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The Battle of Day's Gap

April 30, 1863 in Cullman County, Alabama

BATTLE SUMMARY

The Battle of Day’s Gap was the first “battle” in a series of skirmishes during Col. Abel D. Streight's Raid. Commanding the Union forces was Streight, while Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest led the confederate forces.

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.

The battles took place in Cullman County. Streight led a provisional brigade on a raid to cut the Western & Atlantic Railroad that supplied Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army in Middle Tennessee. From Nashville, Tennessee, Streight’s command traveled to Eastport, Mississippi, and then proceeded east to Tuscumbia, Alabama, in conjunction with another Union force commanded by Brig. Gen. Grenville Dodge.

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. Thus began a running series of skirmishes and engagements. Estimated Casualties: 88 total (US 23 k&w; CS 65 k&w )

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.