Changes

Since After the Battle of Dandridge, the Union cavalry had moved to the south side of the French Broad River and had disrupted Confederate foraging and , as well as captured numerous wagons in that area. On January 25, 1864, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, commander of the Department of East Tennessee, instructed his subordinates to do something to curtail Union operations south of the French BroadRiver. On the 26th, Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, having had various brushes with Confederate cavalry, deployed his troopers to watch the area fords. Two Confederate cavalry brigades and artillery advanced from Fair Garden in the afternoon but were checked about four miles from Sevierville. Other Confederates Confederate forces attacked a Union cavalry brigade, though, at Fowler’s on Flat Creek, and drove it about two miles. No further fighting occurred that day. Union scouts observed that the Confederates had concentrated on the Fair Garden Road, so Sturgis ordered an attack there in the morning. In a heavy fog, Col. Edward M. McCook’s Union division attacked and drove back Maj. Gen. William T. Martin’s Confederates until about 4:00 pm. At that time, McCook’s men charged with sabers and routed the Rebelsrebels. Sturgis set out in pursuit on the 28th, and captured and killed more of the routed Rebelsrebels. The Union forces, however, observed then three of Longstreet’s infantry brigades crossing the river. Realizing his men's weariness from fighting, his lack of supplies, ammunition, and weapons , and the overwhelming strength of the enemy, Sturgis decided to evacuate the arearetreat. But, before Before leaving, Sturgis determined decided to attack Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong’s Confederate cavalry division which he had learned was about three or four miles away, on the river. Unbeknownst to the attacking Federals, Armstrong had strongly fortified his position and three infantry regiments had arrived to reinforce him. Thus, the The Union troops accordingly suffered severe casualties in the attack. The battle continued until dark, when the Federals retired from the area. The Federals had won the big overall battle but the fatigue of continual fighting and lack of supplies and ammunition forced them to withdraw. (''NPS summary'')