On February 22, 1864 several companies of the 5 th Tennessee Cavalry, USA commanded by Col. William Stokes were ambushed by Confederate guerillas operating near Sparta at Dug Hill. Reports of casualties vary but may have been as high as 40 Federal troopers killed in the engagement.
Cumberland Gap
After the capture of Knoxville. Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside (Dept. of the Ohio) sent James M. Shacklford’s mounted brigade ahead