Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

26/02/2026

24/02/2026

Installation of the Cannon

24/02/2026

Our cannon was delivered and installed today. This has been a long process to purchase it, and we have been fundraising among the members. Thanks to everyone who contributed time the Cannon Fund. We started the process last year to purchase and place a cannon at the Fort Dickerson Gateway at the base of the park. Now folks will be able to understand the significance of the fort.

24/02/2026

The Cannon Has Arrived!

10/02/2026

C-SPAN will be there! Folks can attend the lecture.

27/01/2026

On January 27, 1864, the Battle of Fair Garden took place in Sevier County in East Tennessee. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Dandridge earlier that month, Union cavalry had moved south of the French Broad River to secure much-needed foraging land for their horses. In the process, they pushed Confederate cavalry out of the area and captured several wagons.

Lt. General James Longstreet, commanding Confederate forces in the region, ordered his troops to drive the Union cavalry out. On the afternoon of January 26, Confederate cavalry with artillery advanced from Fair Garden and engaged Union forces near Sevierville. After some initial success, the Confederates pushed the Union troops back two miles before fighting ceased for the day.

On January 27, Union Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis ordered a counterattack. A running battle ensued, with Union forces routing the Confederates and forcing them to retreat toward the French Broad River. However, they soon encountered three of Longstreet’s infantry brigades, which were crossing the river to reclaim the foraging grounds.

Despite their earlier success, Union forces were forced to withdraw after fierce fighting that continued until dark. The Confederates reclaimed the foraging land, a hard fought victory for Longstreet’s men.

12/01/2026

For tomorrow night’s meeting.

04/01/2026

Week 158: January 3 to January 9, 1864

From the Editor: Arrested Developments
During James Longstreet's long tenure as Robert E. Lee's second-in-command in the Army of Northern Virginia, he mirrored his commander's equanimity and equipoise. However, this changed after Longstreet traveled to Georgia and Tennessee. Accustomed to having Lee's confidence, Longstreet was put off by Braxton Bragg's cold and distant demeanor. Longstreet returned Bragg's disdain and repaid his new commander by adding his voice to those who sought Bragg's removal from the army. Nevertheless, when Longstreet was given a semi-independent command in East Tennessee, he showed that he had more in common with Bragg than he cared to admit. Disconcerted by his failure to capture Knoxville, Longstreet, like Bragg after Chickamauga, sought to shift the blame onto his subordinates. Longstreet relieved his own second-in-command Lafayette McLaws, explaining that he “exhibited a want of confidence in the efforts and plans [of the] commanding general,” despite the fact that McLaws was a childhood friend and a West Point classmate. In addition, Jerome B. Robertson, commander of the Texas Brigade, was arrested “for conduct highly prejudicial to good order and military discipline.” And finally, there is the strange case of E. McIvor Law, the ‘Little Gamecock,’ who had served in John Bell Hood's division longer than any other brigadier. Instead, Longstreet has actively campaigned for Micah Jenkins to become the divisional commander instead of Law. As a result, Law resigned his commission rather than serve under Jenkins and then changed his mind after being given permission to travel to Richmond to deliver his resignation in person. Longstreet responded by having Law arrested for obtaining leave under false pretenses.

(See link to entire week in the first comment.)

21/12/2025

Wreaths have been placed at Bethel Cemetery.

17/12/2025

December 17 1863 (Thursday)

Unaware that James Longstreet has abandoned his recent offensive in East Tennessee, Union commander John G. Parke completes the concentration of his forces at Blain's Cross-Roads. He reports: "This morning the enemy advanced in small force..., but nothing serious since then; but few shots have been fired, and those at long range. [The signal officer] cannot see any infantry, only a few scouts." Longstreet expresses his feelings about the campaign in a dispatch to his cavalry commander William T. Martin: "Our infantry is so distressed for want of shoes that we can't venture to pursue with it.... It is distressing in the extreme that we should lose so great an opportunity to lift up our poor country, merely for the lack of shoes and clothing for our men. It is also a source of deep regret that our cavalry should be in such disabled condition at this moment." Longstreet is also unhappy with the performance of division commander Lafayette McLaws. His dissatisfaction boils over in the wake of the failed attack at Bean's Station, and he issues orders for McLaws to be "relieved from further duty with this army." McLaws, a good friend of Longstreet's since before the war, describes himself as "totally uninformed of any reasons" for his dismissal and sends a note to Longstreet requesting "the particular reason for the order."

HEADQUARTERS, Near Bean's Station, December 17, 1863.
Major-General McLAWS, C.S. Army: I am directed to say that throughout the campaign on which we are engaged you have exhibited a want of confidence in the efforts and plans which the commanding general has thought proper to adopt, and he is apprehensive that this feeling will extend more or less to the troops under your command. Under these circumstances the commanding general has felt that the interest of the public service would be advanced by your separation from him, and as he could not himself leave he decided upon the issue of the order which you have received. I have the honor to be, general, with great respect, your obedient servant,
G. MOXLEY SORREL, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

16/12/2025

December 16 1863 (Wednesday)

After the recent unseasonably warm weather, East Tennessee grows colder and wetter as the advance elements of James Longstreet's small army, led by Evander Law and Lafayette McLaws, reach Blain's Crossroads late in the day only to find that Union General John G. Parke's forces have already constructed a formidable defensive line. As a result, Longstreet calls off any further advance. From Rutledge, he reports, “I made an effort to intercept the enemy at this point. We were unsuccessful owing to bad roads and a rise in the Holston [River], which delayed our column of the cavalry some twelve hours. The enemy have escaped in the direction of Knoxville.... We shall be obliged to suspend active operations for want of shoes and clothing.” According to historian Douglas Southall Freeman, "Pursuit was attempted but futile, Longstreet maintained, because Evander Law was slow and Lafayette McLaws was loath to move before bread was issued the hungry men."

HEADQUARTERS, Russellville, East Tenn.
General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: The pursuit was ordered by daylight.... As I rode to the front General Law preferred a complaint of hardships, &c. General McLaws was not yet fed, and there seemed so strong a desire for rest rather than to destroy the enemy, that I was obliged to abandon the pursuit, although the enemy were greatly demoralized and in some confusion. This was the second time during the campaign when the enemy was completely in our power, and we allowed him to escape us.... Respectfully submitted.
JAMES LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.