“To lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game.”
Abraham Lincoln: September 1861
Kentucky maintained an official stance of armed neutrality from May to September 1861. They hoped to avoid becoming a battleground despite being a slave-holding border state. This neutrality failed when Confederate forces occupied Columbus, KY, leading the legislature to side with the Union.
FROM AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST:
Early on the morning of the 19th, Confederate cavalry hit the Federal army’s advance along Mill Springs Road. After a running fight, the Confederates were halted near a crossroads where three roads converged on Mill Springs Road. Zollicoffer mistook the troops in his front to be Confederates in the growing fight and rode towards them to stop perceived friendly fire. However, after riding up towards the unit, Zollicoffer discovered they were Federals and was promptly shot by Colonel Speed S. Fry of the 4th Kentucky Infantry.
Nevertheless, the Confederates persisted and attacked the Federals. Intense fighting materialized around what was known as the Old Road, where the Confederates launched several repeated assaults along the road. At the fight’s climax, Confederates from the 15th Mississippi Infantry almost broke through the Federal line but were stopped by reinforcements from Thomas, which drove the Confederates back down the hill.
Unbeknownst to the Confederates, Federal reinforcements from Schoepf arrived on the field and launched a spirited attack against the Confederate right, which broke the line. Only a rear guard action saved the Confederate army
Zollicoffer Monument
After defeats at the battles of First Bull Run and Ball’s Bluff, morale in the Union armies was low. The tide turned at Mill Springs and the confederates never returned to Kentucky.
REMEMBER THE PAST, STEVE