Battle of Bean's Station

Battle of Bean's Station
Part of the American Civil War
Bean Station Hotel before it was dismantled in 1941 to make way for the TVA's Cherokee Dam.[1]
Date December 14, 1863; 160 years ago (1863-12-14) Location Bean Station, Tennessee, United States 36°19′29″N 83°22′08″W / 36.3248°N 83.369°W / 36.3248; -83.369 Result See aftermath
Belligerents
Confederate States of America (Confederacy)	United States (Union)
Commanders and leaders
James Longstreet	James Shackelford
Units involved
Confederate Forces in East Tennessee	Army of the Ohio
Strength
Total: 12,000 Engaged: 4,200[2]	5,000[3]
Casualties and losses
290[2]–900[4]	115[3]–700[4][5]
class=notpageimage| Location within Tennessee Show map of Tennessee Battle of Bean's Station (the United States) Show map of the United States

The Battle of Bean's Station (December 14, 1863) was fought in Grainger County, Tennessee, during the Knoxville campaign of the American Civil War. The action saw Confederate forces commanded by Lieutenant General James Longstreet attack Union Army cavalry led by Brigadier General James M. Shackelford. After a clash that lasted until nightfall, Longstreet's troops compelled the Federals to retreat. Two cavalry columns that were intended to envelop Shackelford's force were unable to cut off the Union cavalry, though one of the columns captured 25 Federal wagons. On December 15, Shackelford was joined by some Union infantry southwest of Bean's Station where they skirmished with the Confederates before withdrawing again.

Longstreet's troops began the Siege of Knoxville on November 19. When Major General Ambrose Burnside's garrison was relieved on December 4 by a much larger Union army led by Major General William T. Sherman, Longstreet retreated northeast to Rogersville. The pursuing Union force under Major General John Parke soon halted at Rutledge and Bean's Station. Learning that the bulk of Sherman's army left the area, Longstreet decided to assume the offensive again. He planned to surround and crush Shackelford's cavalry, but the Union cavalry resisted stubbornly, and the Confederate cavalry pincers failed to close. On December 16, Shackelford joined Parke's main Union field force at Blaine's Crossroads. Seeing that his strategy failed, Longstreet withdrew to the northeast.