Conflict in Macon County

During the Civil War, Macon County experienced internal strife as did many other areas of Tennessee. In the spring of 1863, a Confederate partisan band established itself in this part of the county, where it harassed Federal units and threatened local Unionists.

This rural hamlet experienced a serious firefight between Union cavalry and infantry and the Confederate irregulars on May 2, 1863. Confederate guerillas hidden in the brush of Goose Creek ambushed Union Cos. D and E, 11th Kentucky Infantry, and Co. I, 8th Kentucky Cavalry. The Confederate bullets found only one victim—a Federal cavalryman's horse—while the Union troopers killed one guerrilla, captured another, and took five Confederate horses.

The guerillas fled toward the town of Hartsville, with the Federal forces in pursuit. The fight continued for about ten miles. Two more Confederates were killed, and ten captured. The Union soldiers suffered no casualties although they lost eight horses, two having been shot out from under them and six that perished due to "exhaustion and sore feet."

Col. S. Pallance Love, commander of the 11 Kentucky Infantry, thought little of his adversaries, considering them little more than "citizens banded together for plunder and robbery." On May 6 he reported: "That whole country is infested with the thieving party. They have nearly devastated that country, an stolen nearly all the good horses from the citizens."

(captions)
Guerrillas stealing horses, Harper's Weekly, Dec. 24, 1864
Confederate guerrilla Courtesy Library of Congress
Confederate guerrilla attack on Union wagon train, Harper's Weekly, Sept 5, 1863

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Show me all markers in:  Lafayette, TN  |  Macon County  |  37083  |  Tennessee  |  United States of America

The Home of William Dunn
A Family Tragedy
Macon County in the Civil War
Macon County Confederate Soldiers Monument
Woodmore Hotel
Macon County War Memorial, a War Memorial
Macon County
World War II Maneuvers
"The Hartsville Races"
Surprise at Hartsville

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