Civil War in Putnam County - Cookeville, TN
Posted by: 
ggmorton
N 36° 09.854 W 085° 30.532
16S E 634118 N 4003194
A Civil War history sign near the Cookeville Railroad Museum & Depot in Cookeville, TN.
Waymark Code: WM13EEW
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 11/23/2020
Views: 5
"Putnam County was a divided land during the Civil War as local residents enlisted in either Federal or Confederate units. It also was a crossroads, as both armies passed through the county numerous times over such important historic roads as the Walton Road (east - west route) and the Old Kentucky Road (north - south route). Although no major engagement by army regulars took place in Putnam County, forage raids, conscript sweeps, bushwhacking, and small skirmishes were typical occurrences.
During a reconnaissance expedition, Union Col. Henry K. McConnell's troops killed 23 Confederate partisans and captured another 40 near Cookeville. The Battle of Dug Hill on February 24, 1983, was the most famous engagement in Putnam County. Confederate Col. John M. Hugh's rangers ambushed a detachment of Col. William B. Stoke's 5th Tennessee Calvary along the Calfkiller River and killed more than 40 men.
Most of the harm the citizens suffered was due to the continuous guerrilla activity in Putnam and the surrounding counties, and many residents from both sides endured privations from the destruction of lives and property. The upheaval caused by the conflict created wounds and animosities that took decades to heal.
The Johnson and Calfkiller caves near Monterey provided saltpeter for gunpowder, and the 4th Confederate Cavalry mustered in the Calfkiller Valley. White County's Confederate Gen. George G. Dibrell, 8th Tennessee Cavalry, once used Dry Valley as his headquarters. Union Gen. John T. Wilder of the famed "Lightning Brigade" made Monterey his home after the war.
"Prosperity seems to pervade Putnam County, but there I've found nine tenths of the people loyal & for Johnson & Lincoln. In my father's district of Putnam there were but four votes for separation and two hundred and four against Secession." Union Gen. Alvan C. Gillem to Gov. Andrew Johnson, August 9, 1864."
Reference: Pictured sign
Group that erected the marker: Civil War Trails
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
100 W Broad St
Cookeville, TN USA
38501
|
Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, preferably including yourself or your GPSr in the photo. A very detailed description of your visit may be substituted for a photo. In any case please provide a description of your visit. A description of only "Visited" or "Saw it while on vacation" by anyone other than the person creating the waymark may be deleted by the waymark owner or the category officers.