Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective
December Issue: 1989 Twenty Years On: The End of Communism and the Fate of Eastern Europe
eHistory Book Reviews
November Review:
428 AD: An Ordinary Year at the End of the Roman Empire
MultiMedia Histories

Featured History:
Purchasing the American Dream: Buying a Home in 1960 Chicago
eHistory Archive Logo
THESE ARE ARCHIVED PAGES OF THE OLD EHISTORY SITE
click here for the NEW eHistory site
These pages are not actively maintained and may have errors in content and functionality
 icon: the new eHistory
click to see our Origins feature click to see our Multimedia histories click to see our Book Reviews
Ancient History Middle Ages Civil War World War II Vietnam War Middle East World
      eHistory  >  World History  >  Military  >  Major Conflicts  >  Camp Wildcat (... Search
A Moment in Time
Articles
Biographies
Books
Countries
Glossary
HistoryLists
Images & Maps
Military
Personal Histories
Timelines
Camp Wildcat (1861)
 
War:   American Civil War
 
Also known as:   Wildcat Mountain
 
Date(s):   21 Oct 1861
 
Location:   Laurel County, Kentucky, US
 
Outcome:   Union Victory
 
Description:   Brig. Gen. Alvin F. Schoepf, USA
Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer, CSA

Each side had a brigade's worth of men.

Casualties were light. The Union lost about 25, the South around 50.

Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer's men occupied Cumberland Gap and took position at Cumberland Ford to counter the Unionist activity in the area. Brig. Gen. George H. Thomas sent a detachment under Col. T.T. Garrard to secure the ford on the Rockcastle River, establish a camp at Wildcat Mountain, and obstruct the Wilderness road passing through the area.

Col. Garrard informed Thomas that if he did not receive reinforcements, he would have to retreat because he was outnumbered seven to one. Thomas sent Brig. Gen. A. Schoepf with what amounted to a brigade of men to Col. Garrard, bringing the total force to about 7,000.

On the morning of October 21, soon after Schoepf arrived, some of his men moved forward and ran into Rebel forces, commencing a fight. The Federals repelled the Confederate attacks, in part due to fortifications, both man-made and natural. The Confederates withdrew during the night and continued their retreat to Cumberland Ford, which they reached on the 26th.

A Union victory was welcomed, countering the Confederate victory at Barbourville.


Content provided by:
eHistory Staff

Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.



About | Contact

All images and content are the property of eHistory at The Ohio State University unless otherwise stated.
Copyright © 2009 OSU Department of History. All rights reserved.