Battle of Red Banks

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Battle of Red Banks
Part of the American Civil War
Nolichuckyrivermap.png
Map of the Nolichucky River
DateDecember 29, 1864 (1864-12-29)
Location
Red Banks of the Nolichucky River, Tennessee, near the North Carolina line
36°07′23″N82°26′35″W / 36.123°N 82.443°W / 36.123; -82.443 (Battle_of_Red_Banks)
Result Union victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1865-1867).svg United States (Union) Flag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg Confederate States (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
George W. Kirk James A. Keith
Units involved
3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry 64th North Carolina Infantry
Strength
Around 960 400
Casualties and losses
3 wounded 73 killed
32 captured

The Battle of Red Banks was an American Civil War battle that took place on December 29, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces. It took place at the Red Banks of the Nolichucky River in Unicoi County, Tennessee near the North Carolina border. Southern soldiers referred to the conflict as the Battle of the Bloody Chucky. [1]

Contents

Around 960 Union cavalry of the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry under Colonel George Washington Kirk engaged about 400 Confederate troops of the 64th North Carolina Infantry under Colonel James A. Keith during an extended raid through western North Carolina, southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee. [2] [3] After eliminating about a quarter of the Confederate troops and forcing the remainder to retreat, the Union Cavalry continued their intended march into Knoxville.

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