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Maps of Munfordville, Kentucky (1862)
Munfordville - September 14-17, 1862

Siege of Munfordville
September 14 - 17, 1862

Munfordville, with its railroad bridge over the Green River, was a key station on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and therefore of great importance to Gen Braxton Bragg's 1862 Kentucky Campaign.  Approaching the town, Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers urged Union Col. John T. Wilder to surrender his 4,000-man garrison.  Wilder instead elected to "try fighting for a while" and repulsed Chalmers' initial attacks, losing just 37 to the Rebels' 283.  After two days of siege operations, the Confederates, realizing that Buell’s forces were near and not wanting to kill or injure innocent civilians, again urged surrender. Under a flag of truce, a blindfolded Wilder entered enemy lines late on the 16th.  After viewing the Rebel positions with Confederate Maj. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Wilder concluded that he ought to surrender. The formal ceremony occurred the next day on the 17th.  Confederate control of this vital transportation hub greatly affected Union movements for the rest of the campaign.

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