During the East Tennessee bridge burnings, a series of guerrilla operations carried out during the American Civil War by Union sympathizers, parts of the area were placed under martial law, and dozens of known Unionists were arrested and jailed, and suspected bridge burners were tried and convicted, being sentenced to death, and this brought increased pressure on Lincoln to send Union troops to occupy East Tennessee.
The East Tennessee bridge burnings were a series of guerrilla operations carried out during the American Civil War by Union sympathizers in Confederate-held East Tennessee in 1861. Parts of the area were placed under martial law, and dozens of known Unionists were arrested and jailed. Several suspected bridge burners were tried and convicted, being sentenced to death. This in turn brought increased pressure on Lincoln to send Union troops to occupy East Tennessee. 
