On January 15, 1865, an early morning clash occurred on the Thomas Noble farm between Federal forces led by Col. William J. Palmer’s 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, numbering 180 men, and Confederate Gen. Hylon B. Lyon’s 250 men from two Kentucky cavalry brigades drawn from the 3rd, 7th, 12th, 16th, and Sypert’s regiments. More than 100 Confederates were taken prisoner, including Gen. Lyon, who managed to escape by shooting Federal Sgt. Arthur Peace Lyon, no relation, and fleeing out a back window. In retaliation for the death of Sgt. Lyon, a popular Federal soldier, the Yankees burned most of the plantations and other farms as they marched north along Brown’s Valley to the Tennessee River. Later that day, Federal gunboats Grant, Sherman, and Burnside put marines ashore and burned most of the buildings in the Fort Deposit area, including several stores and the Methodist church. The Fennell house was spared because the Fennell family was preparing meals for the Yankee soldiers. At noon the same boats were dispatched to burn the town of Guntersville, where all but seven buildings were laid to ashes. The captured Confederates were taken to the Federal prison at Camp Chase, Ohio. Many died of illness, starvation, and exposure due to the harsh winter weather. Col. Palmer received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the attack at Red Hill.