stoneman would use troops under general alvan gillem and those commanded by general stephen burbridge—including the 5th and the 6th u.s. colored cavalry who had participated in the failed previous attempt to destroy the salt works at the first battle of saltville. stoneman ordered burbridge to bring his army of 4,200 men through the cumberland gap to join stoneman and general gillem at knoxville, tennessee where gillem was refitting his own command into a picked force of 1,500 men. stoneman did not reveal the objectives of the expedition to his subordinates until three days after it had departed knoxville on december 10. on december 12, stoneman's force flanked and forced back confederate general basil duke's cavalry at rogersville, tennessee. the federals defeated and scattered the confederates the next day at kingsport, tennessee. there general gillem captured 84 prisoners, including col. richard c. morgan and the brigade's supply train.