Battle of Walker's Ford

Battle of Walker's Ford
Part of the American Civil War

Battle of Walker's Ford in the Knoxville Campaign
DateDecember 2, 1863
Location
Walker's Ford, Clinch River
36°20′32″N 83°41′3″W / 36.34222°N 83.68417°W / 36.34222; -83.68417
Result Union tactical victory[1]
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
United States Orlando B. Willcox
United States Felix W. Graham
Confederate States of America William T. Martin
Units involved
Left Wing, Army of the Ohio Armstrong's Division
Jones' Brigade
Strength
1,500 3,000
Casualties and losses
64 100

The Battle of Walker's Ford (December 2, 1863) saw three Confederate cavalry brigades led by Brigadier General William T. Martin attack a Union cavalry brigade under Colonel Felix W. Graham at Walker's Ford on the Clinch River during the Knoxville campaign of the American Civil War. After failing to trap Graham's brigade at Maynardville, Tennessee, Martin's cavalry pursued in the direction of Tazewell before encountering Graham's horsemen south of Walker's Ford in the morning. At first, Martin's cavalry pressed Graham's troopers back. However, Brigadier General Orlando B. Willcox arrived with a Union infantry brigade and repulsed the Confederate cavalry. Martin sent a cavalry brigade to envelop the Union force, but it was blocked by one of Graham's regiments at a nearby ford. Martin's Confederates soon withdrew toward Knoxville. Willcox's tentative probe failed to relieve Major General Ambrose Burnside's defenders in the Siege of Knoxville, but Major General William T. Sherman's much larger forces soon accomplished that task.

  1. ^ Hess 2013, p. 189.