Blountsville in Blount County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Federal Raid

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, March 21, 2026

1. Federal Raid Marker

Inscription.
In late April 1863, Union colonel Abel D. Streight set out on a raid from Eastpoint. Mississippi, to Rome, Georgia, charged with disrupting crucial Confederate supply lines. Streight crossed into north Alabama with 1,700 men. including members of the First Alabama (Union) Cavalry. Many of the raiders rode mules, earning a sobriquet in southern newspapers as the "Mule Brigade." The Federal troops were pursued by cavalrymen under the command of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Streight's men arrived in Blountsville early on May 1, 1863, having marched all night following a costly battle at Day's Gap in Cullman County. To quicken their pace, Streight ordered several supply wagons burned. The smoke alerted Forrest's advance guard to the raiders' location, and they fought one mile south of this site. The Confederate cavalrymen doused the flames and took possession of much-needed supplies.

From Blountsville, the running fight moved eastward. Streight surrendered to Forrest on May 3, 1863, at Cedar Bluff in Cherokee County.

Erected 2018 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 1, 1863.

Location. 34° 5.962′ N, 86° 34.544′

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W. Marker is in Blountsville, Alabama, in Blount County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 231) 0.1 miles east of Bailey Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the west of US 231 about one mile north of Blountsville, Alabama, in front of the Calvary Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 70621 Main St, Blountsville AL 35031, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Birmingham Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor of Those Who Served (approx. 1½ miles away); Ebenezer Hearn 1794-1862 (approx. 1½ miles away); Blountsville (approx. 1½ miles away); Blountsville Court Square Timeline (approx. 1½ miles away); Battle Royal (approx. 5.2 miles away); Exploit of Murphree Sisters (approx. 5.2 miles away); First Baptist Church Holly Pond (approx. 5.7 miles away); The History of Holly Pond School (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blountsville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Federal Raid (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, March 21, 2026

2. Federal Raid Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2026, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.