Attack on Mt. Vernon (July 18th)

Mt Vernon had been occupied by a Confederate infantry regiment on the morning of July 17th. That regiment left for Kingston in the morning, with a battalion of Federal cavalry and a regiment of infantry (3rd Indiana) arriving later in the day and occupying the town without incident. On the 18th, the 2nd Tennessee arrived via Doyle's Ford and attacked the town.  The Union cavalry opened fire first. Rather than waiver, the Confederates advanced into the western edge of the town and returned fire at close range. The 3rd Indiana closed in, deployed and opened fire, as the Union cavalry fell back into an orchard to the rear. The firing kept up, until the Union left gave way. The Union right, however, held firm. The Confederates eventually withdrew in good order, back toward Doyle's Ford.

Engagements are run with a threshold of casualties for each side, based on the number of men present. Because the Union had more men on the field, their threshold was slightly higher. It was, however, a closely run fight. The Confederates fought extremely well and were forced to withdraw when the Union only had one casualty left to reach their own threshold. It could have gone either way and the Confederates came out of the engagement with higher grades, even though they did not succeed in taking the town.