The Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee

By: Hartsville-Trousdale Chamber of Commerce
  • Summary

  • The battle of Hartsville has been called by many the "Most successfully executed Calvary raid of the war between the states". While the number of troops engaged in this battle was comparatively small, the Confederate victory was so complete and decisive in military tactic that news of the battle was reported across the country by nearly 70 newspapers. In fact, the Battle of Hartsville attracted the attention of President Abraham Lincoln, who sent a telegram to the commanding senior general stationed in Nashville asking, "Who was responsible for the disaster at Hartsville?". It was due to the success of this battle that Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan, known as "The Thunderbolt of the Confederacy", received his commission to Brigadier General. This driving tour includes buildings and homes used as hospitals, sites where Morgan quartered nearly 2000 prisoners after the 75-minute battle, river crossings, rendezvous points and a cemetery. We hope you enjoy your tour through Hartsville, Tennessee.
    Copyright 2023 Hartsville-Trousdale Chamber of Commerce
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Episodes
  • Stop 17 - Hartsville Cemetery
    Dec 14 2020

    Finally, you have reached the Hartsville Cemetery, the final resting place for over 50 Confederate veterans. Among them is Colonel James Dearing Bennett, Commander of the famed 9th Tennessee Cavalry. After the battle, Winslow Hart (the son of James Hart) and other citizens buried both Union and Confederate casualties on a knoll at the rear of the cemetery. Some of the Union dead were later moved and returned to their homeland or reinterred at the National Cemetery in Nashville.

    Thank you for completing the driving tour of the Battle of Hartsville. Safe travels.

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    1 min
  • Stop 16 - Hart's Ferry
    Dec 13 2020

    Located some 400 yards from here at the river, Hart’s Ferry was started in 1798 by James Hart (from whom Hartsville was named). From here, Col. Morgan began his exit from Hartsville with all his captured goods, two pieces of artillery, ammunition, supplies, and wagons. Just as Morgan was getting the last of his men across the river, Union Col. John M. Harland arrived from Castalian Springs and opened fire but did not pursue them. One of his cannon shots barely missed Morgan and his staff, hitting a tree limb above them. The Union reinforcements destroyed three wagons in the river as the confederates made their exit from Hartsville. The Union losses were 58 killed, 204 wounded and 1,834 captured. The Confederate losses were 21 dead, 104 wounded and 14 missing in action. For his daring victory, John Hunt Morgan was promoted to brigadier general. The battle was considered Morgan’s greatest victory and is considered by many as the best executed and most successful Calvary raid of the Civil War.

    (Go to the end of Herod Drive and turn around; go back to Cemetery Road and turn right)

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    1 min
  • Stop 15 - Union Cavalry Camp
    Dec 12 2020

    The Union’s 2nd Indiana and Co. E. 11th Kentucky Cavalry camped and were positioned in this area to guard Hart’s Ferry. The entire Union Cavalry force moved up to this location to support the Infantry but participated very little in the battle. They suffered only three casualties, and most escaped capture.

    (Drive to the curve in the road.)

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    1 min

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