Confederate forces under Brigadier General William E. Jones retook Rogersville, Tennessee, and captured Federal supplies after catching Union cavalry off guard.
Key Facts
- Date
- November 6, 1863
- Location
- Rogersville, Tennessee
- Confederate commander
- Brigadier General William E. Jones
- Union force
- 3rd Brigade, 4th Cavalry Division
- Confederate units
- Jones' Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, 8th Virginia Cavalry
- Outcome
- Confederate recapture of Rogersville and railroad supplies
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Federal cavalry under the 3rd Brigade, 4th Cavalry Division occupied Rogersville, Tennessee, holding the town and its railroad storehouses. Confederate forces under Brigadier General William E. Jones identified an opportunity to strike while Union troops were unprepared, moving against the Federal position on the morning of November 6, 1863.
Confederate forces, comprising Jones' Brigade, the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, and the 8th Virginia Cavalry, attacked Rogersville while Federal troops were largely caught by surprise. The Union cavalry was unable to mount an effective defense, and Confederate forces drove them from the town in a swift engagement.
Having routed the surprised Federal garrison, Confederate forces recaptured Rogersville and seized significant supplies from the town's railroad storehouses. The engagement represented a small but concrete Confederate tactical gain in the East Tennessee theater, temporarily reversing Union control of the area.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
William E. Jones.