From Wikipedia
The Battle of Mill Springs, also known as the Battle of Fishing Creek in Confederate terminology, and the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads in Union terminology, was fought in Wayne and Pulaski counties, near current Nancy, Kentucky, on January 19, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It concluded an early Confederate offensive campaign in eastern Kentucky. While considered a small battle in comparison to many that followed in the Civil War, the battle at Mill Springs was the second largest in Kentucky—only Perryville had higher casualties. It was also the first significant Union victory of the war, much celebrated in the popular press, but was soon eclipsed by Ulysses S. Grant's victories at Forts Henry and Donelson.
The Mill Springs battlefield is located in Pulaski County, not far from Nancy, Kentucky. The historic town of Mill Springs, after which the battle was named, is actually some distance away across Lake Cumberland. Portions of the battlefield are preserved as a county park (named Zollicoffer Park in honor of the slain general). The Mill Springs Battlefield Association has protected portions of the battlefield by the acquisition of development rights to what is still a largely rural landscape, or by outright purchase. Zollicoffer Park contains the Confederate Cemetery, which consists of a mass grave. There is a corresponding Mill Springs National Cemetery in Nancy, where the Union dead were interred.
The battlefield, which covers about 105 acres (42.5 ha), was named by the United States Secretary of the Interior as one of the top twenty-five priority battlefields and is considered a historic landmark. The Zollie Tree was the tree attributed as the place Felix Zollicoffer fell; it no longer exists, the victim of a lightning strike, but the stump is marked.
On November 4, 2006, the Mill Springs Battlefield Visitors Center and Museum was officially dedicated. Several commemorative ceremonies are held at the battlefield each year, including candlelight tours, living history presentations, and occasional re-enactments.
Other than the outcome of the battle, which helped stall the Confederate offensive offensive, the noteworthy event of the battle was the dealth of Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer on the battlefield. The poor visibility on the battlefield led to Zolicoffer belieing Conferedate troops were firing on one another. Zollicoffer rode up to the troops to resolve the matter only to find he had mistaken the Union troops as his own and was shot and killed.
Here at Zollicoffer Park is a mass grave containing the remains of the Confederate soliders who feel in the battle. This of special significance to me because among the fallen is my great, great, great uncle and his cousin, who were part of the 15th Mississippi. My great, grat grandfather was one of five brothers. All fought in the Civil War but only my great, great grandfather survived.
CACHE
The cache is hidden near the monument that stands where Zollicoffer fell and The Zollie Tre,, a white oak decorated annually in Zollcoffer's honor since 1902. The cache is a caouflaged, plastic container with log and room for trade items. As always bring your writing instrument.
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If you would like to set up this type of cache, click on the KSQlogo
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