Fort Byington

Fort Byington (1863-1865) - A U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1863 in present day Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Named Fort Byington in G.O. 37, 11 Dec 1863 (Army of the Ohio), after Major Cornelius Byington, 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, who fell mortally wounded while leading an assault on Confederate rifle trenches at Fort Sanders on 24 Nov 1863. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Byington

Fort Byington was one of 20 named Union fortifications surrounding Knoxville, Tennessee (8 Forts and 12 Batteries) during the U.S. Civil War. This ring of defenses was established late in 1863 to counter a Confederate threat to the city. Confederate forces attempted to capture the city in November-December 1863 and laid siege to the city. Large losses were sustained by Confederate forces attempting to take Fort Sanders and the Confederates withdrew, lifting the siege.

The Fort was hastily established in 1863 to help counter the Confederate threat to the city. The fort was established on the "Hill" on the campus of the present day University of Tennessee. The fort served as an interior "keep" to the defensive line and contained a battery of Union cannon and a brigade of infantry.

Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Current Status

Unknown status in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1680733

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Location: Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Fort map point is the GNIS coordinates. Maps & Images Lat: 35.95750 Long: -83.92611 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 965'

See Also:

• Knoxville Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 738.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Byington
• Historic Markers Across Tennessee - Fort Byington

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