Save 16.4 Acres at Mill Springs
A Message from the Civil War Trust
The first months of the Civil War were not kind to Union
fortunes. Federal armies east and west faced stinging defeats at Bull Run and Wilson’s Creek and Northern morale continued to sag as autumn turned to winter. But all that began to change on January 19, 1862, when the Union army earned its first major victory of the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs, near Nancy, Kentucky.
Union forces under the command of Brig. Gen. George H. Thomas defeated Confederate forces under the command of Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden and Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer, solidifying Northern control over the Bluegrass State. This victory, coupled with an earlier one at Middle Creek, Ky., broke the Confederate hold on eastern Kentucky and allowed the federals to carry the war into Middle Tennessee the next month. Confederate fortunes in the west did not rise again until summer when Gen. Braxton Bragg launched his offensive into Kentucky.
Just a few decades ago, the Battle of Mill Springs, Ky., was something of a footnote in Civil War history, overshadowed by the larger battles that would come in the months and years to follow. But in recent years, the tremendous efforts of groups like the Civil War Trust and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association have created a true renaissance by saving nearly 500 acres at this important battlefield. Visitors can also enjoy two restored historic homes, walking trails with interpretive signage and an impressive 10,000-square-foot museum and visitor center.
This week, as we remember the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mill Springs , the Civil War Trust is proud to announce its latest preservation effort: the purchase of 16.4 acres at the very heart of this battlefield! The site witnessed the dramatic advance of the 9th Ohio on the Confederate position — a ferocious assault that earned the regiment’s famous bayonet charge. Not only was that action a pivotal moment in this battle — it was actually the first bayonet charge of the war, giving it even greater historic significance.
But in order save this land, we must first pay for it! In order to protect this property forever and incorporate it into the existing park at Mill Springs, the Trust must raise $87,500 — but every dollar contributed will be matched 1-to-1 by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program.
What better way to mark this important anniversary than by adding a critical tract to this beautiful and pristine battlefield? Doing so is the most powerful and lasting legacy of this commemoration that we can leave for our children and grandchildren.
Please take a few moments to visit our website and learn about the Battle of Mill Springs and this unique anniversary preservation opportunity. Photos, maps, history articles and more are all available at www.civilwar.org/millsprings12!
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