BATTLEFIELD ASSESSMENT

Bulls Gap

November 11, 1864

Hamblen and Greene

In November 1864, Confederate Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge mounted an expedition into East Tennessee from Virginia to secure food and forage and drive the Federals from the area. A Union force commanded by Brig. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem had advanced beyond Greeneville but retired in front of the larger Confederate army moving out of Jonesborough towards Greeneville.  To protect the rail lines to Knoxville, the Gillem fell back to Bull’s Gap near Whitesburg on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. On November 11, the Confederate forces attacked but were repulsed by 11:00 a.m.  Both sides launched attacks the morning of November 12, but the Confederates gained little ground.  Following skirmishing throughout the day on November 13, Gillem withdrew from Bull’s Gap toward Russellville late in the evening.  After pursuing the retreating Federals as far as Strawberry Plain Breckinridge ultimately withdrew his army back into Virginia. The Confederate victory at the Battle of Bull’s Gap was a setback in the Federal plans to rid East Tennessee of Confederate military presence.

HISTORICAL THEMES

This engagement is one of 38 sites evaluated by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission and not subject to a TCWPA Battlefield Assessment

PRESERVATION OPPORTUNITY INDEX

N/A

A rating assigned for each battlefield to indicate relative opportunity and potential for successful site preservation.

SITE DETAILS

County

Hamblen and Greene

Date

November 11, 1864

Preservation Opportunity

N/A

Confederate Units

N/A

Union Units

N/A

Help Preserve Our Nation's Civil War Heritage

Your support helps TCWPA preserve, interpret, and share the places where history happened for generations to come.

Discover More BattleFields

Fort Donelson

On February 11-16, 1862 combined Union army and naval forces of Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew Foote, respectively, defeated

Read More »

Limestone

On September 8, 1863 the brigade of Confederate Brig. Gen. Alfred Jackson attacked the 100 th Ohio Infantry at a

Read More »

Rogersville

On November 11, 1863 a Confederate force led by the 27th Battalion Virginia Cavalry captured 100 prisoners at Rogersville.  Near

Read More »