Battle of Philadelphia - Philadelphia TN - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

TEXT ON THE CIVIL WAR HISTORICAL MARKER

Battle of Philadelphia - Bivouac of Reconciliation

During the autumn of 1863, Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's forces occupied Knoxville and much of the surrounding countryside. Philadelphia, a station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, was the southernmost Union-held town. Col. Frank Wolford's brigade, which included the 1st, 11th, and 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiments, the 45th Mounted Infantry, and six mountain howitzers, occupied Philadelphia and protected the railroad.

On October 20, 1863, two Confederate cavalry brigades approached Philadelphia. Col. George Dibrell and his troops came from the south, and Col. John J. Morrison's brigade moved in from the west. Dibrell's brigade was to distract the Federals while Morrison's brigade attacked from the north. Unaware of the Confederate movements, however, Wolford had sent wagons westward for supplies. Morrison's men captured the wagons, sent them south and continued his advance. Wolford knew a fight was on when he heard firing to the west during the attack on the wagon train. He dispatched almost half his troops to recover the wagons.

Morrison's assault on the Union position, which according to local tradition was on Federal Hill in front of you, met with success. Wolford fought in two directions until informed that his mountain howitzers were almost out of ammunition, then ordered a retreat after the last round was fired. Wolford's men fled to Loudon, leaving behind the valuable guns. The Battle of Philadelphia marked the first defeat of the Union forces during the occupation of East Tennessee.

Name of Battle: Battle of Philadelphia Name of War: U.S. Civil War Entrance Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 10/20/1863 Parking: Not Listed Date of Battle (End): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.

In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/05/2023 Don.Morfe visited it