Athens AL002

disputedunresolved Dodge's first January 26 dispatch says his mounted force, including most of the Athens garrison, had moved out against Roddey west of Florence, and that the Confederates 'got news some way of our move'. His January 29 report says the attack plan was learned afterward from captured dispatches, that Roddey did not know of the move, and that he retreated on hearing of the force to his west and on Johnson's word that he could not support him. The second dispatch says Phillips's messenger was at Athens when the enemy crossed.

Attributed enemy knowledge and intent from one interested author, who gives different accounts of whether the attackers knew of the move; the captured dispatches were not inspected.

supportedunresolved Dodge says the attackers expected to take Athens, its stores and trains, and that the trains were safe; his report says the two-hour defence enabled the post to send off all stores and transportation and saved the railroad bridge parties.

Stores removed during the action by the district commander's account; no supply or ammunition return for either side.

supportedunresolved By Dodge's report the plan, learned from captured dispatches, was for Johnson's brigade to attack Athens from the northwest on the Florence road while Roddey crossed at Brown's Ferry; Miller's fight at Shoal Creek bridge the evening before checked Johnson. The frozen result says the Confederate force failed in its attempt to take Athens.

Stated aims reconstructed by the opposing commander; no Confederate order inspected.

supportedpost_outcome The frozen and live results read Union victory. Dodge says the attackers were repulsed after two hours and retreated, on Wood Ferry by his first dispatch and toward Brown's Ferry by his second; Rawlins relays that the enemy was repulsed and driven.

Retain the original result and engagement interval; later movements and campaign contribution are different measures. No new probabilities or individual causal credit.

supportedpost_outcome The frozen and live casualty fields read 50 (US 20; CS 30). Dodge gives the Union loss as 20, about 20 all told, and about 20 killed, wounded and missing, and the enemy's as much larger or considerable; Rawlins relays 20 and 'much greater'. No inspected source gives the Confederate 30.

Original casualty returns were not inspected; preserve totals, categories, cutoffs and differences. No canonical reconciliation or casualty-based opening count; related actions must not be added without resolving population overlap. The frozen Confederate 30 has no inspected basis.

disputedunresolved The frozen and live commanders are Lieutenant Colonel Moses W. Hannon and Captain Emil Adams. Dodge's January 26 dispatches name Colonel Hannon as the commander who crossed and attacked; his January 29 report names General Roddey as attacking with Patterson's and Hannon's regiments and crossing in person. Dodge credits 'Captain Adam' and his men with holding the town, and says the Mooresville force under Colonel Biggs, notified at sunrise, did not fall on the enemy's rear.

Command roles from the opposing district commander; the identity of the Confederate commander differs between his dispatches and report. The listed commanders do not receive automatic sole credit, and no rank or spelling is adopted.

unknownunresolved

No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. The frozen side-specific numerical strength bounds are blank (missing_numeric_strength). No figure in this pass is adopted as a simultaneous opening force.

disputedunresolved The frozen description gives about 600 Confederate cavalry against about 100 Union troops, and the frozen force field names the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry and the 1st Alabama Cavalry; the live Forces Engaged field reads 800 (US 700; CS 100), reversing the description. Dodge's first January 26 dispatch gives Hannon about 600 men and 2 guns against about 100 Union men; his second says Captain Adam had 75 all told; his January 29 report says Adam's 75 men of the Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry were all the force then at the post, and that Roddey attacked with Patterson's and Hannon's regiments and two guns. Rawlins relays 600 against a garrison of about 100.

Same-day and later estimates by the district commander and a relay; no return for either side. The Union figure differs between 100 and 75, and the Confederate figure is Dodge's estimate. None is adopted as a matched opening strength. The live field's reversal is not adopted. The frozen force field names the 1st Alabama Cavalry for the Confederates, while Dodge's report names Patterson's and Hannon's regiments; the unit names are not reconciled.

disputedunresolved The frozen description and Dodge's January 29 report say the defenders fought without fortifications. The attackers crossed the Tennessee at Brown's Ferry, which Dodge's first dispatch puts 10 miles below Decatur and 12 miles from Athens and his January 29 report, describing the plan for Roddey to cross there with his men dismounted, 18 miles from Athens and 10 miles below Decatur; the report says the attackers opened with artillery on the town, whose shells passed through houses occupied by citizens.

Ground described by the district commander and a summary; no map verification. The two distances from Athens differ and neither is adopted.