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Importance of Battle of Mill Springs, Adair's strategic location More on Camp Boyle and Adair Co., KY's role in a pivotal point in 1862 in the Civil War, which dramatically altered the course of history - 'The weakest points in the Confederate lines were at two points: At Forts Henry and Donelson on the lower Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and at the break in the Confederate line between Bowling Green and Somerset. At Adair County, in other words. - DEREK COOMER By Derek Coomer The Mill Springs battlefield is located on Hwy 80 between Russell Springs and Somerset, just east of Nancy. There is a museum, visitor's center, and military cemetery at the site, and over 600 acres of the battlefield have been preserved. I'd forgotten to mention that 150th anniversary of the battle is being celebrated this weekend with reenactments both today and tomorrow (January 21 and 22). As far as I know the locations of the Union encampments in Adair County are unknown. The principal encampment was called "Camp Boyle". Perhaps some local historians might be able to shed light on its possible whereabouts. The location of the Confederate encampments in Pulaski County, as well as that of the fortifications the Confederates built on the Cumberland River bluffs below the site of the battle are, as far as I'm aware, also unknown. I thought I might include an explanation of the importance of Mill Springs and of the larger battle for Kentucky of which it was a part. Locally the battle at Tebb's Bend and Morgan's raids receive more attention, and statewide the battle of Perryville is more well-known, but in my opinion the campaign waged across the state at the beginning of 1862 was by far more significant. Kentucky was of vital strategic importance to both sides in the conflict. Not only was it important economically, producing foodstuffs needed by both armies, but it also commanded important rivers that led into the heart of the South: The Mississippi, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee. If the North controlled these waterways all of Kentucky and most of Tennessee would fall under its control, and the deep South would be vulnerable. If the Confederacy controlled them they might be able delay Union progress in the West for years. At first Kentucky's vain attempt at neutrality kept both armies out of the state. But the stakes were higher for the South, so the Confederates moved first, occupying Columbus, KY and fortifying the Mississippi River at the point to such a degree that it became impassable to the Union navy. The Confederates moved to occupy or fortify key strategic points right across southern Kentucky. Forts Henry and Donelson and were built on the Tennessee and Cumberland just inside Tennessee. Bowling Green, important because of its location on the Green River and because it lay along the Memphis & Ohio and Louisville & Nashville railroads, became the Confederate "capital" of Kentucky. In the far east the Cumberland Gap, another important gateway to the South, was fortified by General Felix Zollicoffer. Zollicoffer then moved west to fortify the upper Cumberland River just below Somerset, placing the last of the major waterways under Confederate control. Despite the Confederate's aggressiveness, they were still at a disadvantage. They occupied all the most vital strategic points in the state, but with too few men. The union armies at Louisville (under General Buell) and at Cairo, IL (under General Grant) heavily outnumbered them. The Confederate commander in Kentucky, Albert Sidney Johnston, was aware of the danger and begged in vain for more men, ships, and resources. The weakest points in the Confederate lines were at two points: At Forts Henry and Donelson on the lower Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and at the break in the Confederate line between Bowling Green and Somerset. At Adair County, in other words. The Confederates attempted to improve the situation in western Kentucky by occupying and fortifying Paducah and thus controlling the Tennessee and Cumberland at their confluence with the Ohio, but Grant beat them there. After a brief but bloody attempt on the nearly impregnable fortifications at Columbus, Grant and Buell decided to attack the weak points in the Confederate line. Grant moved against Henry and Donelson, while Buell sent 15,000 men under General George H. Thomas to Adair County, cutting off the Confederate forces south of Somerset from Confederate headquarters in Bowling Green. Gen. Thomas spent several weeks in Adair County. Rather than attempting the inevitably bloody assault on Zollicoffer's entrenchments on the Cumberland River bluffs, Thomas attempted to force him out into open battle. Several Union regiments crossed Cumberland near Creelsboro. The inexperienced Zollicoffer became alarmed at the prospect of being surrounded, and foolishly abandoned his strong position on the Cumberland and began moving towards Thomas and Adair County. Thomas moved to meet the attack, which occurred at Mill Springs near modern day Nancy. The initial Confederate attack met with some success, but the Union troops rallied. The weather was miserable, and visibility poor, which led General Zollicoffer to mistake a Union regiment for one of his own. Before he realized his mistake he was killed, and the tide of the battle turned firmly in the North's favor. The confused Confederates routed, and instead of retreating to their old position on the Cumberland they fled deep into Tennessee, eventually ending up at Murfreesboro. Casualties were very light by Civil War standards, totaling only 600 killed, wounded, and missing, though the battle could have easily been far bloodier. This I imagine is one reason why Mill Springs is such a little known battle. But it was, in fact, a vitally important Union victory. The Confederate defeat was complete, and left all eastern Kentucky in Union hands. It also put the upper Cumberland into Union hands, leaving central Tennessee and Nashville vulnerable, as well as the Confederate headquarters at Bowling Green. Just as importantly it provided the first major victory of the war for the Union. Mill Springs took place on January 19, 1862. A few short weeks later Grant captured Forts Henry and Donelson. At this point the powerful Confederate positions at Columbus and Bowling Green became untenable and had to be abandoned. Kentucky and central Tennessee fell under Union control and remained there for the rest of the war, in spite of several Confederate attempts to reverse the situation. The Southern forces from western Kentucky regrouped and attacked Grant at Shiloh, but were again defeated, leaving western Tennessee under Union control as well, and the Union navy was free to move down the Mississippi to Memphis and, eventually Vicksburg. The battle for Kentucky was short and, compared to later Civil War campaigns, relatively bloodless. But had the Confederates been given a little more time to prepare it would have been a protracted, deadly struggle. The Union victories in Kentucky doubtless shortened the war, saved many lives, and spared our state a great deal of destruction and death. --Derek Coomer This story was posted on 2012-01-25 06:31:57
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
Thoughts on the 13th Kentucky Cavalry: The Adair Co. regiment History: Direction of Wind saved Courthouse from burning Camp Boyle important part of Adair County, KY history JIM - Gradyville, KY 1902, a town with all essentials JIM, 100 Years ago: The Vagaries of Love Knifleyan recalls New Year 1947 dynamiting of pool hall stove Part II of the B-58 story by Chris Bennett Historical marker progress update. One exciting piece of News! QUERY: Wants photo of Granvil Burton The Lindsey-Wilson: Pride of every thinking person in Adair Co. View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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