LIVE INVESTIGATION: Exploring a Civil War Encampment

Join us as Jason And David investigate the Civil War encampment at the foot of the Loudon railroad bridge.

The Loudon railroad bridge was the only one across the Tennessee River in East Tennessee, making it a crucial connection between Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Control of this bridge was vital for both Union and Confederate forces.
Due to its importance, the bridge was under constant watch throughout the war.

1863

  Union Colonel William P. Sanders led a raid into East Tennessee.
Although he bypassed Loudon due to heavy Confederate defenses at the bridge, he successfully attacked Lenoir's Station, disrupting Confederate supply lines.
As Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner retreated from Knoxville, his troops burned the Loudon railroad bridge to prevent Union General James L. Shackleford from using it.
Cavalry skirmishes took place around Loudon and nearby Philadelphia as Union General Ambrose Burnside and Confederate General James Longstreet maneuvered in the area leading up to the Battle of Knoxville.

  After the Battle of Knoxville, Confederate forces again burned the bridge and destroyed rolling stock to hinder Union General William T. Sherman's advance.  
The bridge was rebuilt in 1864 and remained under Union control for the rest of the war.  
Control of Transportation: The skirmishes and destruction of the bridge highlight the importance of controlling transportation routes during the Civil War.  
The fight for the Loudon bridge directly affected the movements of both armies and influenced the overall course of the Knoxville Campaign.