The Bridge Burners of East Tennessee

In November 1861, a secret band of East Tennessee Unionists struck at the heart of Confederate supply lines by burning railroad bridges across the region. They believed the Union army would soon march in to liberate them, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Confederate authorities unleashed brutal retaliation, hanging several of the men, while others barely escaped with their lives. In this episode, we tell the story of the East Tennessee bridge burners, the risks they took and the terrible cost they paid. It’s another one of the Stories of Appalachia. If you’ve not done so already, subscribe to the Stories podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts so you don’t miss any of our stories.