User:Professor Reed/sandbox

The Eli Long Raid was a rear action behind the Confederate army lines as part of the Battle of Missionary Ridge during the American Civil War. The raid took place from November 25, 1863 till November 27, 1863, and is named for Colonel Eli Long who was the commanding Union officer of the 4th Ohio Cavalry Regiment who led the raid. Although the Union army was unable to gain immediate control of the area that was attacked, the raid resulted in the destruction of railroad lines and a significant copper mill in the South.

On November 25, the Union forces charged into Cleveland, Tennessee and fought against the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry which was guarding the town. The Confederate forces retreated toward the nearby town of Charleston, Tennessee.

On November 26th, the Union Second Brigade was divided and sent into three separate directions and ordered to destroy the railroad lines: The 1st Ohio Cavalry going south toward Chattanooga, the 2nd Ohio Cavalry going south toward Dalton, and the 3rd Ohio Cavalry going north toward Charleston. Approximately 25 miles of railroad line was destroyed.

The brigade bivouacked around the town of Cleveland on the evening of November 26 in anticipation of an attack. John Patterson Rea, 2nd Lt. of the 1st Ohio Cavalry, encamped on the north end of town in the school yard of the Cleveland Female Masonic Institute.