Cowan in Franklin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Tullahoma Campaign
June 24-July 4, 1863
— Anatomy of a Campaign —
Advance to Manchester
To maneuver Bragg out of his Shelbyville trenches, Rosecrans divided his army into four independent columns.
The first column advanced south from Murfreesboro, down what is today US 231, to threaten the main Confederate infantry at Shelbyville. The second moved south, through Liberty Gap. The third column marched southeast, down the Manchester Pike (US 41), the main road to Chattanooga. A fourth column advanced due east along the McMinnville Turnpike (US 70) before turning south to cross the Highland Rim below Bradyville, at Gillie’s Gap.
By June 28th, the bulk of Rosecrans’ army was in Manchester. The Union also held Shelbyville and Bragg’s entrenched lines. Rosecrans then began his push on to Tullahoma. Only rain and the poor conditions of the roads slowed the Union advance.
Bragg crossed the Elk River at Allisonia on June 30 and began a general retreat, establishing a brief headquarters at Dechard before moving up the Cumberland Plateau. Union cavalry, under the command of Philip Sheridan pushed Confederate skirmishers out of Winchester and Sheridan arrives here, in Cowan, at 3 in the afternoon on July 3rd only to report that Bragg has moved over the Plateau.
(captions)
(upper right) Confederate General Braxton Bragg; Union Major General William S. Rosecrans
(lower left) Major General Philip Sheridan
(Timeline)
1860 Lincoln Elected Nov 6 • South Carolina Secedes December 20
1861 Fort Sumter Attacked April 12 • First Manassas July 21
1862 Shiloh April 1-7 • Second Manassas August 29-30 • Antietam September 11 • Fredericksburg December 13 • Stones River December 31-January 3
1863 Chancellorsville May 1-4 • Vicksburg May 20-July 4 • Tullahoma Campaign June 24-July 4 • Gettysburg July 1-3 • Chickamauga September 19-20 • Chattanooga November 23-25
1864 Cold Harbor June 3 • Atlanta September 2 • Franklin November 30 • Nashville December 15-16
1865 Petersburg April 2 • Lee Surrenders April 9 • Johnston Surrenders April 16 • Forrest Surrenders May 9
Erected by Tennessee's Backroads Heritage.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1861.
Location. 35° 9.837′ N, 86° 0.636′ W. Marker is in Cowan, Tennessee, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of Front Street South and Cumberland Street West (U.S. 41A), on the left when traveling south on Front Street South. This marker is on the grounds of the Cowan Railroad Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 108 Front St S, Cowan TN 37318, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Passing Through Cowan (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Tullahoma Campaign (here, next to this marker); Cowan Railroad Museum (a few steps from this marker); Cowan, Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); Goshen Cumberland Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Peter Turney (approx. 4.1 miles away); Army of Tennessee (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Blind Knight (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cowan.
Also see . . .
1. Tennessee's Backroads. (Submitted on July 13, 2014.)
2. Cowan Railroad Museum. (Submitted on July 13, 2014.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 546 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on August 18, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.