In
1861 the state of Kentucky sat on the preverbal fence as both forces Union and
Confederate alike were vowing to either hold on to the Bluegrass state, or in
the South's case bring Kentucky into Confederacy. Kentucky was a pivotal state
in the Civil War. Lincoln infamously once said of his birth state, "Losing
Kentucky would be like losing an arm." Jefferson Davis, (President of the
Confederacy) also a Kentuckian, wanted Kentucky for two main transportation
tools. Those were the Ohio River and the L&N (Louisville and Nashville)
Railroad. Controlling theses would mean much easier movement of supplies from
North to South. But in September of 1861 the state was in complete control by
the Union. Although there were secessionist sentiments from a minority of the
population, it did not amount enough for the state to jump ship to the
Confederacy. So Governor Magoffin decided to declare a state of
neutrality. But just because there was a
state of neutrality did not mean Kentucky would be spared from the blood and
gore that would soon epitomize the Civil War.
In fact the battle for Kentucky would start early. And on September 18, 1861 The Battle of
Barbourville would mark the first blood spilled in the Bluegrass State.
Besides the pivotal transportation routes that Kentucky
provided both opposing sides also were interested in recruiting soldiers into
their respective armies. So in order to
do this President Lincoln established a Union-based camp called Camp Dick Robinson
between Lancaster and Nicholasville against the will of then Gov.
Magoffin. Also under the leadership of
Dr. R.T. Tuggle Camp Andy Johnson was established just west of
Barbourville. The consequence of this
was paranoia from the Confederate side. So
General Albert Sidney Johnson ordered Brig. Gen. Felix Kirk Zollicoffer and his
East Tennessee Confederate regime to cross the Cumberland Gap in the Southeast
corner of Kentucky for the purpose of keeping an eye on Union activity as well
as to begin recruitment themselves.
During September of 1861 the Confederacy established Camp Buckner on the
east side of Barbourville. By the time
all the regimes were moved into the area, the total population of Camp Buckner
was near 5000 troops. With so many
troops in such a small vicinity it was only a matter of time before shots would
be fired. And on September 18th,
1861, that is exactly what happened.
Colonel Joel Allen Battle of the 20th
Tennessee Regime was given orders from Knoxville to moves his forces forward towards
Camp Andy Johnson to neutralize the training and recruitment of Union Forces. As prepared as the Confederate Soldiers were,
their union counterparts were not. Only
a small battalion of 300 men were stationed at the Camp. The two opposing forces met at a bridge
patrolled by Kentucky Guardsmen (Union).
Reportedly the Rebels fired the first shots. No deaths occurred although the Union claimed
that they had wounded three confederate soldiers. But this was just a prelude of what would
happen the next day. Both sides sent for
reinforcements from their respective camps.
But as quick as this engagement began the next day it was over just as
fast. Although the Confederates suffered
20 deaths to the Kentucky guard’s 12, the overwhelming number of Confederates
left the Union reeling and fleeing towards Camp Dick Robinson. General Zollicoffer and his men moved into
Camp Andy Johnson and took over while raiding their supplies and destroying
much of what was left.
So although the First Battle of Kentucky in Barbourville
will not be mentioned in the same breath as Vicksburg, Gettysburg, or even the
Battle of Perryville in Kentucky, it still marked a very important date in
Civil War History. It was known from
that point on that the border state of Kentucky was up for grabs, and the CSA
would not be happy with Tennessee as their most Northern State.
Sources: Bishop, Randy. Kentuck'ys Civil War Battlefields. Gretna: Pelican Publishing, 2012. (accessed March 7, 2013). 
Lincoln was lucky that Gov. Magoffin did not see the establishment of Camp Dick Robinson as a breach in the neutrality of Kentucky during the war. This move easily could have backfired in Lincolns face. Especially considered the large Confederate sentiment that existed in the southern parts of the state. We already know how people like Champ Ferguson felt about this. You have to imagine that there were others who felt the same as him.
ReplyDeleteIt is increasingly interesting to me how pivotal a role Kentucky played in the Civil War. As I have learned recently through our class and your article, the state was a prize that could have been won by either side. I can't place why, but I grew up thinking of Kentucky as a state that had little to do with the war (and I was always a little disappointed by it). It's funny to me how wrong my perception was. It's ironic that a state vying for neutrality would end up being the object of such dispute (as if the decision to remain neutral had backfired). Also, I agree with Daniel. Lincoln was lucky not to lose Kentucky. Perhaps it was because Kentucky's elected government was pro-Union that they saw the Confederate occupation of Columbus as an affront to their neutrality and not Camp Dick Robinson.
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