Occupied Territory: July 31st 1861

Most of  July 1861 was spent on probes and skirmishes along the Kingston Road in the center and east of the campaign theater, and at Riverside / Orr Tavern and Newport / North Branch in the far west. The Confederates made the first venture deep into enemy territory with a failed raid on Georgetown on July 15th. The raid temporarily diverted some Federal cavalry from the fords at the Bull Head River to search for the raiding party, which had safely escaped back to friendly lines.

By the last week in July, however, the Federals took to the offensive. A small demi-brigade of Indiana infantry pushed south down the Madison Pike and took control of the rail terminus at Madison. An unidentified force of Union cavalry somehow made it through or around Confederate lines, cut telegraph lines at Adamstown, and occupied Burlington. They are believed to be present at Burlington on the night of July 31st, continuing to destroy tracks on the South Bank Railroad.

The map below shows the Union foray into Confederate territory as a sort of dagger into the heart of the District of Tennessee. This has the potential to create significant supply and troop movement problems for the Confederates, but it is also a very tenuous position to hold, with at least one Confederate brigade known to be east of "the dagger," and Confederates occupying Newtown west of the dagger. Colonel Solomon Lewis' force at Madison had brief contact with Confederates approaching from the north, demonstrating the threat that the Indiana regiments and their supporting artillery could potentially be cut off from the rest of the Union force. The cavalry at (or near) Burlington will also be out of supply and could potentially be cut off from their lines.

Both sides expect to receive re-enforcements on August 1st. Confederate Major General Starbuck will undoubtedly make an effort to regain control of Burlington and the Madison Spur of the railroad. Will Major General William T. Sherman's Federal force try to re-enforce the position at Madison, or attempt a withdraw to a stronger main line to the north? We will find out when the next turn takes us into August 1861,