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.”

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