In East Tennessee the vote against secession enjoyed a large plurality but overwhelmed as the vote moved west. Knox and Sevier Counties were particularly strong Unionist and remained that way. When Burnsides occupied Knoxville and built Fort Sanders, Lee sent Longstreet up from Chattanooga to re-take the town and re-take control of the railroads. He failed in one of the bloodiest (barely told) battles of the war. Over 600 Confederate soldiers died in about 20 minutes. Longstreet had first tried a blockade to starve the Union Army into surrender, but sympathetic farmers from Knox and Sevier Counties got food to the fort over unprotected routes and by floating food down the river at night. Tennessee Archives published names of Tennessee soldiers on both sides from which I estimated 41,000 Union soldiers. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html