- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
Part I - The Campaign Opens
The Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, is perhaps one of the least understood and appreciated of the entire war, and one that had lasting significance for the fortunes of the young Confederacy. As the very first important Union victories in the Western Theater at the time it was celebrated in prints like the Currier & Ives above, depicting the Terrific bayonet charge of the 9th Ohio Volunteers, a German regiment from Cincinnati, and the total defeat of the Rebel army under Genl. Zollicoffer by the Gallant Soldiers of the West. Part of the confusion is due to the fact that Mill Springs, today the accepted name, was also known variously as Fishing Springs, Somerset, and Logan's Crossroads for nearby locations and terrain features.
Map by Hal Jesperson @civilwarmaps.com
The map above indicates the geographic significance of the tiny battle; the Confederate force at right labeled Crittenden was the anchor of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston's line which stretched entirely across the state of Kentucky from the bastion of Columbus in the west to the Cumberland Gap in the East, with Johnston's headquarters near the center in Bowling Green. Once the Confederate right was defeated and driven back at Mill Springs, it was followed quickly by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's advance into Tennessee and capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in early February. This collapsed Johnston's line, causing the evacuation of Columbus, Bowling Green, and the entire state of Kentucky, without which President Abraham Lincoln said the war could not be won.
The immediate problem leading to the pivotal little battle occurred when newly-minted Confederate Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer took command in the Cumberland Gap area and decided against orders to advance into eastern Kentucky to the Cumberland River where he thought he would be protected during the winter months that normally saw little activity. Unfortunately, he chose to cross the river where he established winter quarters for his brigade of Tennessee and Mississippi infantry at Beech Grove above.
Today, at the Beech Grove campsite archeological excavations have revealed the shallow dugouts and pits that formed the bases for Zollicoffer's winter huts as seen above; the adjacent nearby woodlands contain remains of the mile-long covering earthworks built to protect the encampment, as described on the marker below.
Zollicoffer established his own headquarters in a small log cabin which stood on the site below along the road toward Logan's Crossroads a scant few miles to the north. He expected to be left alone here until the winter weather improved and campaign season would begin; unfortunately for him, fate chose otherwise.
Felix K. Zollicoffer, at left below, was a man of little military experience, having briefly served as a lieutenant of Tennessee Volunteers during the Seminole uprising of 1836, but was an important figure in Tennessee politics. He had served as state comptroller and state senator in the 1850's when this photo of him was made. He was a typical example of an early war Southern political general whose influence as newspaper owner, editor, and Whig politician was expected to help keep the inhabitants of East Tennessee who were strong Unionists pacified and securely within the Confederate fold. His rash move into Kentucky had some sound military reasoning behind it, but quickly drew the attention and disapproval of Johnston who sent Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden to supersede Zollicoffer.
Unfortunately, Crittenden, seen above at right in a wartime photo, was little better suited than Zollicoffer to deal with the rapidly deteriorating situation. Crittenden was a native of Kentucky and a brother of Union Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden and a graduate of West Point who had served as an officer in the U. S. Regiment of Mounted Rifles and was brevetted major for gallant conduct in the Mexican War. Remaining in the army following the war, he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel prior to his resignation in anticipation of Kentucky's secession, an act he likely soon regretted. Nonetheless, as a career officer of high rank, he was promoted to major general on Nov. 9, 1861, and sent to East Tennessee to take command.
Next, Part II - The Union Advance
The Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, is perhaps one of the least understood and appreciated of the entire war, and one that had lasting significance for the fortunes of the young Confederacy. As the very first important Union victories in the Western Theater at the time it was celebrated in prints like the Currier & Ives above, depicting the Terrific bayonet charge of the 9th Ohio Volunteers, a German regiment from Cincinnati, and the total defeat of the Rebel army under Genl. Zollicoffer by the Gallant Soldiers of the West. Part of the confusion is due to the fact that Mill Springs, today the accepted name, was also known variously as Fishing Springs, Somerset, and Logan's Crossroads for nearby locations and terrain features.
Map by Hal Jesperson @civilwarmaps.com
The map above indicates the geographic significance of the tiny battle; the Confederate force at right labeled Crittenden was the anchor of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston's line which stretched entirely across the state of Kentucky from the bastion of Columbus in the west to the Cumberland Gap in the East, with Johnston's headquarters near the center in Bowling Green. Once the Confederate right was defeated and driven back at Mill Springs, it was followed quickly by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's advance into Tennessee and capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in early February. This collapsed Johnston's line, causing the evacuation of Columbus, Bowling Green, and the entire state of Kentucky, without which President Abraham Lincoln said the war could not be won.
The immediate problem leading to the pivotal little battle occurred when newly-minted Confederate Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer took command in the Cumberland Gap area and decided against orders to advance into eastern Kentucky to the Cumberland River where he thought he would be protected during the winter months that normally saw little activity. Unfortunately, he chose to cross the river where he established winter quarters for his brigade of Tennessee and Mississippi infantry at Beech Grove above.
Today, at the Beech Grove campsite archeological excavations have revealed the shallow dugouts and pits that formed the bases for Zollicoffer's winter huts as seen above; the adjacent nearby woodlands contain remains of the mile-long covering earthworks built to protect the encampment, as described on the marker below.
Zollicoffer established his own headquarters in a small log cabin which stood on the site below along the road toward Logan's Crossroads a scant few miles to the north. He expected to be left alone here until the winter weather improved and campaign season would begin; unfortunately for him, fate chose otherwise.
Felix K. Zollicoffer, at left below, was a man of little military experience, having briefly served as a lieutenant of Tennessee Volunteers during the Seminole uprising of 1836, but was an important figure in Tennessee politics. He had served as state comptroller and state senator in the 1850's when this photo of him was made. He was a typical example of an early war Southern political general whose influence as newspaper owner, editor, and Whig politician was expected to help keep the inhabitants of East Tennessee who were strong Unionists pacified and securely within the Confederate fold. His rash move into Kentucky had some sound military reasoning behind it, but quickly drew the attention and disapproval of Johnston who sent Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden to supersede Zollicoffer.
Unfortunately, Crittenden, seen above at right in a wartime photo, was little better suited than Zollicoffer to deal with the rapidly deteriorating situation. Crittenden was a native of Kentucky and a brother of Union Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden and a graduate of West Point who had served as an officer in the U. S. Regiment of Mounted Rifles and was brevetted major for gallant conduct in the Mexican War. Remaining in the army following the war, he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel prior to his resignation in anticipation of Kentucky's secession, an act he likely soon regretted. Nonetheless, as a career officer of high rank, he was promoted to major general on Nov. 9, 1861, and sent to East Tennessee to take command.
Next, Part II - The Union Advance
Last edited by a moderator: