Scotts Hill in Henderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Scotts Hill

Riding Through Scotts Hill

— Forrest's First West Tennessee Raid —

Scotts Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Austin, circa 2016

1. Scotts Hill Marker

Inscription.

Scotts Hill. Riding Through Scotts Hill. (preface) , Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest led his cavalry brigade on a raid through West Tennessee, Dec 15, 1862-Jan 3, 1863, destroying railroads and severing Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's supply line between Columbus, Kentucky, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Forrest crossed the Tennessee River at Clifton, defeated Union Col. Robert G. Ingersoll's cavalry at Lexington, captured Trenton and Union City, and ranged briefly into Kentucky. He raided back through Tennessee, evaded defeat at Parker’s Cross Roads, and crossed the river again at Clifton. Forrest’s success forced Grant to switch his supply base to Memphis., (main text) , Scotts Hill, located on the Decatur-Henderson County line on the stage road from the Tennessee River to West Tennessee, was a popular stop for travelers. Although the town and surrounding area escaped much of the Civil War’s destruction, in 1862 Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry brigade swept by on a raid against Federal supply lines., After crossing the Tennessee River at Clifton on December 15, Forrest’s brigade rode several miles northwest on the stage road (present-day Route 114) before camping at the foot of McCorkle Hill near Bath Springs, about ten miles southeast of here. He and his men passed through Scotts Hill en route to Lexington and points west. He escaped disaster on the return march at Parker’s Crossroads on December 31, having succeeded in disrupting Union supply lines. Forrest passed through Scotts Hill again on January 1, 1863, fought a brief action at McCorkle Hill, and then crossed the Tennessee River the next day at Clifton., On the raid, Forrest and his men rode about 300 miles through rain, sleet, and snow, averaging 20 miles a day. They destroyed 50 bridges on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, burning trestles and tearing up rails., (captions) , Forrest's First West Tennessee Raid, Dec. 15, 1862, Jan. 3, 1863, Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest , Gen. Braxton Bragg , All photos courtesy Library of Congress, Union blockhouse, Tennessee River

(preface)
Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest led his cavalry brigade on a raid through West Tennessee, Dec 15, 1862-Jan 3, 1863, destroying railroads and severing Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's supply line between Columbus, Kentucky, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Forrest crossed the Tennessee River at Clifton, defeated Union Col. Robert G. Ingersoll's cavalry at Lexington, captured Trenton and Union City, and ranged briefly into Kentucky. He raided back through Tennessee, evaded defeat at Parker’s Cross Roads, and crossed the river again at Clifton. Forrest’s success forced Grant to switch his supply base to Memphis.

(main text)
Scotts Hill, located on the Decatur-Henderson County line on the stage road from the Tennessee River to West Tennessee, was a popular stop for travelers. Although the town and surrounding area escaped much of the Civil War’s destruction, in 1862 Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry brigade swept by on a raid against Federal supply lines.

After crossing the Tennessee River at Clifton on December 15, Forrest’s brigade rode several miles northwest on the stage road (present-day Route 114) before camping at the foot of McCorkle Hill near Bath Springs, about ten miles southeast of here. He and his men passed through Scotts Hill en route to Lexington and points west.

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He escaped disaster on the return march at Parker’s Crossroads on December 31, having succeeded in disrupting Union supply lines. Forrest passed through Scotts Hill again on January 1, 1863, fought a brief action at McCorkle Hill, and then crossed the Tennessee River the next day at Clifton.

On the raid, Forrest and his men rode about 300 miles through rain, sleet, and snow, averaging 20 miles a day. They destroyed 50 bridges on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, burning trestles and tearing up rails.

(captions)
Forrest's First West Tennessee Raid, Dec. 15, 1862—Jan. 3, 1863

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
Gen. Braxton Bragg
All photos courtesy Library of Congress

Union blockhouse, Tennessee River

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1862.

Location. 35° 31.361′ N, 88° 14.894′ W. Marker is in Scotts Hill, Tennessee, in Henderson County. Marker can be reached from Tennessee Route 114, 0.3 miles south of Tennessee Route 100, on the left when traveling south. Located in Scotts Hill City Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Scotts Hill TN 38374, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed By David Austin, circa 2016

2. Scotts Hill Marker

8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Veterans Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Reverend R. Swift (approx. 0.3 miles away); Farmers State Bank and FirstBank: A Century of Community Banking (approx. 0.6 miles away); Prof. B.A. Tucker (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Temple (approx. 1.4 miles away); Austin Chapel Church & The Austin Family Homeplace (approx. 1.6 miles away); Granny Austin Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); Doe Creek School (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scotts Hill.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest image. Click for full size.

3. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest

Gen. Braxton Bragg image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

4. Gen. Braxton Bragg

Library of Congress [LC-USZC4-7984]

Tennessee River. Blockhouse on the bank image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

5. Tennessee River. Blockhouse on the bank

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-cwpb-02151]

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2019, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,310 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on November 19, 2019, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2019, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 18, 2019. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.