01 Dec Battle of Mossy Creek – December 29, 1863
Early in the Civil War, the Union Army took control of the region were Jefferson City now lies. The Confederate soldiers were encamped at Panther Creek in Morristown, while the Union Army was positioned at Mossy Creek. Confederate General J. Longstreet tried to re-take the area, leading to the Battle of Mossy Creek.
During this period, Mossy Creek – now Jefferson City – was the 12th or 13th largest city in Tennessee with approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people. The town sat at a crossroads with roads heading to Knoxville, Dandridge, Panther Springs and White Pine.
The battle started early on a cold winter day on December 29, 1863. By the end of the day, hundreds of Union and Confederate soldiers lost their lives in the fields surrounding the creek. Twenty-six Union soldiers died and 87 were wounded, and confederate casualties are estimated at anywhere from 100 to 300. However, neither side had taken land and the battle ended at the same point it began.
General Longstreet Museum
Eventually, Longstreet made his way to Russellville where he set up camp for the winter. The General Longstreet Museum offers visitors a look into life at the camp.
Glenmore Mansion
While Glenmore Mansion in Jefferson City was constructed after the Battle of Mossy Creek in 1868, the land where it sits has value for the battle. Soldiers from the Civil War Battle of Mossy Creek are buried at the nearby Branner Cemetery.
Today, much of the battle site is now single residence homes that make up the heart of Jefferson City. On the other end of the battlefield is Carson-Newman University. One visual reminder of the battle is on the edge of Mossy Creek where there are stones from a Civil War bridge that once spanned the creek.
Jefferson City Today
Excerpt from the City of Jefferson City: Despite all the changes over the years, including the changing of the town’s name, some things have always remained the same. A newspaper article from 1853 says it best: “The views are not excelled anywhere for picturesque beauty. Landscapes of wooded hills and cultivated valleys stretch out til the eye rests against the blue dimness of the distant mountains to behold wondrous loveliness…The courageous, dignified and refined people make Mossy Creek a most delightful place to visit. Hospitality is second nature with people here, and a visitor never fails to come again.” The beauty and hospitality found in Jefferson City remain unchanging, even after all these years, making this city the best place to visit and live.
Battle of Mossy Creek December 29, 1863 – Historical Marker Inscription
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1C83.); Location. 36° 7.885′ N, 83° 28.889′ W. Marker is in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in Jefferson County
Federal cavalry under Gen. S.D. Sturgis established a line just east of Mossy Creek. At 9:00 a.m., Confederate Gen. W.T. Martin assembled 2000 dismounted cavalry and eight cannons at Talbott’s Railroad Station, three miles east. They advanced along the railroad driving the Federal outposts. After seven hours of severe fighting, Sturgis’ Cavalry, with seven cannons and reinforcements by an infantry brigade from the 23rd Corps, repulsed the Confederates. By 4:00 p.m. the fight ended near where it began. It is estimated that the U.S. loss was 109 while the Confederate loss was 400.