Farmington Engagement

During Confederate Gen. Joseph Wheeler's October 1-6, 1864, raid through the Sequatchie Valley to cut supply lines to Federal-occupied Chattanooga, his 4,000 cavalrymen captured or destroyed 750 supply wagons and 4,000 mules and horses, took 1,200 prisoners, and destroyed railroad cars, several bridges, and miles of track. On October 7, 8,000 of Union Gen. George Crook's cavalry pursued Wheeler on the Farmington Turnpike from Shelbyville. The Union 72nd Indiana and 123rd Illinois Infantry attacked the Confederate rear guard at Palmetto, and after a sharp fight Wheeler's men fled down an old sunken road to Farmington. Near Farmington, Confederate gunners fired on the Federals to slow them while the 8th Tennessee and 1st Kentucky moved on to Lewisburg. Minutes later the Confederate 8th Texas Cavalry came down from Clay Hill, with two companies charging the Federals while the rest crossed East Rock Creek. The 10th Illinois Cavalry and 2nd U.S. Cavalry Division arrived to support the Union force, and heavy fighting continued for almost two hours. After destroying the bridge over East Rock Creek, the Confederates retreated west to Lewisburg. Casualty figures are uncertain, but each side may have suffered about 20 dead and 80 wounded, and the Federals captured about 100 prisoners. Residents later buried twelve Confederate dead from the October 7, 1863, Farmington engagement in a common grave, and a monument dedicated in June 1874 became one of the oldest Confederate monuments in Tennessee.

Tennessee · United States