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. Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Abraham Lincoln† Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee Strength 2,213,363 1,064,200 Casualties KIA: 110,100 Total dead: 359,500 Wounded: 275,200 KIA: 74,500 Total dead: 198,500 Wounded: 137,000+  The American... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1470x938, 981 KB)Battle of Mill Springs. ... Charles R. Parsons: Central-Park, Winter: The Skating Pond Published by Currier & Ives, 1862 Museum of the City of New York, Harry T. Peters Collection Currier and Ives both liked to fart quite often, their firm was started by Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) and James Merritt Ives (1824-1895). ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Pulaski County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861–May 1... General George Henry Thomas (July 31, 1816 - March 28, 1870), Northern general during the American Civil War, was born in Southampton County, Virginia. ... George Bibb Crittenden (March 20, 1812 – November 27, 1880) was a career U.S. Army officer who served in the Black Hawk War, the Army of the Republic of Texas, the Mexican War, and was a general in the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement during the American Civil War. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861–May 1... Map of the division of the states during the Civil War. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Pulaski County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 37th 104,749 km² 225 km 610 km 1. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Abraham Lincoln† Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee Strength 2,213,363 1,064,200 Casualties KIA: 110,100 Total dead: 359,500 Wounded: 275,200 KIA: 74,500 Total dead: 198,500 Wounded: 137,000+  The American... The Battle of Perryville was an important but largely neglected encounter in the American Civil War. ... Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... The Battle of Fort Henry was fought February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought February 12–16, 1862 in the American Civil War. ...

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. A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Felix Kirk Zollicoffer (May 19, 1812 – January 19, 1862) is best known for his role as a Confederate brigadier general. ... Cumberland Gap in winter The Cumberland Gap is a pass across the Cumberland Mountains region of the Appalachian Mountains, famous in American history for its role as the chief passageway through the mountains for early settlers. ... Somerset is a city located in Pulaski County, Kentucky. ... Length 1,106 km Elevation of the source 480 m Average discharge 3,217 m³/s Area watershed 46,830 km² Origin Oven Fork, Kentucky Mouth Ohio River Basin countries United States The Cumberland River is an important waterway in the southern United States. ... General George Henry Thomas (July 31, 1816 - March 28, 1870), Northern general during the American Civil War, was born in Southampton County, Virginia. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... George Bibb Crittenden (March 20, 1812 – November 27, 1880) was a career U.S. Army officer who served in the Black Hawk War, the Army of the Republic of Texas, the Mexican War, and was a general in the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... Speed S. Fry, as Colonel of the 4th Kentucky Infantry Speed Smith Fry (September 9, 1817 – August 1, 1892) was a lawyer, judge, and a U.S. Army officer during the Mexican War and American Civil War. ... Murfreesboro is a city located in Rutherford County, 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. The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement during the American Civil War. ... Braxton Bragg Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was a career U.S. Army officer and a general in the Confederate States Army, a principal commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

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. Pulaski County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Map of Lake Cumberland Aerial composite of Lake Cumberland Lake Cumberland is an artificial lake in South-Central Kentucky created by the construction of the Wolf Creek Dam in 1950 at a cost of $80. ...

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 United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... The term National landmark may refer to one of two programs of the United States government: National Historic Landmark National Natural Landmark Also see: Listed building (United Kingdom equivalent) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Zollie tree no longer exists, but the mass grave of Confederate soldiers—and their monuments—still does.

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

See also

• Western Theater of the American Civil War

Western Theater Overview (1861 – 1865) This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. ...

References

• U.S. National Park Service battle description

Notes

1. ↑ 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.

External links

• Geoff Walden's website on the battle
• Mill Springs Battlefield Association