Mill Springs, Battle of

Union victory during the American Civil War on 18 January 1862 at Mill Springs, a village about 16 km/10 mi west of Somerset, Kentucky; the first significant defeat suffered by the Confederates.

The Confederate defensive line, intended to keep out the Union forces, was held at Mill Springs by about 4,500 troops under Maj-Gen Thomas H Crittenden. At the start of the 1862 campaign, Union General George H Thomas advanced on Mill Springs with a force of about 4,000 troops and Crittenden decided to pre-empt matters by attacking first. After fierce fighting, the Confederates were driven back, losing 12 guns and a considerable number of troops, while Union casualties were fewer than 250.