The Tide Turns

The tide of battle turned in favor of the Union when the 9th Ohio executed one of the few successful bayonet charges of the Civil War, folding the Confederate Army’s left flank. This attack coupled with the 2nd Minnesota charge on the center of the line beat back Confederate forces and broke their line. The remaining Confederate forces retreated to their fortified encampment at Beech Grove. The 16th Alabama launched a counter attack, holding off advancing Union troops long enough to allow the rest of the Confederate Army to escape and preventing a total rout. This area later became known as Last Stand Hill and is located approximately 1,500 feet south of Zollicoffer Park.

After a brief break to regroup and reload ammunition, Union forces continued south to the Confederate encampment at Beech Grove and were within a mile of the earthworks by 5:00 pm. Union artillery then took a commanding position on Moulden’s Hill, a rise overlooking Beech Grove, and began shelling the Confederate fortifications well into the night. Determining his Confederate troops’ position untenable, Crittenden ordered a full withdrawal. Throughout the night of January 19th, Confederate forces ferried across the Cumberland River, leaving behind wounded comrades, artillery, horses, wagons, and most of their camp equipment. As what remained of the Confederate Army retreated back to Gainesboro, Tennessee, numerous men and officers deserted causing Crittenden to write, “From Mill Springs and on the first steps of my march officers and men, frightened by false rumors of the movement of the enemy, shamefully deserted, and, stealing horses and mules to ride, fled to Knoxville, Nashville and other places in Tennessee.”

The Battle of Mill Springs was over, giving the Union Army its first decisive victory of the western theater of the Civil War. Confederate losses at the battle were reported at 552 casualties (148 killed and 404 wounded) with 262 Union casualties (55 killed, and 207 wounded). Critically, the Union victory dislodged the Confederate threat from eastern Kentucky, set in motion the collapse of the Confederate defensive line in the state, and helped secure Kentucky’s loyalty on the side of the Union cause.

Impacts of the Battle of Mill Springs