguson\u2019s gang kills Peter Zackary at home of Rufus Dowdy in Fentress County.<\/p>\n

May\/June 1863 \u2013 Scott County. About 11 Confederate guerrillas under James Rule or Alec Evans, from Rock Creek, Pickett County, raid No Business Creek area. They raid farms of Armpie Blevins, Widow Miller, and Peter Burke. At Peter Burke\u2019s (on Big Branch and Big South Fork) (Figure 7) they were ambushed by 30-50 Union Home Guard, under Tom Miller or Hutson Burke, and nine Confederate guerrillas were killed at the house and another killed or drowns in river.<\/p>\n

Figure  7. Peter Burke cabin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: photo provided by the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Summer 1863 \u2013 Big South Fork area.  Tinker Dave Beaty commissioned by Maj. Gen. Burnside to disrupt and spy on Confederate forces.<\/p>\n

August-November 1863 \u2013 East Tennessee.  Most of East Tennessee captured by U.S. Army under Generals Burnside (Knoxville) and Grant (Chattanooga).  Union guerrillas go on offensive, but lack of large occupying force lead to continued raiding and killing.<\/p>\n

Fall 1863 \u2013 Conrad Pile captured and killed by Confederate guerrillas in Fentress County.<\/p>\n

September 1863 \u2013 Feb 1864 \u2013 Wayne and Clinton Counties, Kentucky and surrounding area.  Major Confederate and guerrilla raid led by Col. John Hughs, with Capt. Scott Bledsoe and Champ Ferguson, with members of 25th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf. (mounted) and irregulars. They attacked Albany, Glasgow, Monticello, and Scottsville, Kentucky, and Sparta and Livingston, Tennessee.  They engaged regular U.S. forces, Kentucky Home Guard, and Tennessee Unionists under Beaty and Rufus Dowdy. Confederates defeated most opponents.<\/p>\n

January 1864 \u2013 Skirmish between Ferguson\u2019s men and Beaty\u2019s near Forbus. Three of Ferguson\u2019s men killed.<\/p>\n

January-February 1864 \u2013 Fentress, Overton, White Counties. U.S. Col. William Stokes (5th<\/sup> Tennessee Cav.) and Col. Thomas Harrison (8th<\/sup> Indiana Cavalry) sent to rid the area of Confederate guerrillas. Engaged Col. John Hughs and Champ Ferguson numerous places, often defeated them, but this didn\u2019t end raiding.<\/p>\n

January 1864 \u2013 East Tennessee.  East Tennessee Provost Martial Gen. Samuel P. Carter orders that guerrillas are not to be treated as Prisoners of War (P.O.W.s).<\/p>\n

Feb 1864 – East Tennessee Relief Association founded to help fund donations into region from the northern states.<\/p>\n

Spring-Summer 1864 \u2013 Fountain Frost and Jefferson Pile killed by Beaty\u2019s men near Gilbreath\u2019s Mill, and Three Forks, respectively.<\/p>\n

Spring-Summer 1864 \u2013 Three U.S. soldiers on leave, George Y. Carpenter, Bruce Martin, and Samuel Huddleston, killed at Poplar Grove and Pickett County.<\/p>\n

Summer 1864 \u2013 Fentress County.  Dave Beaty writes Gov. Andrew Johnson that people in Fentress were starving and livestock gone.<\/p>\n

June 1864 \u2013 Louisville, Kentucky.  Maj. Gen. Wm T. Sherman writes to Maj. Gen. S. G. Burbridge in  Kentucky that \u201cguerrillas are not soldiers but wild beasts.\u201d<\/p>\n

July 1864 \u2013 White, Overton Counties. Maj. Thomas Reeves (4th<\/sup> Tennessee Inf., U.S.) raids Sparta, burns houses, takes livestock, and arrests citizens that won\u2019t inform on Confederate guerrillas.  Total war begun by U.S. Army.  Pro-Confederate citizens begin to tire of the war and turn against guerrillas.<\/p>\n

Winter 1864-1865 \u2013 Beaty\u2019s men kill Robert Richardson, who has two sons in the Confederate Army, and a Captain Barton.<\/p>\n

April \u2013 May 1865 \u2013 U.S. Civil War ends and amnesty is given to all Confederate irregulars\/guerrillas who will surrender except for Champ Ferguson.  Those that fail to surrender will be considered outlaws. Almost all turn themselves in.<\/p>\n

April 26 \u2013 May 1865 \u2013 Fentress County, Clinton County. Champ Ferguson and gang kill Van Duvall and John Hurt in Clinton County, and capture and shoot Dave Beaty in Fentress County, but Beaty escapes.<\/p>\n

May 26, 1865 \u2013 White County. Champ Ferguson captured. Charged with killing 53 men.<\/p>\n

October 20, 1865 \u2013 Nashville.  Champ Ferguson hanged after trial.<\/p>\n

Theme 7. Other Effects on and Responses by Civilians<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Persons not in the army or active in guerrilla warfare still participated in the war effort in other ways.  Nitre was produced in Upper Cumberland Plateau and shipped to Union troops.  A local example is provided by Big South Fork Oral History informant Frona Thompson\u2019s whose grandfather Stevens made gunpowder for the Union.  Some people were involved in other clandestine trade and production (transcript on file at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area). <\/p>\n

While women did not join the army, many are known to have contributed their labor as couriers, guides, and spies in other areas of Tennessee, and they may have done so in the Upper Cumberland; these activities hard to document as often were clandestine. <\/p>\n

Some local women were involved in violence.  The best known example is Julia Marcum (Figure 8), who was from a Pro- Union family from Buffalo Creek, Scott County, Tennessee.  When Confederate guerrillas broke in and attacked, 16 year old Julia in the summer of 1862, she defended herself with an ax and killed the attacker.  But the attackers shot off her finger and stabbed her in the eye with a bayonet.  Two years later, her house was burned down.  Wives often ran the farms and businesses while their husbands were gone.<\/p>\n

Figure 8. Julia Marcum <\/strong>(note missing finger and eye)<\/p>\n

Source: photo provided by the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/p>\n

Pro-Union Mary Catherine Sproul, from Overton County, provided documentation of the effects of the Civil War in her personal diary.  Likely there are other such examples.<\/p>\n

Children are known to have acted as lookouts, and to help hide livestock. Big South Fork Oral History informants Frona Thompson recalled that her mother served as lookout for Confederate guerrillas when she was a young girl.  Informant Will Miller told the story of his grandfather France Miller (born in 1856) serving as a lookout for Confederate guerrillas on No Business.  He also recalled that during the 1863 raid on Duck Shoals, France Miller was instructed by his father to hide the family livestock. The hiding of livestock was also mentioned by Big South Fork Oral History informants Oscar Blevins and Kirby King (transcripts of these interviews on file at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area). <\/p>\n

Civilians experience other hardships, such as<\/p>\n