The following is a summary by the National Park Service of the Civil War Battle of Fair Garden in Tennessee:
[size=10]Fair Garden
Other Names: None
Location: Sevier County
Campaign: Operations about Dandridge, Tennessee (1863-64)
Date(s): January 27, 1864
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis and Col. Edward M. McCook [US]; Maj. Gen. William T. Martin [CS]
Forces Engaged: Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio [US]; Cavalry Division, Department of East Tennessee [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 265 total (US 100; CS 165)
Description: Since the Battle of Dandridge, the Union cavalry had moved to the south side of the French Broad River and had disrupted Confederate foraging and captured numerous wagons in that area. On January 25, 1864, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, commander of the Department of East Tennessee, instructed his subordinates to do something to curtail Union operations south of the French Broad. On the 26th, Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, having had various brushes with Confederate cavalry, deployed his troopers to watch the area fords. Two Confederate cavalry brigades and artillery advanced from Fair Garden in the afternoon but were checked about four miles from Sevierville. Other Confederates attacked a Union cavalry brigade, though, at Fowler’s on Flat Creek, and drove it about two miles. No further fighting occurred that day. Union scouts observed that the Confederates had concentrated on the Fair Garden Road, so Sturgis ordered an attack there in the morning. In a heavy fog, Col. Edward M. McCook’s Union division attacked and drove back Maj. Gen. William T. Martin’s Confederates until about 4:00 pm. At that time, McCook’s men charged with sabers and routed the Rebels. Sturgis set out in pursuit on the 28th, and captured and killed more of the routed Rebels. The Union forces, however, observed three of Longstreet’s infantry brigades crossing the river. Realizing his weariness from fighting, lack of supplies, ammunition, and weapons and the overwhelming strength of the enemy, Sturgis decided to evacuate the area. But, before leaving, Sturgis determined to attack Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong’s Confederate cavalry division which he had learned was about three or four miles away, on the river. Unbeknownst to the attacking Federals, Armstrong had strongly fortified his position and three infantry regiments had arrived to reinforce him. Thus, the Union troops suffered severe casualties in the attack. The battle continued until dark, when the Federals retired from the area. The Federals had won the big battle but the fatigue of continual fighting and lack of supplies and ammunition forced them to withdraw.
Result(s): Union victory
CWSAC Reference #: TN029
Preservation Priority: II.3 (Class C) [/size]
I have a reason for posting this bit of Civil War history. Last Saturday, while my grandson was working on the grounds at Critter Creek, he proudly presented me with this cannon ball unearthed after having lain undisturbed for the past 147 years. It was probably fired from a light artillery piece during one of the skirmishes that took place south of the French Broad River during what Civil War historians call "The Battle of Fair Garden":
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/CivilWarCannonBallfromCritterCreek.jpg)
In my spare time (such as it has been with the deadline for an appellate brief rapidy approaching), I have been researching the cannon ball found at Critter Creek two weeks ago. I think I'm beginning to close in on its identification.
The ball (or "shot") is 2.60" in diameter and weighs 3 pounds. Based on my research, a ball of that size and weight would probably have been a grape shot for a 24-pound howitzer. Up to nine or so of these iron balls would be packed into a canister. When the canister was fired, the balls (or grape shot) would separate much as do the pellets from a shotgun shell -- and with the obviously devastating effect.
http://www.civilwarartillery.com/
The 24-pounder was a bronze smoothbore included in the 1841 US artillery series. By 1862 it was still in Federal service, although less commonly, but was still being used by Confederate artillery units.
My research also indicates that spherical grape-shot balls manufactured by the Confederate States usually had a visible equatorial mold seam. The ball found at Critter Creek has no such seam, which could indicate that it might originally have been made for the Federal forces. It could, however, have been in the caisson of a Federal artillery piece captured by Confederate forces.
Here is a photograph of a 24-pound howitzer with a civilian (possibly some bureaucrat or arms salesman), standing alongside it. A number of canisters are shown stacked behind the howitzer's carriage.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/CivilWar24-poundHowitzer.jpg)
The relatively good condition of the ball found at Critter Creek might indicate that it was contained in a canister which was never fired but left behind by a howitzer crew that had set up a firing position but had to leave in a hurry. That might also indicate that another 8 balls are somewhere on the property together with some remains of the canister.
I really must get myself a good metal detector. 8)