January 21st – first reports of Mill Springs action

The first sketchy reports of the battle in Kentucky appear:

“We only know that the battle was offered by the rebels, and lost by them, after what must have been a fierce conflict, and the sacrifice of two leaders as conspicuous as Zollicoffer and young Bailie Peyton [Junior, age 28]. The vanquished fell back to their intrenchments at Mill Spring. Thither they were pursued by the victors, assailed, and finally obliged to capitulate.” [New York Times, p. 4]

January 19-20 — Battle of Fishing Creek (Mill Springs)

Battle of Fishing Creek (also called the Battle of Mill Springs), KY. The Confederate advance under Felix Zollicoffer and George B. Crittenden is turned back by Geo. Thomas. Zollicoffer, a Maury County newspaper editor, wanders into the Union forces in the dark (wearing a white coat) and is killed. This is the second largest battle that will be fought in Kentucky – only Perryville in October will see more casualties. Thomas’s victory secures Union control of eastern KY.

January 19, 1862 – importance of Tennessee to the Confederacy?

In an article about the number of Union loyalists in Tennessee, the New York Times says,

“If within a month our troops advance upon Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis, they will speedily find all the elements to organize a loyal State Government, and a very short time will furnish native loyal arms capable of  sustaining it. Tennessee occupies a place of great importance from its geographical position – its boundaries touching on no less than eight Southern States. Its speedy possession by the National Government is a matter of the greatest importance.”

[p. 4]

January 17-22nd – gunboat demonstrations on Fort Henry

Gunboat demonstrations on Fort Henry, the first challenges to the Fort as Union regiments from Illinois and Indiana begin to move into Kentucky. Word comes that General Grant is en route from Illinois. Confederate troops in Kentucky begin killing cattle in the ponds and watering places on the route of the Federal army in order to render the water unfit for drinking.
[NYT, p. 1]

January 16, 1862 – fighting in Kentucky soon?

The Bowling Green correspondent of the Nashville Union boldly conjectures that there will be no fighting in Kentucky in the near future. He believes that the Federal forces are insubstantial and that Crittenden’s troops are headed for their winter quarters

January 14, 1862 – Crittenden joins Zollicoffer in Kentucky

Maj. Gen. George Crittenden moves from Knoxville to join Zollicoffer in Kentucky, and Gen. Thomas moves in to sustain Boyle as he advances toward Zollicoffer.

January 12, 1862 – Zollicoffer faces a large Federal force

Zollicoffer, entrenched about 40 miles north of the Tennessee border, on the “wrong” (unfordable) side of the Cumberland River, is facing a Federal force about 10,000 strong. Confederate reinforcements are said to be on their way.
[New York Times, p. 2]

January 5, 1862 – Zollicoffer’s proclamation

Brig. Gen. Zollicoffer sends out a proclamation to the state of Kentucky explaining that his continuing presence in Kentucky is not to invade them but to protect them from incursions by abolitionists and other “Northern hordes”.

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, BERCH GROVE, Ky., Dec. 16, 1861.

To the People of Southeastern Kentucky:

The brigade I have the honor to command is here for no purpose of war upon Kentuckians, but to repel those Northern hordes who, with arms in their hands, are attempting the subjugation of a sister Southern State. They have closed your rivers, embargoed your railroads, cut off your natural and proper markets, left your stock and produce on hands almost valueless, and thereby almost destroyed the value of your lands and labor. We have come to open again your rivers, to restore the ancient markets for your produce, and thereby to return to you the accustomed value of your lands and labor. They have represented us as murderers and outlaws. We have come to convince you that we truly respect the laws, revere justice, and mean to give security to your personal and property rights. They have forced many of you to take up arms against us. We come to take you by the hand as heretofore — as friends and brothers. Their Government has laid heavy taxes on you to carry on this unnatural war, which is openly avowed to be to set at liberty your slaves, and the ensuing steps in which will be to put arms in their hands, and give them political and social equality with yourselves. We saw these things in the beginning, and are offering our hearts’ blood to avert those dreadful evils which we saw the Abolition leaders had deliberately planned for the South. “All men must have the BALLOT or none; all men must have the bullet or none,” said Mr. SEWARD, the present Federal Secretary of State. How long will Kentuckians close their eyes to the contemplated ruin of their present structure of society? How long will they continue to raise their arms against brothers of the South, struggling for those rights, and for that independence common to us all, and which was guaranteed to all by the Constitution of 1787? For many long years we remonstrated against the encroachments against rights, and the insecurity to that property thus guaranteed, which these Northern hordes so remorselessly inflicted upon us. They became deaf to our remonstrances, because they believe they had the power, and felt in every fibre the will to “whip us in.” We have disappointed them. We have broken their columns in almost every conflict. We have early acquired a prestige of success which has stricken terror into the Northern heart. Their “grand armies have been held in check by comparatively few but stern-hearted men; and now they would invoke Kentucky valor to aid them in beating down the true sons of the South who have stood the shock, and in bringing common ruin upon Kentucky and her kindred people. Will you play this unnatural part, Kentuckians? Heaven, forbid. The memories of the past forbid. The honor of your wives and daughters, your past renown, and the fair name of your posterity, forbid that you should strike for Lincoln and the abolition of Slavery against those struggling for the rights and independence of your kindred race. Strike with us for independence and the preservation of your property, and those Northern invaders of your soil will soon be driven across the Ohio.

F.K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brig.-Gen

January 3, 1862 – hanging of Unionists in East Tennessee

Confederate troops in Greenville, TN, hang two East Tennesseans who were caught burning the Lick Creek bridge .

January 1, 1862 – “we will never submit”

“Every preparation is being made to fasten the yoke of bondage upon the beautiful & chivalrous Southern country, but our people are determined to be forever free & independent of the Northern fanatics & tho the war may be long & bloody we will never submit.”
William L.B. Lawrence Diary