Historic Red Clay

Red Clay, one mile NW from here in Tennessee, was once an important Council Ground for the Cherokee Indians, who called it "Red Earth Place." During the Civil War, on May 3-4, 1864, the 2nd Brigade of the First Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Cumberland, United States Army, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Horace P. Lamson, drove Confederate forces from Red Clay. It then became an important depot of supplies for US forces. A heavy force of US troops guarded Red Clay to prevent Confederate raids from capturing valuable stores here. The US Army of the Ohio, commanded by Major General Schofield, passed through Red Clay as it moved south towards Dalton.