Holding The Gaps

George H Thomas

The Battle of Hoover’s Gap a part of the Middle Tennessee Campaign was fought June 24^th 1863.

After the Battle of Stones River, Confederate General Braxton Bragg established a line from Shelbyville to Wartrace along the Duck River, this included holding the Bellbuckle, Hoover’s and Liberty Gaps.  Union leaders fearing that Bragg would go to the support of Vicksburg pushed Major General William Rosecrans to attack Bragg’s position.

Rosecrans made a move towards Shelbyville on June 23^rd 1863 to get Bragg’s attention, while the mass of his troops headed for the Gaps.  On June 24^th 1863 Union Major General George H Thomas attacked Hoover’s Gap.  Thomas used Colonel John T Wilder’s mounted infantry known as the “Lightning Brigade” armed with Spencer Rifles to spearhead the attack.  They met Confederate Colonel J Russell Butler’s 1^st Kentucky Cavalry, and pushed them back 7 miles, before Wilder’s men came up against Brigadier General William B Bate’s brigade.  Wilder entrenched on the hills to the south of the gap and held throughout several Confederate attacks.  More units arrived on both sides and everyone settled down hold their position.

On June 26^th 1863 the Confederate force began pulling back.  Although rain made moving slow Rosecrans pushed Bragg’s men until they fell back to a defensive line at Tullahoma.

Fight Manfully For Our Just And Holy Cause

Eli Lilly was elected Captain August 24^th 1862 of Lilly’s Hoosier Battery, or the 18^th Independent Battery Indiana Light Artillery.

The 18^th Independent Battery Indiana Light Artillery was formed by Eli Lilly an Indianapolis, Indiana pharmacist.  He recruited for the Battery from around the city and among his friends and classmates.  He posted recruiting posters around the city that said “fight manfully for our just and holy cause.”  The 18^th had six ten pounder Parrott’s that were manned by 150 men.  The unit mustered in in Indianapolis and Lilly was elected Captain August 24^th 1862.  The 18^th was commanded by Union Colonel John T Wilder.  They enlisted for three years becoming a part of the Army of the Cumberland and saw action at the Battles of Hoover’s Gap, Second Chattanooga, Chickamauga and others.  The 18^th had 12 men killed in battle and another 31 die from disease.

If you’re interested in more information The 18th Indiana Light Artillery  is a good place to look.