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TALBOTT - The soldiers died by the hundreds, the blue and the gray, buried in graves mostly unmarked and now forgotten.
Three new markers around Jefferson County commemorate their stories as part of the state's Civil War Trails program.
"For 145 years, the stories of what happened in Jefferson County lay hidden," said Bob Jarnagin, county historian. "We're proud to bring these stories to light and get them in front of people."
The county saw some of East Tennessee's bloodiest fighting during the winter of 1863-64, when Confederate troops under Gen. James Longstreet, beaten back from a failed siege of Knoxville, clashed with Union troops and sought food and shelter from civilians amid some of the coldest temperatures in local history.
"There were over 20,000 troops on both sides stationed in this county, skirmishing and engaging through one of the coldest winters on record," Jarnagin said. "This is their story."
The county boasts three markers so far. One, dedicated Wednesday in the cemetery of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in the Talbott community, marks the site of the Battle of Kimbrough's Crossroads, where Confederate soldiers forced Union troops into retreat Jan. 16, 1864. Two more commemorate the Battle of Hay's Ferry near Dandridge and the Battle of Mossy Creek in what's now Jefferson City.
"It's very gratifying, because our society is moving toward forgetting a lot of the things that have happened," said Roger "Butternut" Kelley, a Civil War re-enactor. "Hopefully future generations will see this and be able to remember what happened here."
The county expects to place two more signs in the coming weeks and at least another five next year, Jarnagin said.
The Civil War Trails program originated in Virginia during the 1990s and now covers more than 860 sites in five states. That number includes 148 so far in Tennessee, said Noell Rembert, Civil War heritage coordinator for the state Department of Tourist Development. Officials hope to see at least 300 markers placed around the state in time for the war's 150th anniversary in 2011.
Matt Lakin may be reached at 865-342-6306.
Three new markers around Jefferson County commemorate their stories as part of the state's Civil War Trails program.
"For 145 years, the stories of what happened in Jefferson County lay hidden," said Bob Jarnagin, county historian. "We're proud to bring these stories to light and get them in front of people."
The county saw some of East Tennessee's bloodiest fighting during the winter of 1863-64, when Confederate troops under Gen. James Longstreet, beaten back from a failed siege of Knoxville, clashed with Union troops and sought food and shelter from civilians amid some of the coldest temperatures in local history.
"There were over 20,000 troops on both sides stationed in this county, skirmishing and engaging through one of the coldest winters on record," Jarnagin said. "This is their story."
The county boasts three markers so far. One, dedicated Wednesday in the cemetery of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in the Talbott community, marks the site of the Battle of Kimbrough's Crossroads, where Confederate soldiers forced Union troops into retreat Jan. 16, 1864. Two more commemorate the Battle of Hay's Ferry near Dandridge and the Battle of Mossy Creek in what's now Jefferson City.
"It's very gratifying, because our society is moving toward forgetting a lot of the things that have happened," said Roger "Butternut" Kelley, a Civil War re-enactor. "Hopefully future generations will see this and be able to remember what happened here."
The county expects to place two more signs in the coming weeks and at least another five next year, Jarnagin said.
The Civil War Trails program originated in Virginia during the 1990s and now covers more than 860 sites in five states. That number includes 148 so far in Tennessee, said Noell Rembert, Civil War heritage coordinator for the state Department of Tourist Development. Officials hope to see at least 300 markers placed around the state in time for the war's 150th anniversary in 2011.
Matt Lakin may be reached at 865-342-6306.