Denmark in Madison County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Battle of Britton Lane

An Unexpected Clash

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2014

1. Battle of Britton Lane Marker

Inscription. In August 1862, Confederate Gen. Sterling Price ordered Gen. Frank C. Armstrong to conduct a raid with his 2,000-man cavalry brigade to determine the strength and location of Union forces in West Tennessee. The raiders left Guntown, Mississippi, on August 22 and arrived in Holly Springs four days later, where Col. William H. Jackson’s mounted regiments joined them. The combined force of 3,000 men crossed into Tennessee on August 29. Riding northeast, they encountered Union Col. Mortimer Leggett’s brigade near Bolivar and engaged it in a fight that lasted most of the day. Both commanders claimed victory, but the Federals held the field. Bypassing the fortifications at Bolivar, Armstrong’s troopers destroyed railroad and telegraph facilities between Toone and Medon. Several Federal detachments gathered at Medon Station, constructed a cotton-bale barricade, and held off a Confederate attack.

Anticipating that Armstrong’s raiders were moving toward Jackson, Union Col. Elias S. Dennis led the 20th and 30th Illinois Infantry, and Illinois artillery battery, and two Ohio cavalry companies east to intercept them. The two forces

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collided unexpectedly on September 1 at Britton Lane. The outnumbered Federals took a strong defensive position behind a rail fence on a small ridge and drove back repeated dismounted Confederate assaults. The Federal infantry countercharged and reclaimed two captured Union cannons. At about 3 p.m., Armstrong ended the attack, withdrew his troops, and headed south. Nearly 200 Confederates lay dead. Union casualties were light, although more than 200 were captured and paroled at Denmark Church. Armstrong had accomplished his mission, although at a heavy cost.

"Oh such carnage you never saw or heard of. It is said never to have been equaled except at Fort Donelson.” — Sgt. Edwin H. Fay, Minden Rangers

(captions)
(lower left) Gen. Frank C. Armstrong and Col. Elias S. Dennis Courtesy Library of Congress
(upper center) Capturing cannons - Courtesy Library of Congress
(lower right) Battle of Britton Lane

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 month for this entry is September 1865.

Location.

Close up of map shown on the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2014

2. Close up of map shown on the marker

35° 29.417′ N, 88° 57.493′ W. Marker is in Denmark, Tennessee, in Madison County. It is on Britton Lane 0.6 miles west of Steam Mill FerryRoad, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Denmark TN 38391, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once 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 marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of Britton's Lane (a few steps from this marker); On June 6, 1862 (within shouting distance of this marker); Britton Lane (within shouting distance of this marker); Britton Lane Union Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); 7th Tennessee Cavalry Memorial (within

Battle of Britton Lane image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2014

3. Battle of Britton Lane

shouting distance of this marker); Denmark Presbyterian Church Cemetery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Denmark Danes (approx. 3.7 miles away); Denmark Presbyterian Church Mulberry Grove (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Denmark.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2014

4. Battle of Britton Lane

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,333 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on April 7, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.