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Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, USA
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, CSA
Sturgis had the cavalry corps, supported by infantry against elements of Longstreet’s reinforced corps.
US casualties were roughly 150; Confederate losses are unknown.
Union forces under Maj. Gen. John G. Parke advanced on Dandridge, Tennessee, near the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, on January 14, forcing Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s Confederate troops to fall back. Longstreet, however, moved additional troops into the area on the 15th to meet the enemy and threaten the Union base at New Market.
On the 16th, Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, commanding the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio, rode forward to occupy Kimbrough’s Crossroads. Three or four miles short of his objective, Sturgis’s cavalry met Rebel troops and forced them back towards the crossroads. As the Union cavalry neared the crossroads, they discovered a Confederate infantry division (with artillery) that had arrived the day before as part of Longstreet’s reinforcements. The infantry were too strong for the Union cavalry to dislodge, and the Sturgis’ men fell back to Dandridge.
About noon the next day, Sturgis got word that the Confederates were preparing for an attack, and he formed his men into line of battle. About 4:00 pm, the Confederates advanced and the fighting quickly spread along the line. The battle continued until after dark with the Confederates gaining almost no ground. However, Sturgis fell back that night, not knowing how many reinforcements Longstreet had sent. They pulled back to New Market and Strawberry Plains, but the Rebels were unable to pursue because of the lack of artillery, ammunition, and shoes.
For the time being, the Union forces left the area. The Confederates had failed to destroy or capture the Federals as they might have, and the sparring continued.
