Greeneville in Greene County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Winter Headquarters

Longstreet in Greeneville

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 11, 2020

1. Winter Headquarters Marker

Inscription.

Winter Headquarters. Longstreet in Greeneville. On February 28, 1864, Confederate Gen. James Longstreet established his headquarters here in the house of Judge Samuel Milligan, a Unionist. The Greeneville Town Hall now occupies the site., Gen. Robert E. Lee had detached Longstreet's First Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia in August 1863 to reinforce Gen. Braxton Bragg's army. Longstreet arrived just in time to take part in Bragg's victory in the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Longstreet later marched north to drive Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's forces from Knoxville but failed in the bloody assault on Fort Sanders on November 29. Longstreet blamed a division commander, Gen. Lafayette McLaws, for the defeat and relieved him of command., Longstreet's 20,000–man corps camped about twenty-five miles west of Greeneville late in December before moving to Lick Creek Valley, about ten miles west of here. His staff occupied Joseph R. Brown's Greenville house, Boxwood Manor, and other nearby dwellings. As Longstreet's men foraged in the countryside during the bitterly cold winter, they clashed with Union patrols. Gen. John Hunt Morgan joined Longstreet's command while the headquarters was here. Longstreet's adjutant general, Lt. Col. G. Moxley Sorrel, and his staff telegraphed constant requests to the Confederate government in Richmond for clothing, shoes, grain, and fodder for the horses. Beginning March 11, 1864, Longstreet held McLaws's court martial at Mrs. Jane West's house, the headquarters of Gen. Edward Porter Alexander, Longstreet's artillery commander. McLaws was later acquitted. Longstreet and his corps rejoined Lee in Virginia in mid-April. ,

Gen. Longstreet has fallen back to Greenville. Tenn. The country should give way to no improper excitement on account of this movement, as we are satisfied the wisest counsels determine every movement of Gen. Longstreet. Speculations though, are rife as to the cause of this“retrogade.” To be nearer his base of supplies, and to watch the enemy's movements at the Gap, may be the causes. We don't know.

Abingdon Virginian, Feb. 26, 1864, Captions: , Left: Samuel Milligan House All images courtesy Tim Massey , Center: Gen. James Longstreet

On February 28, 1864, Confederate Gen. James Longstreet established his headquarters here in the house of Judge Samuel Milligan, a Unionist. The Greeneville Town Hall now occupies the site.

Gen. Robert E. Lee had detached Longstreet's First Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia in August 1863 to reinforce Gen. Braxton Bragg's army. Longstreet arrived just in time to take part in Bragg's victory in the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Longstreet later marched north to drive Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's forces from Knoxville but failed in the bloody assault on Fort Sanders on November 29. Longstreet blamed a division commander, Gen. Lafayette McLaws, for the defeat and relieved him of command.

Longstreet's 20,000–man corps camped about twenty-five miles west of Greeneville late in December before moving to Lick Creek Valley, about ten miles west of here. His staff occupied Joseph R. Brown's Greenville house, Boxwood Manor, and other nearby dwellings. As Longstreet's men foraged in the countryside during the bitterly cold winter, they clashed with Union patrols. Gen. John Hunt Morgan joined Longstreet's command while the headquarters was here. Longstreet's adjutant general, Lt. Col. G. Moxley Sorrel, and his staff telegraphed constant requests to the Confederate government in Richmond for clothing, shoes,

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grain, and fodder for the horses. Beginning March 11, 1864, Longstreet held McLaws's court martial at Mrs. Jane West's house, the headquarters of Gen. Edward Porter Alexander, Longstreet's artillery commander. McLaws was later acquitted. Longstreet and his corps rejoined Lee in Virginia in mid-April.

Gen. Longstreet has fallen back to Greenville. Tenn. The country should give way to no improper excitement on account of this movement, as we are satisfied the wisest counsels determine every movement of Gen. Longstreet. Speculations though, are rife as to the cause of this“retrogade.” To be nearer his base of supplies, and to watch the enemy's movements at the Gap, may be the causes. We don't know.

Abingdon Virginian, Feb. 26, 1864

Captions:
Left: Samuel Milligan House All images courtesy Tim Massey
Center: Gen. James Longstreet

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 February 28, 1864.

Location. 36° 9.843′ N, 82° 49.694′ W. Marker is in Greeneville, Tennessee, in Greene County. Marker is on North College

Winter Headquarters Marker Closeup image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 11, 2020

2. Winter Headquarters Marker Closeup

Street north of East Church Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is in front of Greenville Town Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 North College Street, Greeneville TN 37745, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Capitol of State of Franklin (within shouting distance of this marker); Greeneville, Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); Benjamin Lundy (within shouting distance of this marker); Andrew Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Harmony Graveyard (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Heart of the Household (about 500 feet away); "I Have Wrestled With Poverty" (about 600 feet away); The Big Spring (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greeneville.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 11, 2020

3. Winter Headquarters Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 356 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.