Battle of Bean's Station

{| style="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent"
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Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Bean's Station
partof=the American Civil War


caption=
date=December 14, 1863
place=Grainger County, Tennessee
casus=
territory=
result= Confederate victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1863 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=John G. Parke James M. Shackelford
commander2=James Longstreet
strength1=Army of the Ohio
strength2=Confederate Forces in East Tennessee
casualties1=700
casualties2=900|

The Battle of Bean's Station was a battle of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, occurring on December 14, 1863, in Grainger County, Tennessee.

Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet abandoned the Siege of Knoxville on December 4, 1863, and retreated northeast towards Rogersville, Tennessee. Union Maj. Gen. John G. Parke, chief of staff to Army of the Ohio commander Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, pursued the Confederates, but not too closely. Longstreet continued to Rutledge on December 6 and Rogersville on December 9. Parke sent Brig. Gen. James M. Shackelford on with about 4,000 cavalry and infantry to search for Longstreet.

On December 13, Shackelford was near Bean's Station on the Holston River. Longstreet decided to go back and capture Bean’s Station. Three Confederate columns and artillery approached Bean's Station to catch the Federals in a vice. By 2:00 a.m. on December 14, one column was skirmishing with Union pickets. The pickets held out as best they could and warned Shackelford of the Confederate presence. He deployed his force for an assault. Soon, the battle started and continued throughout most of the day. Confederate flanking attacks and other assaults occurred at various times and locations, but the Federals held until southern reinforcements tipped the scales. By nightfall, the Federals were retiring from Bean's Station through Bean's Gap and on to Blain's Cross Roads. Longstreet set out to attack the Union forces again the next morning, but as he approached them at Blain's Cross Roads, he found them well-entrenched.

Longstreet withdrew and the Federals soon left the area. The Knoxville Campaign ended following the battle of Bean's Station. Longstreet soon went into winter quarters at Russellville. Their success meant little to Confederate efforts except to prevent disaster.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/tn026.htm National Park Service battle description]

External links

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