Battle of Fair Garden The Battle of Fair Garden was a minor cavalry battle of the American Civil War between the Army of Ohio and The Department of East Tennessee , occurring on January 27 , 1864 , in Sevier County , Tennessee . Despite the small size of the battle , both side incurred considerable casualties . Background . Following the Battle of Dandridge on January 16 – 17 , Union cavalry moved to the south side of the French Broad River , where they disrupted Confederate foraging parties and captured numerous loaded supply wagons in that area . On January 25 , 1864 , Lt . Gen . James Longstreet , commander of the Department of East Tennessee , instructed his subordinates to curtail Union operations south of the French Broad . On January 26 , Brig . Gen . Samuel D . Sturgis , having had previous brushes with Confederate cavalry , deployed his troopers to watch the fords in the area . Two Confederate cavalry brigade s and artillery advanced from Fair Garden in the afternoon but were checked about four miles from Sevierville . Other Confederates attacked a Union cavalry brigade , though , at Fowler ' s on Flat Creek , and drove it about two miles . No further fighting occurred that day . Fair Garden Road . Union scouts observed that the Confederates had concentrated on the Fair Garden Road , so Sturgis ordered an attack there in the morning of January 27 . In a heavy fog , Col . Edward M . McCook ' s Union division attacked and drove back Maj . Gen . William T . Martin ' s Confederates . At about 4 : 00 p . m . , McCook ' s men charged with sabers and routed the Confederates . Sturgis set out in pursuit the next day , capturing and killing more of the routed and disorganized Rebels . As the Union force reached the French Broad River near Dandridge , they saw three of Longstreet ’ s infantry brigades crossing the river . Realizing that he was outgunned , Sturgis prudently decided to evacuate the area . Sturgis then tried to attack Brig . Gen . Frank C . Armstrong ’ s Confederate cavalry division encamped about three or four miles away by the river . Unaware that Armstrong had been reinforced , Sturgis suffered severe casualties in the assault . The battle continued until dark , when the Federals retired from the area . The Federals had initially won the tactical battle , but then lost the foraging grounds when forced to withdraw . There were about 100 Union casualties , and the Confederates lost about 165 men . Misjudged . Sturgis set out in pursuit on January 28 , and captured and killed more of the routed Rebels . The Union forces , however , observed three of Longstreet ' s infantry brigades crossing the river . Realizing his weariness from fighting , lack of supplies , ammunition , and weapons , and the overwhelming strength of the enemy , Sturgis decided to evacuate the area . But , before leaving , he determined to attack Brig . Gen . Frank C . Armstrong ' s Confederate cavalry division , which he had learned was about three or four miles away , on the river . Unbeknownst to the attacking Federals , Armstrong had strongly fortified his position and three infantry regiments had arrived to reinforce him . Thus , the Union troops suffered severe casualties in the attack . The battle continued until dark , when the Federals retired from the area . Union casualties totaled about 100 men ; Confederate losses were 165 .