Philadelphia

Photo by Brian Stansberry, see full citation below*.

 

Philadelphia was founded in the early 1820s by William Knox and Jacob Pearson. The town initially grew quickly and prospered as a center of business in the Sweetwater Valley. By the mid-19th century, Philadelphia had two general stores, a tanning yard, a stillhouse, and a hotel.[5]

PHILADELPHIA: A prominent post village of Monroe county in the eastern part of the State and station on the East Tennessee and Railroad north from Madisonvillc the capital of the county and near its boundary 6 miles south from Loudon about 150 miles east south east from Nashville It was established in 1833 and is situated on Sweet Water creek a south of the Tennessee river

(Source: Tennessee State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1860-61, Issue 1, 1860, p. 258)

Shaw's Ferry, Philadelphia (Tennessee)

Civil War

No 1

Report of Maj Gen Ambrose E Burnside US Army commanding Department of the Ohio KNOXVILLE TENN October 23 1863 9 am

GENERAL On the 20th instant Colonel Wolford's cavalry brigade at Philadelphia was surprised hy enemy's cavalry and driven back to London with a loss of six mountain howitzers, and a considerable number of men. Colonel Wolford reports his loss at 100. The enemy has been driven back again beyond Philadelphia, and are said to be concentrating at Sweet Water, a heavy force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The reports of the number of the enemy are indefinite except as to the presence there of Stevenson's division of infantry, and of some 3,000 or 4,000 cavalry. I have re-enforced the garrison of Loudon, and shall leave for there at once, from there I will endeavor to telegraph you more definitely. We have had a good deal of rain. Trains late and I fear much of our supplies will be very badly delayed by high water and bad roads. It is reported from several sources that a considerable force under Joe Johnston has left Bragg's army.

AE BURNSIDE Major Gcneral

Major General GRANT

Headquarters Fourth Army Corps Philadelphia Tenn

December 3 1863 10.30 am

Brig Gen TJ Wood Commanding Third Division

We have arrived at this place and will push on to Morganton tonight. All the troops are moving to Knoxville on the south side of the Tennessee. You will move leaving Philadelphia to your left,passing through either Madisonville, or Rockville, to Maryville, thence to Knoxville. Your rations being exhausted tonight, you will be compelled to feed your troops upon the country. From the best information I can gather, both the Little Tennessee and Little River are fordable. If the Little Tennessee is not fordable, a bridge will be constructed at Morganton by our troops today. Push on as rapidly as possible and if possible, accumulate one or two days rations on the road. From the most reliable information, Longstreet is still in front of Knoxville. Our cavalry, with two divisions, reached Loudon last night, and captured a number of prisoners. The rebels destroyed forty-eight cars, three locomotives, burned their pontoon train, and their entire depot of supplies at that point.

By order of Major General Granger

Very respectfully RO SELFRIDGE Assistant Inspector General

(Source: Congressional Serial Set, 1881, Page 319)

ENGAGEMENTS AND BATTLES 1868

Philadelphia, Tennessec 20 and 22 October 1863 (Source: Complete Army Register of the United States for One Hundred Years (1779-1879) 1880, Thomas Holdup Stevens Hamersley, p 178)

 

*"Philadelphia-tennessee-full" by Brian Stansberry - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons - Link