Early in December 1863, Confederate Gen. James Longstreet abandoned his siege of Knoxville and withdrew northeast while Union Gen. John Parke followed distantly. Parke sent Gen. James Shackelford ahead to harry Longstreet, who camped with his main force at Rogersville and took command of all upper East Tennessee Confederates. When Shackelford camped near Bean’s Station north of the Holston River, Longstreet turned to destroy the Union force. On December 14, Longstreet’s infantry pushed the Federals into Bean’s Station while his cavalry swept around their northern and southern flanks to block retreat. Federal artillery fired on the Confederates in front of Bean’s Station Tavern, Confederate guns replied, and hundreds of rounds were exchanged. After repelling several assaults, Federal troops retreated toward Rutledge. Longstreet then learned that his cavalry commander, Gen. William T. Martin, had not delayed the main Federal force. Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones held Bean’s Station Gap, but Federals escaped west through the hills. Longstreet’s commanders balked at an all-out pursuit because of meager supplies and their men’s weariness. As Union reinforcements arrived, the Confederates marched toward Russellville and went into winter quarters. Longstreet won at Bean's Station but failed to destroy the Union cavalry. The tavern remained intact until 1940, when it was dismantled before the creation of Cherokee Lake, and a later fire destroyed its materials before it could be rebuilt.