Madison in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Affair at Madison Station
May 17, 1864
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Affair at Indian Creek Ford
December 23, 1864
![Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford Marker - Affair at Madison Station [Front] image. Click for full size.](Photos2/227/Photo227773.jpg?111201313000PM "Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford Marker - Affair at Madison Station [Front]. Click for full size.")
Photographed by Ken Smith, December 4, 2012
1. Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford Marker - Affair at Madison Station [Front]
The largest engagement of the Civil War in Madison County was fought during a driving rainstorm here at the site of the railroad depot. Under the command of Col. Josiah Patterson, the Confederate forces (~1000 cavalry and a battery of artillery) crossed the Tennessee River near Triana and attacked a garrison of ~350 men of the 13th Illinois Infantry. Union forces fell back along the railroad toward Huntsville to Indian Creek. They counterattacked after being reinforced by infantry from Huntsville. Confederates were forced back across the river after burning equipment and cotton at the depot. Casualties were light on both sides.
[Reverse]
One of the last engagements between regular forces of the Civil War in Madison County occurred ~2 1/2 miles east of this spot on a bitterly cold day. Union elements of the 10th~13th Indiana Cavalries and the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry (US), under Lt. Col. W.F. Prosser, attacked a force of ~300 dismounted cavalry from Roddey's, Burtwell's and Moreland's regiments, commanded by Col. J.R.B. Burtwell. The Union force made a mounted saber charge which resulted in disorganized Confederate retreat. Union losses were 1 killed and 3 wounded, while the Confederate loss was reported as several killed and 54 wounded and captured.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list.
Location. 34° 41.632′ N, 86° 44.95′ W. Marker is in Madison, Alabama, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of Front Street and Church Street, on the right when traveling east on Front Street. Located on Front St. beside the Roundhouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison AL 35758, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama and in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 walking distance of this marker: Trail of Tears (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Roundhouse" (within shouting distance of this marker); Madison County Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); City of Madison (within shouting distance of this marker); Pension Row (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Madison Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Madison Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); James Henry Bibb (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2009
2. Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2009
3. Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford
Marker is on the right of view.
Photographed by Ken Smith, December 4, 2012
4. Affair at Madison Station / Affair at Indian Creek Ford Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,838 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on July 20, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 4, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. 2. submitted on March 18, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on March 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on December 4, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
