Battle of Philadelphia *** Bivouac of Reconciliation - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

During the autumn of 1863, Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's forces occupied Knoxville and much of the surrounding countryside. Philadelphia, a station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, was the southernmost Union-held town. Col. Frank Wolford's brigade, which included the 1st, 11th, and 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiments, the 45th Mounted Infantry, and six mountain howitzers, occupied Philadelphia and protected the railroad.

On October 20, 1863, two Confederate cavalry brigades approached Philadelphia. Col. George Dibrell and his troops came from the south, and Col. John J. Morrison's brigade moved in from the west. Dibrell's brigade was to distract the Federals while Morrison's brigade attacked from the north. Unaware of the Confederate movements, however, Wolford had sent wagons westward for supplies. Morrison's men captured the wagons, sent them south and continued his advance. Wolford knew a fight was on when he heard firing to the west during the attackon the wagon train. He dispatched almost half his troops to recover the wagons.

Morrison's assault on the Union position, which according to local tradition was on Federal Hill in front of you, met with success. Wolford fought in two directions until informed that his mountain howitzers were almost out of ammunition, then ordered a retreat after the last round was fired. Wolford's men fled to Loudon, leaving behind the valuable guns. The Battle of Philadelphia marked the first defeat of the Union forces during the occupation of East Tennessee.

Type of site: Battlefield Address: 406 Church St Philadelphia, tn 37846 Admission Charged: No Charge Website: [Web Link] Driving Directions: Traveling on US Hwy 11 (W Lee Hwy) turn onto Christian St. After crossing the railroad tracks turn left onto Church St. The sign is on your right at the First Baptist Church. The coords for the battlefield are N35 40.793 W084 23.153 Phone Number: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a picture of site showing the signage or other notable feature. Please tell what you saw or learned.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   02/05/2023 Don.Morfe visited it 01/28/2010 Team Geologynut visited it

View all visits/logs