Battle of Red Banks

This article is about the Civil War battle in Tennessee. For the Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey, see Battle of Red Bank.

Battle of Red Banks
Part of the American Civil War
Map of the Nolichucky River
Date December 29, 1864 (1864-12-29) Location Red Banks of the Nolichucky River, Tennessee, near the North Carolina line 36.123°N 82.443°W / 36.123; -82.443 (Battle_of_Red_Banks) Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	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.

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. After eliminating about a quarter of the Confederate troops and forcing the remainder to retreat, the Union Cavalry continued their intended march into Knoxville.

References

Bibliography

• Tipton, A. Christine. 2000. Civil War in the Mountains; Greasy Cove, Tennessee. Shining Mountain Publishers.