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The Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky
On January 19, 1862, Confederate and Union forces clashed in the now-forgotten Battle of Mill Springs. Armies of inexperienced soldiers chaotically fought in the wooded terrain of south-central Kentucky as rain turned bloodied ground to mud. Mill Springs was the first major Union victory since the Federal disaster of Bull Run. This Union triumph secured the Bluegrass State in Union hands, opening the large expanses of Tennessee for Federal invasion. From General Felix Zollicoffer meeting his death by wandering into Union lines to the heroics of General George Thomas, Civil War historian Stuart Sanders chronicles this important battle and its essential role in the war.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2013
21 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Stuart W. Sanders
6 books4 followersStuart W. Sanders is the author of four books, "Murder on the Ohio Belle" (2020), "Perryville Under Fire: The Aftermath of Kentucky's Largest Civil War Battle" (2012), "The Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky" (2013), and "Maney's Confederate Brigade at the Battle of Perryville" (2014). He is also the author of the longform essay "Lincoln's Confederate 'Little Sister:' Emilie Todd Helm."
Sanders has contributed essays to multiple Civil War anthologies and has written for many magazines and journals, including "Civil War Times Illustrated," "America's Civil War," "MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History," "Civil War History," "Hallowed Ground," "Civil War Quarterly," "Blue & Gray," "Kentucky Humanities," "The Journal of America's Military Past," "The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society," "Encyclopedia Virginia," and several other publications. He is the former executive director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association and currently works in the public history field in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 2018, the James Harrod Trust awarded him with the Clay Lancaster Award for Historical Research and Writing.
Sanders has contributed essays to multiple Civil War anthologies and has written for many magazines and journals, including "Civil War Times Illustrated," "America's Civil War," "MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History," "Civil War History," "Hallowed Ground," "Civil War Quarterly," "Blue & Gray," "Kentucky Humanities," "The Journal of America's Military Past," "The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society," "Encyclopedia Virginia," and several other publications. He is the former executive director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association and currently works in the public history field in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 2018, the James Harrod Trust awarded him with the Clay Lancaster Award for Historical Research and Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 18, 2023
3.5 stars. This book, about one of the early battles in Kentucky during the Civil War isn't too long, but does offer details about the battle as a precursor to war in the West. One of the interesting things about war in Kentucky is that both sides had troops from the state. It was obstensibly neutral, but the Confederacy hoped to persuade it to join their cause. Unfortunately for them, the battle did not go well because of bad weather, faulty guns and poor leadership. The Union troops under the command of George Thomas had some well-trained soldiers in the 9th Ohio, as well as the 2nd Minnesota, 10th Indiana and 4th Kentucky, which took on the Confederates under George Crittenden, who was rumored to be inebriated. His 1st Brigade was led by Felix Zellicoffer who was killed during the battle. The book makes a point of how his corpse was treated by the Union. There were rumors that it was looted, and was not immediately claimed by the South for burial. Still, this early in the war he was looked upon as a hero.
It's a fairly interesting book, and makes a point of how much both sides had to learn in what would be a long war.
It's a fairly interesting book, and makes a point of how much both sides had to learn in what would be a long war.
March 3, 2018
A well written little book on a long forgotten little battle in the early phases of the War Between the States.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Kentucky, rather foolishly, vowed neutrality and sought to remain separate from the war. However, cultural ties to the South, and economic ties to the Midwestern states meant that neither the Federals nor the Rebels were willing to let a a neutral exist in a sea of belligerents. Both sides eagerly sought, and did, invade the state in the fall of 1861, and began raising troops for their respective sides.
While the Confederate position at Bowling Green was a strong one, and no Union commander was keen to test it head on, the eastern end of the state was sparsely held by small Rebel contingents.
Here a series of small scale skirmishes had erupted in the late autumn and early winter of 1861-62, and Union General George Thomas was sent to organize and use offensively the Federal forces in the region heretofore acting defensively.
Southern commander George Crittenden authorized a push towards the Cumberland River to break up the Federal forces before they could fully concentrate. Thus the Battle of Mill Springs had its genesis.
The battle was the first major Federal triumph of the war, and its strategic implications effectively cracked open the entire Western defensive line of the Confederacy.
Crittenden's men assaulted the Federals in a series of poorly conducted, piecemeal strikes that, while initially gaining some ground, stalled in the face of superior Yankee firepower and the terrain which aided the tactical defensive. The weather was atrocious, with a chill, freezing rain sleeting down the entire day, and thick fog reducing vision to mere yards in some areas of the field. The rolling, heavily wooded terrain negated the effectiveness of both sides artillery, and forced the Rebels to make headlong charges at the Union infantry positions.
The Confederate infantry were atrociously equipped with antiquated flintlocks (which often failed to fire once the priming pans got wet, which was as soon as they were used) and shotguns being the main source of armament for the Rebel troops. The Northern boys were universally equipped with American, British or European fabricated percussion cap rifles that had three times the range and accuracy of the Southern firearms.
As a consequence, the Rebels could only deal proper execution at close ranges, and on only a couple occasions was this achieved. Often the battle ended up being a long range firefight with the Confederates largely firing in vain as most of their rounds fell far short.
A series of bitterly fought hand to hand struggles over a fence line in the center of the field acted as a magnet for both armies, sucking in regiments in quick succession. The Federal forces finally triumphed when the 9th Ohio, made up of German immigrants, most of whom were already veterans of formations amongst the various German states, launched a bayonet charge that broke the cohesion of the Rebel infantry, who soon began to retreat all across the line.
The Southern defeat effectively secured Kentucky for the Union, and ensured the invasion of Tennessee just a few weeks later.
A very well written little gem of a book, part of the Sesquicentennial series on the Civil War published by the History Press. A great series for the smaller, mostly ignored, campaigns and battles of the war.
Highly researched, and well put together on a very concise narrative that still managed to convey enough depth to make it a worthwhile read.
Highly recommended.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Kentucky, rather foolishly, vowed neutrality and sought to remain separate from the war. However, cultural ties to the South, and economic ties to the Midwestern states meant that neither the Federals nor the Rebels were willing to let a a neutral exist in a sea of belligerents. Both sides eagerly sought, and did, invade the state in the fall of 1861, and began raising troops for their respective sides.
While the Confederate position at Bowling Green was a strong one, and no Union commander was keen to test it head on, the eastern end of the state was sparsely held by small Rebel contingents.
Here a series of small scale skirmishes had erupted in the late autumn and early winter of 1861-62, and Union General George Thomas was sent to organize and use offensively the Federal forces in the region heretofore acting defensively.
Southern commander George Crittenden authorized a push towards the Cumberland River to break up the Federal forces before they could fully concentrate. Thus the Battle of Mill Springs had its genesis.
The battle was the first major Federal triumph of the war, and its strategic implications effectively cracked open the entire Western defensive line of the Confederacy.
Crittenden's men assaulted the Federals in a series of poorly conducted, piecemeal strikes that, while initially gaining some ground, stalled in the face of superior Yankee firepower and the terrain which aided the tactical defensive. The weather was atrocious, with a chill, freezing rain sleeting down the entire day, and thick fog reducing vision to mere yards in some areas of the field. The rolling, heavily wooded terrain negated the effectiveness of both sides artillery, and forced the Rebels to make headlong charges at the Union infantry positions.
The Confederate infantry were atrociously equipped with antiquated flintlocks (which often failed to fire once the priming pans got wet, which was as soon as they were used) and shotguns being the main source of armament for the Rebel troops. The Northern boys were universally equipped with American, British or European fabricated percussion cap rifles that had three times the range and accuracy of the Southern firearms.
As a consequence, the Rebels could only deal proper execution at close ranges, and on only a couple occasions was this achieved. Often the battle ended up being a long range firefight with the Confederates largely firing in vain as most of their rounds fell far short.
A series of bitterly fought hand to hand struggles over a fence line in the center of the field acted as a magnet for both armies, sucking in regiments in quick succession. The Federal forces finally triumphed when the 9th Ohio, made up of German immigrants, most of whom were already veterans of formations amongst the various German states, launched a bayonet charge that broke the cohesion of the Rebel infantry, who soon began to retreat all across the line.
The Southern defeat effectively secured Kentucky for the Union, and ensured the invasion of Tennessee just a few weeks later.
A very well written little gem of a book, part of the Sesquicentennial series on the Civil War published by the History Press. A great series for the smaller, mostly ignored, campaigns and battles of the war.
Highly researched, and well put together on a very concise narrative that still managed to convey enough depth to make it a worthwhile read.
Highly recommended.
February 16, 2026
Kentucky in the Civil War is a subject that is rarely treated with the proper scholarly attention. Much like western Virginia (now West Virginia), whether Kentucky would be Union or Confederate territory was up in the air in 1861. The state legislature initially refused to send troops to what was to become the Union Army of the Ohio and instead declared neutrality. This was brief as the Confederates entered the state followed by a then unknown Brigadier General named Ulysses S. Grant. For the next five months or so, both sides contested Kentucky in a number of small battles culminating in Union victories in southeastern Kentucky and northwest Tennessee.
Also like western Virginia, these early victories kept Kentucky safe for much of the rest of the war, save for a number of flashy Confederate cavalry incursions and the massive but ultimately unsuccessful invasion by Braxton Bragg in late 1862 that culminated at Perryville. Thus the state’s role in the war, one Lincoln believed critical to victory, has largely been forgotten alongside the first major Union battlefield victory of the war.
This topic has long fascinated me. Growing up in Kentucky and being a history obsessed kid (now a history obsessed 23 year old), the idea that where I lived had once been a battleground was fascinating. As I got older and actually started seeking to do my own research, I was sad to find that few available sources discussed this period in any great length. Thus, I was glad to pick up this book.
The Battle of Mill Springs Kentucky by Stuart Sanders tells the story of the titular clash in which General George Henry Thomas, a Union loyal Virginian, broke the Confederate defensive line on January 19th, 1862, helping to set in motion a series of major victories in the Western Theater of the War. The book is part of the Sesquicentennial Series by the History Press, books meant to succinctly summarize major events of the Civil War.
Sanders does succeed in that regard. In just 128 pages (many of which are dominated by pictures and a few pages are just blank; you could easily read this in a few hours) he quickly sets up the background of the battle, goes into significant tactical detail, discusses controversies and myths, and concludes with a discussion of its impact. As a one-stop shop, it manages to convey a lot of information. I have read quite a bit about Mill Springs and there was still a lot of information here I didn’t know. Sanders does an excellent job describing the terrain and elucidating the path of the battle and a number of current pictures and contemporary sketches help you get a feel for what the field actually looked like that day.
Part of the short length comes down to the fact that Mill Springs was a small fight (by Civil War Standards anyway). Only a few thousand men were heavily engaged at any given moment and the copious Official Records contain only about 40 or 50 pages directly pertaining to the fighting (if memory serves, Shiloh gets around 900 or so, as a point of comparison). It easily could have and should have been longer, however. The whole point of these books is to be easily digestible summations of these battles (you’ll often see them in visitor center shops at historic sights) but I felt that crafting a narrative really came second to describing the events. George Thomas hardly appears in the book and no one is elevated above the level of a cardboard cutout, unfortunate considering the epic sweep of his life story. Additionally, the lack of maps is frustrating (thankfully Google helped me out). A commendable number of letter and diary entries are included but they aren’t embedded especially well from a literary point of view.
The thing is, this might also just be a byproduct of the truncated structure. I read an article about Sanders discussing the retreat from Mill Springs and I found that much more well written. I want to make clear that he is a good writer, I just think an editor or perhaps more space to expand the story might have helped. Though small, the Battle of Mill Springs is worthy of some elevated prose.
This book still does its job, however. The only other book length study I know of is a hefty one by Kenneth Hafendorfer. Hafendorfer is probably the great chronicler of the Civil War in Kentucky but his books (nay, tomes, I have his Perryville volume staring ominously at me this very moment) are hard to find and incredibly expensive. If you want to know about Mill Springs without breaking the bank, this is the way to do it. This book is not likely to reach anyone that isn’t looking to learn about the battle, but Sanders is a fine historian and I will continue to consult this book as I research and write about the war in Kentucky.
Also like western Virginia, these early victories kept Kentucky safe for much of the rest of the war, save for a number of flashy Confederate cavalry incursions and the massive but ultimately unsuccessful invasion by Braxton Bragg in late 1862 that culminated at Perryville. Thus the state’s role in the war, one Lincoln believed critical to victory, has largely been forgotten alongside the first major Union battlefield victory of the war.
This topic has long fascinated me. Growing up in Kentucky and being a history obsessed kid (now a history obsessed 23 year old), the idea that where I lived had once been a battleground was fascinating. As I got older and actually started seeking to do my own research, I was sad to find that few available sources discussed this period in any great length. Thus, I was glad to pick up this book.
The Battle of Mill Springs Kentucky by Stuart Sanders tells the story of the titular clash in which General George Henry Thomas, a Union loyal Virginian, broke the Confederate defensive line on January 19th, 1862, helping to set in motion a series of major victories in the Western Theater of the War. The book is part of the Sesquicentennial Series by the History Press, books meant to succinctly summarize major events of the Civil War.
Sanders does succeed in that regard. In just 128 pages (many of which are dominated by pictures and a few pages are just blank; you could easily read this in a few hours) he quickly sets up the background of the battle, goes into significant tactical detail, discusses controversies and myths, and concludes with a discussion of its impact. As a one-stop shop, it manages to convey a lot of information. I have read quite a bit about Mill Springs and there was still a lot of information here I didn’t know. Sanders does an excellent job describing the terrain and elucidating the path of the battle and a number of current pictures and contemporary sketches help you get a feel for what the field actually looked like that day.
Part of the short length comes down to the fact that Mill Springs was a small fight (by Civil War Standards anyway). Only a few thousand men were heavily engaged at any given moment and the copious Official Records contain only about 40 or 50 pages directly pertaining to the fighting (if memory serves, Shiloh gets around 900 or so, as a point of comparison). It easily could have and should have been longer, however. The whole point of these books is to be easily digestible summations of these battles (you’ll often see them in visitor center shops at historic sights) but I felt that crafting a narrative really came second to describing the events. George Thomas hardly appears in the book and no one is elevated above the level of a cardboard cutout, unfortunate considering the epic sweep of his life story. Additionally, the lack of maps is frustrating (thankfully Google helped me out). A commendable number of letter and diary entries are included but they aren’t embedded especially well from a literary point of view.
The thing is, this might also just be a byproduct of the truncated structure. I read an article about Sanders discussing the retreat from Mill Springs and I found that much more well written. I want to make clear that he is a good writer, I just think an editor or perhaps more space to expand the story might have helped. Though small, the Battle of Mill Springs is worthy of some elevated prose.
This book still does its job, however. The only other book length study I know of is a hefty one by Kenneth Hafendorfer. Hafendorfer is probably the great chronicler of the Civil War in Kentucky but his books (nay, tomes, I have his Perryville volume staring ominously at me this very moment) are hard to find and incredibly expensive. If you want to know about Mill Springs without breaking the bank, this is the way to do it. This book is not likely to reach anyone that isn’t looking to learn about the battle, but Sanders is a fine historian and I will continue to consult this book as I research and write about the war in Kentucky.
June 17, 2022
Parts of this book were pretty dense. It’s east to get lost when the author starts going into detail on which regiment was backing up which regiment or who was moving where at what time. The through-line of the story, though, is easy enough to follow. And, if you had a map in hand and were interested in visualizing the battle, this book would be an excellent reference.
The main takeaways were that:
1.) between nepotism and drunkards, the south had no competent leadership. As a matter of fact, they likely wouldn’t have even been forced into the battle if General Zollicoffer would have been capable of following orders. He was told not to cross the Cumberland River, but he got his position from his status – not from his experience. He disobeyed his orders and moved exactly where he’d been told not to go and it put him in danger and at a strategic disadvantage.
2.) the south had outdated and generally (between the rain and lack of rifling) ineffectual weaponry
and 3.) the southern soldiers were either poorly trained or weren’t trained at all, and weren’t at all knowledgeable in warfare.
The main takeaways were that:
1.) between nepotism and drunkards, the south had no competent leadership. As a matter of fact, they likely wouldn’t have even been forced into the battle if General Zollicoffer would have been capable of following orders. He was told not to cross the Cumberland River, but he got his position from his status – not from his experience. He disobeyed his orders and moved exactly where he’d been told not to go and it put him in danger and at a strategic disadvantage.
2.) the south had outdated and generally (between the rain and lack of rifling) ineffectual weaponry
and 3.) the southern soldiers were either poorly trained or weren’t trained at all, and weren’t at all knowledgeable in warfare.
September 27, 2024
The state of Kentucky in the Civil War is perhaps one of the most complicated pieces of that state's history as well as throughout the US. Stuart W. Sanders with "The Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky" takes a look at the forgotten history of this 1862 battle and the battle to try to preserve the legacy of this piece of history. The book itself is interesting and easy to read as we the reader get a good look at the soldiers & places that make this battle as important as it is. What's sad though is to see how in the aftermath of things the battlefield & surrounding area got lost to history although there are efforts to try to revitalize that part of Kentucky as well as have people remember this as well. Overall, this isn't a badly written book and is one anyone with an interest in the Civil War or even the history of the state of Kentucky will enjoy.
January 16, 2026
This is a solid history of the Battle of Mill Springs in Kentucky. The author clearly explains the importance of the battle and gives the reader a very lucid narrative of the battle. He completely covers the aftermath of the battle and brings the reader up to date on the battlefield today. The only down side to the book is the lack of maps to help explain the story. Several period maps are provided but they lack the detail to follow the campaign and battle. The only map that approaches what is required is a less than a quarter page map from the American Battlefield Trust. With that in mind, I still recommend reading this history of Mill Springs.
April 27, 2023
E-Book- Since I had developed the jigsaw puzzle (I have several in stock should anyone be interested!) with the Minnesota 2nd Regiments battle flag from the Mill Springs battle as its focal point (and tracing the 5902 miles they marched!!), I felt it appropriate to learn more about the actual battle. We had visited the very impressive Visitor's Center at the actual battlefield and the self directed auto/audio tour of the battleground. It was a pivotal battle in the war, keeping Kentucky on the Union side of the conflict
September 19, 2022
A bloody mess
This early Civil War battle demonstrated the efficacy of US trained troops over poorly led and equipped Southern volunteers. From the poor leadership of the rebel forces to their weapons of antiquated flint-locks (useless in the rainy conditions of the battle) it is hard to imagine any chance of a southern victory.
This early Civil War battle demonstrated the efficacy of US trained troops over poorly led and equipped Southern volunteers. From the poor leadership of the rebel forces to their weapons of antiquated flint-locks (useless in the rainy conditions of the battle) it is hard to imagine any chance of a southern victory.
August 7, 2023
Good narrative. Map is way too small.
December 13, 2023
This is a short but enjoyable study of a little known but importnat battle that took place early in the Civil War and was the first Union victory of that conflict. It introduced one of the finest Union Generals, George Thomas, who skillfully engineered the victory against an unusually imcompetently led force of Confederates who, as the author points out, ignored many of the fundamental rules of 19th Century warfare such as never fighting a battle with your backs to a river or other body of water. While there were small numbers involved on each side ( the rebels outnumbering the Federals ), the battle was significant as Kentucky was a border state which the Union desperately needed to control. Also, it was one of the few battles that I have studied that took place in January, a most unsuitable time to fight, as this author demonstrates clearly.
Merged review:
This was a well written account of one of the least known battles of the Civil War occurring in south eastern Kentucky in January 1862. The Union had suffered a devestating loss at Manassas in 1861 and this victory by the Federal forces revived their spirits. Not only does the author describe the events of the battle but gives an excellent analysis of why the Union was successful and just as important, why the Confederates failed so badly. In addition, the author looks at the battlefield after the Civil War right up to the year 2013 and shows how it was neglected,especially by the North, for many decades. In fact, the most significant efforts at remembrance were undertaken by supporters of the Confederacy, beginning with a memorial to their fallen general, Zollicoffer, and the mass grave of the Rebel soldiers. It was not unitl the 1990's that serious measures were begun to preserve and interpret the battlefield including the construction of a 2 million dollar museum. It has now taken its place as a very significant event in the Civil War.
Merged review:
This was a well written account of one of the least known battles of the Civil War occurring in south eastern Kentucky in January 1862. The Union had suffered a devestating loss at Manassas in 1861 and this victory by the Federal forces revived their spirits. Not only does the author describe the events of the battle but gives an excellent analysis of why the Union was successful and just as important, why the Confederates failed so badly. In addition, the author looks at the battlefield after the Civil War right up to the year 2013 and shows how it was neglected,especially by the North, for many decades. In fact, the most significant efforts at remembrance were undertaken by supporters of the Confederacy, beginning with a memorial to their fallen general, Zollicoffer, and the mass grave of the Rebel soldiers. It was not unitl the 1990's that serious measures were begun to preserve and interpret the battlefield including the construction of a 2 million dollar museum. It has now taken its place as a very significant event in the Civil War.
August 9, 2015
I found my mind wandering a lot during this book. For all its virtues, such as its depth of research, The Battle of Mill Springs has some very, very dry prose. It was also confusing, especially when Sanders discussed the movements of various regiments. I guess I should have it memorized which side of the Civil War each state fought on, but its hard sometimes! Especially when dealing with the border states, like... you know, Kentucky. Sanders' book did include maps, technically, but, bafflingly stuck to maps from historical or archival sources, and did not draw his own. You need maps to understand battles, dude. I don't know geography, and I don't know troop movements. I was confused and bored way too often while reading this.
January 20, 2023
The battle of Mill Springs, although a relatively small battle (about 10,000 troops total) was an early Union victory that forced Confederate forces out of the border state of Kentucky. In a relatively short read, Stuart Sanders gives a good description of the battle and events before and after it. He does a good job of placing the battle in the context of the overall situation in Kentucky in late 1861 and early 1862.
The one gripe I had with this book was that the map of the battle was a small black and white copy of the American Battlefield Trust map of the battle. I had the color map on an app on my phone, so that helped.
This is a quick read on a battle whose importance was much larger than the size of the forces involved.
The one gripe I had with this book was that the map of the battle was a small black and white copy of the American Battlefield Trust map of the battle. I had the color map on an app on my phone, so that helped.
This is a quick read on a battle whose importance was much larger than the size of the forces involved.
Did not finish
May 8, 2021The book has good anecdotes, but it lacks clarity in explaining what is happening on the battlefield. It needs more maps.
February 15, 2022
A competently written book regarding a minor battle. However, it did lead to the invasion of Tennessee by the Union.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews