On November 14, 1863 the Confederate cavalry of Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler routed the 11th Kentucky Cavalry (USA) encamped at Maryville. At Rockford the 1st Kentucky and 45th Ohio Mounted Infantry advanced to support the 11th Kentucky but were outflanked by Wheeler’s cavalry and retreated across to the north bank of Little River. That evening the Union cavalry commanded by Brig. Gen. William Sanders retreated to Knoxville.
Thompson’s Station
On March 5, 1863 Colonel John Coburn marched from Franklin with an infantry brigade and detachment of cavalry to rendezvous