Early
in the Civil War the Union and Confederate armies tried to win over the more
indecisive border areas separating North and South. A key early victory could
convince tens of thousands of fence-sitters to firmly pledge allegiance to one
side. In Kentucky’s case, the battle that cemented Kentucky’s stay in the Union
was a battle north of Mill Springs. The Battle of Mill Springs is the widely
accepted name of the battle, used at both the battlefield site and its official
website. However the battle sported a record number of names based on the
various locations around the battlefield: The Battle of Beech Grove, the Battle
of Cliff Creek, the Battle of the Cumberland, of Fishing Creek, Logan’s
Crossroads, Logan’s Fields, Somerset, Webb’s Crossroads, and more. In fact,
Mill Springs was south of the Cumberland River, while the fighting occurred on
the north side.[1]
This was also the first major battle for General George H. Thomas, one of the
Union’s most revered generals.
Kentucky Shifts Union
It initially looked like Kentucky, birthplace of both the Union and Confederate presidents, would join the Confederate cause. John C. Breckinridge, former vice-president and failed pro-Southern Democrat presidential candidate, held considerable influence over the state and Governor Beriah Magoffin was sympathetic to secession. The Kentucky State Guard under General Simon B. Buckner was also mostly composed of secessionists while the Unionists had no comparable military force. However, enough Unionists existed in the state legislature to force a compromise stance of neutrality. Political observers pointed out that by taking a different course from the Northern states, Kentucky still affirmed the South’s goal of state sovereignty. President Lincoln agreed that the state held considerable Confederate sympathies, but pointed out that at least its residents were not actively fighting the Union. On the other hand Kentucky still traded horses, mules, salt and even ammunition to the Confederacy.
