A Civil War Tragedy In Cades Cove

Cades Cove is one of the most visited places in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before the park, though, this little Appalachian valley was the home of a vibrant community with a history that spanned over a century.
Today we share a little bit of that history in this short video, with the story of an old man who fought to protect Cades Cove and its people from Confederate raiders during the Civil War.
Photo of Mr. Gregory's gravestone by Brian Stansberry; some stock footage provided by Videvo, www.videvo.net.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I would like to visit Cades Cove someday.

[@stonefreeblues]

I took a picture of that marker last week and wondered what the story was. Thank you!

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

You're very welcome...

[@daniellebranley8561]

My people. My grandmother grew up there. Gladys Mae Russell. Buried in the Tuckaleechee Primitive Baptist church graveyard. Coker Hill

[@godisgoodwoodworks4801]

We visit the Smokies every year, and always travel the Cade's Cove loop. If we see bears, that's a bonus. If we don't, that's okay too. Every time I'm on the loop road, I wonder whether it's the closest thing to Heaven that Earth has to offer. Would love to live closer, and may move to the area after retirement.

[@joannecarolyn5018]

Very sad story 😢

[@avenaoat]

This East Tenneesse unionists earlier helped the underground railroad!

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Yes, they did. One of the first abolitionist newspapers was in Jonesborough, Tennessee, too. Thanks for watching!

[@roberthand6436]

Russell Gregory is my 15th cousin, four times removed. 😥

[@derekk6906]

Mountain folk in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama considered the Civil War a Rich man’s war. Most were loyal to the union cause.

[@clinthathcock6078]

Western North Carolina was decidedly pro-Confederate. The mountain unionism is more myth than truth.