Kirby's Expedition

On April 3, 1865, Union Col. Isaac M. Kirby left Tennessee with 900 men including his own 101st Ohio Infantry for "a scout in the direction of Asheville." Three days later, local resident Nicholas Woodfin spotted the Federals on the Buncombe Turnpike (present-day Broadway Avenue) and rushed two miles to Asheville to sound the alarm. Union scout Lt. William H. Greenwood and his men captured "five rebels, a mule wagon, and team of mules. Greenwood told Kirby that the Confederates had "400 troops and six guns only" Confederate Col. George Clayton, commanding here, was under manned because Gen. James G. Martin was in pursuit of Union Col. George W. Kirk's cavalry raiders with some of Clayton's troops.



Clayton entrenched on Woodfin's Ridge (now Lookout Mountain, up the trail to your left, where surviving earthworks can be seen), as well as east and north of Glen's Creek and the Buncombe Turnpike (Broadway Avenue). He had 300 men, including Asheville's "Silver Greys" home guard, a local fire company, two Napoleon cannons from Porters's Battery, and 175 remaining members of Clayton's 62nd North Carolina Infantry (after Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1965, the men returned home without taking the oath of allegiance required by Federal authorities). Other defenders included convalescing soldiers, a 14-year-old boy, and a 70-year-old Baptist preacher. At about 3 p.m., the Confederates opened fire on the approaching Federals, and for several hours, the forces shot at each other with little result. The intense fire let Kirby to order "the withdrawal of the brigade at 8 p.m. In my opinion General Martin had under his immediate command at Asheville not less than 1000 men and six guns," contrary to Greenwood's estimate. Kirby retreated to Tennessee, abandoning cannons, bayonets, and other equipment. No one on either side was killed, and only two to four were wounded. After the battle the Confederates found "one leg in a boot" at the deserted Union position.



(captions)

(lower left) Nicholas Woodfin Courtesy North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville

(uper center) Reenactors on the confederate earthworks - Courtesy North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville

(lower right) Union cavalry attack a Confederate wagon train - Courtesy Library of Congress

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