The Battle of Mill Springs: Kentucky in the Civil War

The January 19, 1862, Battle of Mill Springs put Union Brig. Gen. George H. Thomas on the map. Thomas defeated a force of Confederates commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden and Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer. Join author and historian Stuart Sanders as we explore this overlooked early action in the Blue Grass State.
Look for our numerous videos on KZbin over the next week, and special thanks to all the donors who helped make this trip possible!

[@SilverTower2]

My father who was a World War ll and Korean War Veteran is buried at the Mill Springs National Cemetery in 1972. It's 2022 and 50 years later. It was a such great honor for him to be laid to rest at one of the oldest, prestigious and most serene military cemeteries, and It is hard to imagine that a desperate battle was waged at such a peaceful location while being there. May all the fallen warriors...RIP.

[@liennitram9291]

God bless your father..... It definitely is beautiful there.

[@matthewsmith9553]

I was just there for the first time last month! I visited every stop on the "driving tour" and ended up taking literally hundreds of photos! It is such a beautiful and well preserved battlefield! Every stop was well maintained and well kept. I had been visiting the area my entire life and never knew it was there until a few months ago. It is definitely well worth a visit!

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Dang these battlefields are beautiful

[@ptaylor4923]

These videos are wonderful. I'm older an can't get out, so this is a breath of fresh air for me.

[@MartinsNewTeeth]

My dad’s side of the family lived in this area, off the Cumberland River [off Faubush Creek - probably under Cumberland Lake 😢], from about 1811 to when the Wolf Creek Dam was built! I hope to get here some day soon! Thanks for the great video!

[@douglashayden329]

Thank you Mr. Sanders for towing the line and carrying the torch for Mill Springs.

[@benniepatton6544]

I was raised in Monticello, and I have been to this site several times beginning when there was only the small park. This presentation was very well done. Little tid bit: Back in the early sixties, the Boy Scouts did a march from here to Fishing Creek. We were given Zollicoffer medals - good quality medals.

[@liennitram9291]

Been here many times. Went ot Lake Cumberland a lot when a child. Always wanted to know more about this site and the soldiers who fought here. Thank you ABT. Amazing video.

[@debramartin7029]

Garry, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful young lady ranger there in the spring of 2015 who had also had an ancestor in the 10th KY who fought there. Her name was Amy Grant - and yes, she was related to the General! She had wonderful stories of the battlefield from locals. She was currently a student in Lexington. I wonder if she has come back to be a permanent part of Mill Springs. I hope so. Her family lived very close to it.

[@chuckoffcampus9738]

It's not just Bull Run and Ball's Bluff. Don't forget Wilson's Creek! A big battle in 1861. 2,500 casualties and an important young general dies there.

[@indycarcomplainer2304]

I’m glad to see that a lot of the land has been preserved. I was in that area, in the early 1990s, and there wasn’t much to see other than the National Cemetery.

[@kevinw9073]

Kentucky has some of the most prestine Civil War battlefields. I have hiked Mills Springs several times over the years. Well done.

[@johnathanlewis2049]

If you’re in Kentucky- Both Springfield in Washington County and Irvine in Estill County were raided by John Hunt Morgan and there were skirmishes in both areas.

[@johnalexander9145]

Thank you for the excellent video. I just arrived for my first visit to Mill Springs.

[@jacobmasters438]

My ancestor Thomas Masters and his two brothers fought in the 1st Kentucky Cavalry Company K. Thank You for posting material on the Western Theater.

[@mregensb1sgt]

My ancestor was a Captain in the 9th Ohio. Ferdinand Mueller Company B, 9th Ohio. He was mortally wounded at Chickamauga.

[@tdw5933]

Johnson White, First Kentucky Calvary Four White boys went to War only he survived, one is buried in Andersonville.

[@jacobmasters438]

@@tdw5933 Any idea what company they belonged too? Just curious is all. My great great great Grandpa Thomas was in Company K, 1st KY Cavalry regiment (Union)

[@archdornan1722]

@@mregensb1sgt My ancestor Christian Scherer was a Private in I Company of the 9th Ohio.

[@HighVelocityRips]

Good job on this video y’all 👍🏻

[@5Mariner]

George Thomas, what a general! 👊

[@michaeltruett817]

Was here for the renactment in 2019. Really good people

[@theMoerster]

Never underestimate the importance of thinking through your password choices. True on the Internet...true on the Civil War battlefield.

[@randomlyweirdjeff4638]

I have been doing research on my ancestor Byron Combs. He was in the 19th Ky infantry. I'm wondering if he may have been wounded in action, he died in Lexington KY on November 20th 1862. Combs, was in company D with was sent to Louisville along with company C under the command of Major Carpenter.

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

Four Huddelston's First cav. wild riders of Kentucky my Dads side ...two died, one was the father of 3....

[@mregensb1sgt]

My ancestor was a Captain in the 9th Ohio. Ferdinand Mueller Company B.

[@monumentstosuffering2995]

Garry is very good and charismatic. What a fine mind.

[@robertschultz6922]

I had two relatives die right after the battle at a hospital who were at Capt Carters regiment of battle of Franklin fame. I don't know much about them other than their names. I know they were at camp trusdale for training and then went to fight. My mom remembers growing up on the same farm they would have lived in cotton town Tennessee they were in co h twentieth Tennessee infantry

[@SilverSaxon]

I was afraid no archaeology was being done on these battlefields. I'm glad to learn that is not the case.

[@mikeellement5250]

Great battle site

[@avenaoat]

1st and 2st (East) Tenneessee regiments fought here for the Union! Kentucky remained in the Union, but these soldiers came from a Confederat state!

[@avenaoat]

Funny to think Thomas would have got more soldiers to reach East Tennessee after this battle? Lincoln wanted to liberated East Tennessee and only Burnside reached Knoxwille in 1863!

[@johnnystir9796]

My Great Great Great Grandfather Pvt. John A. Pock...served in the 10th Indiana

[@Boozie513]

Nice! My 3rd g-grandfather Zephaniah Crain was in company B, 10th Indiana. He was slightly wounded at Mill Springs.

[@debramartin7029]

Garry, are you still seeing comments from KZbin?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Garry does not manage our channel, but I can always pass something along to him.

[@debramartin7029]

@@AmericanBattlefieldTrust Just thank Garry & the rest of his troupe on doing this Western Theater tour. I made a contribution to the endeavor and it's been well worth it. So many great stories. I had not heard the "password" story before! Perryville has a similar event - looking forward to it. Good job all!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

@@debramartin7029 Thanks Debra, and thanks for the contribution! We have more content from the trip coming through the weekend, so stay tuned!

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

Is Aldeman on Chrystal Meth...let the man talk