In late spring 1862, the Confederacy split its forces in Chattanooga, Tennessee into several small commands in an attempt to complicate Federal operations.

Union Maj. Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel received orders to take his division to Huntsville, Alabama, to repair railroads in the area.

It found the Confederates entrenched on the opposite side of the river along the banks and atop Cameron Hill.

Negley brought up two artillery batteries to open fire on the Rebel troops and the town and sent infantry to the river bank to act as sharpshooters.

[1] The attack also prompted Edmund Kirby Smith to withdraw Confederate troops from other areas to defend Chattanooga.