Fort Byington

 (1863-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1863 in present day Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Named Fort Byington in G.O. 37, 11 Dec 1863 (Army of the Ohio), after Major Cornelius Byington, 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, who fell mortally wounded while leading an assault on Confederate rifle trenches at Fort Sanders on 24 Nov 1863. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of
The Fort was hastily built to help counter the Confederate threat to the city during Longstreet's November 1863 siege. The post was established on "The Hill" on the campus of the present-day University of Tennessee and included a Union gun battery along with a brigade of infantry. It served as an interior "keep" to the western side of the defensive line.

Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Current Status
No remains in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. The location is now the site of Ayres Hall of the University of Tennessee, referred to as "The Hill". Several identical markers at the site.

See Also:
 * Knoxville Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:
 * , page 738.

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Byington
 * Historic Markers Across Tennessee - Fort Byington