Editing Rogersville, Tennessee (section)

===A town divided===
{{Main|Battle of Rogersville}}

In November 1863, during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Rogersville was the site of a battle between occupying [[Union (American Civil War)|Federal forces]] and invading [[Confederate States Army|Confederate troops]]. [[Union Army|Union forces]] had encamped just outside the town. The Confederates, led by Brigadier General [[William E. Jones (general)|William E. Jones]], were able to surprise the Union forces and pursue them across the [[Holston River]] and into [[Greene County, Tennessee|Greene County]]. The Confederates held the town for the remainder of the war.

Sentiment in Rogersville was divided. Many supported the efforts of [[Tennessee in the American Civil War#Tennessee secedes|twenty-six East Tennessee counties seceding]] from the state (much as the [[State of Scott]] had done) and re-joining the [[United States of America|Union]]. Others saw President [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln's]] invasion of Tennessee as an unprecedented invasion of their homes and an incursion by Federal power; these people became strong Confederates.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} Rogersville was spared destruction during the war. In fact, structures such as the [[Hale Springs Inn]] were used by the different occupying armies.