Battle of Mill Springs

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Battle of Mill Springs
by Currier and Ives

Date	January 19, 1862
Location	Pulaski County and Wayne County, Kentucky
Result	Union victory

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

George H. Thomas

George B. Crittenden

Strength

4,400 (four brigades)

5,900 (two brigades)

Casualties

232

439

Offensive in Eastern Kentucky
Middle Creek – Mill Springs

The Battle of Mill Springs, also known as the Battle of Fishing Creek in Confederate terminology, and the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads in Union terminology, was fought in Wayne and Pulaski Counties, near current Nancy, Kentucky, on January 19, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It concluded an early Confederate offensive campaign in eastern Kentucky. While considered a small battle in comparison to many in the Civil War, the battle at Mill Springs was the second largest in Kentucky. Only Perryville had more bloodshed. It was also the first Union victory, much celebrated in the popular press, but was soon eclipsed by Ulysses S. Grant's victories at Forts Henry and Donelson.

1 Battle
2 Battlefield
3 See also
4 References
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Battle

Although Confederate Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer's main responsibility was to guard the Cumberland Gap, in November 1861 he advanced west into Kentucky to strengthen control in the area around Somerset. He found a strong defensive position at Mill Springs and decided to make it his winter quarters. He fortified the area, especially both sides of the Cumberland River. Union Brig. Gen. George H. Thomas received orders to drive the Rebels across the Cumberland River and break up Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden's army. He left Lebanon and slowly marched through rain-soaked country, arriving at Logan's Crossroads on January 17, where he waited for Brig. Gen. Albin Schoepf's troops from Somerset to join him.

General Crittenden, Zollicoffer’s superior, had arrived at Mill Springs and taken command of the Confederate troops. He knew that Thomas was in the vicinity and decided that his best defense was to attack him, which he did at Logan's Crossroads at dawn on January 19. Unbeknownst to the Confederates, some of Schoepf's troops had arrived and reinforced the Union force. Initially, the Confederate attack forced the first unit it hit to retire, but stiff resistance followed and Zollicoffer was killed by Colonel Speed S. Fry^[1]. The Confederates made another attack, but were repulsed. Union counterattacks on the Confederate right and left were successful, forcing them from the field in a retreat that ended in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Battle of Mill Springs, along with the Battle of Middle Creek, broke the Confederate strength in eastern Kentucky. Confederate fortunes did not rise again until summer when Gen. Braxton Bragg returned to the state by launching the Confederate Heartland Offensive. Mill Springs was the larger of the two Union Kentucky victories in January 1862. With these victories, the Federals carried the war into Middle Tennessee in February.

[edit] Battlefield

The battlefield is located in Pulaski County. The nearest town to the battlefield is Nancy. The town of Mill Springs, after which the battle was named, is actually some distance away across Lake Cumberland.

Zollicoffer Park, a short distance from Nancy, is the Confederate cemetery and is located at the actual battlefield site. There is a National Cemetery in Nancy; there are plans to use private money for building a major museum next to it. The battlefield, which covers about 105 acres, was named by the US Secretary of the Interior as one of the top twenty-five priority battlefields and is considered a historic landmark. It includes many acres of preserved land, "the Zollicoffer Tree, and other monuments commemorating the battle's heroes".

The Zollie tree no longer exists (a victim of a lightning storm), but the mass grave of Confederate soldiers—and their monuments—still does. Clones of the Zollie tree are available.

Several commemorative ceremonies are held at the battlefield each year, including candlelight tours, living history presentations, and occasional reenactments.

[edit] See also

Western Theater of the American Civil War

[edit] References

U.S. National Park Service battle description

[edit] Notes

^ Speed S. Fry is generally credited with firing the fatal shot that killed General Zollicoffer, although this has been disputed since there was also a group of Union soldier around Col. Fry who fired at the same time.