• Quarterly meetings with lectures
• Work with the Sons of Union Veterans to locate and list the gravesites of Union Veterans in East Tennessee
• Participate in local Memorial Day ceremonies, including laying a wreath in the National Cemetery in Knoxville
• Participate in the East Tennessee District competition of National History Day and present awards for exemplary Civil War Projects
• Support the Fisher House in Murphysboro, TN

For information and applications, contact:

Theresa Williams, President,
318 Ownby Circle,
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Phone 865-000-0000
email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jeanie Watts, Registrar,
5524 Crestwood Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37914

Phone 865-637-5515
email: jeaniewatts@hotmail.com



















For questions concerning this website, contact Becky Jolly, webmistress, at rljolly2000@yahoo.com



Website last updated Oct. 22, 2011

In July 1862, Cooper struck at Wallace's Cross Roads, now Andersonville (TN), killing five of the enemy, taking prisoners, wagons and horses. Soon after he attacked a Confederate force at Big Creek Gap. The enemy's camp was located at that time south of the place where LaFollette Hospital now stands. Cooper's men attacked at dawn and within ten minutes the whole force was completely routed. The Confederate soldiers were scattered over the whole country around the Gap. Several men fled the camp on horseback and stopped on the road on Powell's River above the mouth of Cedar Creek.

TWO WOMEN CAPTURE GROUP

John Heatherly's wife and Kate Summers heard of the company and quickly armed themselves. Mrs. Heatherly's husband was an officer in the United States Army. Dressed in Federal uniforms the two women rode up the river after the enemy. They overtook the Confederates at the old Powell's River Meeting House. The two women dashed up to the group of soldiers, Kate Summer's shooting an old cap and ball pistol and in her best coarse voice with much soldierly profanity called upon them to surrender. At the same time Mrs. Heatherly kept calling for her company of imaginary soldiers to engage the enemy. The Confederates grounded their arms and quickly surrendered. After Mrs. Heatherly took charge of the surrendered guns the women marched their captives to Big Creek Gap and turned them over to the Federals. For many years Kate Summers was known as Captain Kate. An application for a pension was made in her behalf on account of the exploit but a change in the Federal administration took place and nothing came of the attempt. Mrs. Heatherly and her husband after the war removed to Texas.

The story is often told that a citizen offered his help in guarding the prisoners to Big Creek. Kate Summers contemptuously turned down the proffered offer:

"When these here rebels come through ye run like a turkey and we don't need your aid. They maybe some more will come along directly and ye might catch a few of 'em."