Battle of Day's Gap

The Battle of Day's Gap, which occurred on April 30, 1863, was the first in a series of skirmishes during the American Civil War that lasted until May 2. Commanding the Union forces was Colonel Abel Streight, while Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest led the Confederate forces. The battles took place in Cullman County, Alabama.

The goal of Col. Streight’s raid was to cut off the Western & Atlantic Railroad that supplied General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army in Middle Tennessee. Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, Streight and his men first traveled to Eastport, Mississippi, then they traveled eastward to Tuscumbia, Alabama. On April 26, 1863, Streight left Tuscumbia and marched southeastward. Streight’s initial movements were screened by Union General Grenville Dodge’s troops. On April 30 at Day's Gap on Sand Mountain, Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest caught up with Streight's expedition and attacked his rearguard. Streight's men managed to repulse this attack and as a result they continued their march to avoid any further delays and envelopments caused by the Confederate troops.

This battle set off a chain of skirmishes and engagements at Crooked Creek (April 30), Hog Mountain (April 30), Blountsville (May 1), Black Creek/Gadsden (May 2), and Blount's Plantation (May 2). Finally on May 3, Forrest surrounded Streight's exhausted men near Rome, Georgia, and forced their surrender. They were sent to Libby Prison.

[edit] Chronology of events of Streight's Raid in 1863

Nashville, Tennessee (April 7-10) — proceeded by river
Palmyra, Tennessee (April 11-13) — proceeded on foot
Yellow Creek, Tennessee (April 13-14) — proceeded on foot
Fort Henry, Tennessee (April 15-17) — proceeded by river
Eastport, Mississippi (April 19-21) — proceeded either by foot or river
Bear Creek/River, Mississippi (April 22) — proceeded on foot the rest of the way
Tuscumbia, Alabama (April 24-26)
Mount Hope, Alabama (April 27-28)
Moulton, Alabama (April 28)
Day's Gap, Alabama (April 29-30)
Battle of Day's Gap (April 30)
Skirmish at Crooked Creek (April 30)
Skirmish at Hog Mountain (April 30)
Arrival at Blountsville (May 1)
Skirmishes at Blountsville (May 1)
Skirmishes at the East Branch of the Black Warrior River (May 1)
Skirmishes at the crossing of Black Creek, near Gadsden (May 2)
Damaged ammunition while crossing Will's Creek, near Gadsden (May 2)
Gadsden, Alabama (May 2)
Blount's plantation, about 15 miles from Gadsden (May 2)
Skirmishes at/near Blount's plantation (May 2-3)
Centre, Alabama (May 3)
Cedar Bluff, Alabama (May 3)
Surrender to Confederate Capt. William H. Forrest, 3 miles east of Cedar Bluff, Alabama (May 3)
Taken to Richmond, Virginia, as prisoners of war