Wonderful Tour Of Hoover's Gap

richard · #1 08-23-2007, 09:09 PM

This past Saturday, I was privileged to have taken a personal guided tour of the Hoover’s Gap battle field. The tour started just north of Wartrace and traveled via the Fairfield road to the old Manchester Pike. Conducting this very informative tour was the renowned historian and author Dr. Michael Bradley.

He explained the importance of this battle and the consequences of it on the Army of Tennessee. This tour took about two hours to complete and was very worth while. These tours happen about one a month and are free for all who wish to go.

larry_cockerham · #2 09-29-2007, 09:42 PM

Richard, I must tell you that I actually found myself in Hoover's Gap this afteroon, quite by accident! Darlene (wife) had consented to go with me to the sutler near Bell Buckle and I exited at the exit north of TN 64 instead of going far enough south. That road was doing quite nicely heading in the general direction of Bell Buckle when it suddenly leaped over to the east side of I-24! Actually, quite nice country. It was a shame that battle had to come to some of those little communities. As you well know, peace abounds at the moment.

(The girl at the sutler thought I was kidding when I asked if she had any corsets. Apparently my rotund torso is not typical of civil war physiques! Marching season for the civil war battles in Middle Tennessee is coming on, so I thought I'd give my battle flag a little wardrobe support. Thank God for suspenders!)

richard · #3 10-01-2007, 09:13 AM

Larry: I hope that you took the time to visit the site. Unfortunatly, what information that is there does not due justice to the scope of the battle. I have information that Wilders men expended most of there Spencer Amno, almost 140 rounds per man and he had 1200 Spencer's. Lilly fired 350 rounds, most of it double shodded cannister. I24 took out a large hill that was about 200 feet above the valley floor on which Lilly's men double teamed a 3 inch cannon to the top of to answer a confederate battery just to the south west on another high hill. All of this while it was raining and the ground was a sea of mud.

larry_cockerham · #4 10-01-2007, 10:31 AM

About all I recall aside from the sign was a sweet gentle voice: "You're LOST, ain't you! Why do I keep going these places with you!"

larry_cockerham · #5 10-11-2007, 03:59 PM

Richard, I went back to Hornbuckle to retrieve my pants the other day. At the highway 64 exit from I-24 there is a side road which is marked Hoover's Gap Road. Roughly how far and where to the battlefield from there? I saw the Hoover's Gap sign a few weeks earlier over on US 41A on the east side of the interstate.

richard · #6 10-11-2007, 08:54 PM

Larry, if you exited at highway 64 off of I 24, then you were or should I say, you drove right through the center of the union line as you made the exit. On the east side of I 24 is a 3 acre plot of ground known is the Hoover's Gap Confederate Cemetery. On a low hill there is a flag pole, a cannon and a sign that says Confederate Cemetery and it over looks the exit ramps. The Manchester Pike is on the east side of the cemetery and just a few yards is old US 41.

It is at this location that Wilder's men raced through the gap and encountered some of Bate's forces. In the field just across the creek, some 7 wagons loaded with corn and hay were taken by the Union forces right out of the Confederate camp.

When I arrived there last month to take photographs for a memorial project, it was raining in a steady downpour. It stopped just as I arrived at the site. The area had fog drifting through the trees. I can not help but wander if this was somewhat how it looked when Wilder's men arrived.

Near the back of the cemetery is where Capt. Eli Lilly placed his part of his 10 gun Battery. The gun located near the flagpole represents where at least one of his guns was placed during part of the battle. Later the next day, his battery was placed near where the gas station is located west of the I 24 and then on a large clonal hill that was removed for the highway and used for fill.

As a lot of people do not realize, Wilder's Brigade held off a complete division under General A.P. Stewart for more than 5 hours before being reinforced by the rest of Reynolds men arrived.

The Cemetery east of the Interstate is where the group here in Indiana is working to place a Historical Marker Honoring the men of the 18th Indiana Light Artillery. Other markers are being planed for the 1st Kentucky Cavalry and also one for A.P. Stewart's Division.

larry_cockerham · #7 10-12-2007, 04:03 PM

Thanks very much, Richard. I continue to learn from you! On my next trip through there, I'll pay more attention.

larry_cockerham · #8 10-14-2007, 07:45 AM

Richard, is that cemetery on the SOUTH side of highway 64 and hence south of and behind the service station? Can't tell too much from the aerial photos on Mapquest. Yes, I know, I need to drag my butt back down there!

richard · #9 10-14-2007, 07:47 PM

The cemetery is located on the north east side of the interstate. This photo is looking north. The cemetery is located behind the Fed X truck that is entering the highway. To the left of the road is the service station and Wilder's line extended a little further west and around the hill.

scone · #10 12-06-2007, 08:44 PM

wonderful little thread hear..

One thing to note is that it rained & Rained & Rained and the Specers were nearly water proof with their cartidges while the confederates were not..

I taken that very tour myself but not with Dr Bradley..

Bradley is a hoot thougth .. and a great historian to listen to.