Near Benton in Polk County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 31, 2010
1. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
This site was used as an overnight campsite for seven local Confederate soldiers on the night of February 15th, 1865.
Captain P.L. Bible and six soldiers were attacked as they slept. One soldier was killed and another wounded. One man was taken prisoner but four others managed to escape. The survivors' claimed they were attacked by Union "bushwackers".
It is possible that the surprise night attack on Captain Bible's small detachment of Confederates was made by a scouting party from Company D, 5th Tennessee Mounted Infantry seeking the Confederate guerillas who had killed three men on the Conasauga River the day before. A native stone monument was paced at the campsiteon Bean's Mountain.
Erected by Cherokee National Forest.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is February 15, 1865.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 35° 8.87′ N, 84° 37.026′ W. Marker was near Benton, Tennessee, in Polk County. It was on Oswald Road 0.6 miles north of Benton Springs Road,
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in East Tennessee. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Polk County Confederate Monument (approx. 2.7 miles away); Polk County World Wars Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Polk County Veterans Monument (approx. 2.7 miles away); Civil War in Polk County (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Halfway House (approx. 3.6 miles away); Nancy Ward (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named Nancy Ward (approx. 3.7 miles away); Ocoee No. 1 (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 31, 2010
2. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
T. R. Haney, a Confederate soldier, was killed here Feb 15, 1865.
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2025
3. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
Soldiers
Camp Site Feb. 15, 1865
Capten P.L. Bible
Lieutenant Marion Longley
Lieutenant A.D. Donaldson
Tom Haney, killed
W.M. Crockets leg shot
crawled to Greasy Creek
Jasper McConell
George Renfro captured
Co. B, 62 Tenn C.S.A.
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 31, 2010
4. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
Native Stone Monument
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2025
5. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
Historic markers describing the site were missing as of 7/26/2025. They were located to the left of the Native Stone Monument.
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 31, 2010
6. Confederate Campsite Interpretive Site Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 27, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
