HIS 312: Civil War and Reconstruction

Bardstown Museum Row includes The Civil War Museum, the Women’s Museum of the Civil War, the General Hal Moore Military Museum, and Old Bardstown Village. The Civil War Museum and the Women’s Museum of the Civil War span over 8000 square feet of exhibit space and focus on the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

The Battle of Perryville (also known as Battle of Chaplin Hills) was fought in Boyle County, Kentucky on 8 October 1862. It was the last major battle of the Kentucky Campaign and resulted in Union winning control of Kentucky.

The Battle of Miss Springs occurred on 19 January 1862 near Nancy, Kentucky It was the first significant Union victory in the Western Theater during the American Civil War.

The Battle of Middle Creek took place on 10 January 1862 near Prestonsburg, Kentucky. This battle highlighted the brother against brother struggle for control of Kentucky as the 4th Kentucky Infantry, U.S.A. and the 22nd Kentucky Infantry, U.S.A. engaged in hand-to-hand combat with men of the 5th Kentucky Infantry, C.S.A. It was also the battle that launched the military career of James A. Garfield which eventually led him to the White House.

The Battle of Trebbs Bend (near Campbellsville, Kentucky) was the site of the July 1863 defeat of Confederate Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan's troops by the 25th Michigan Infantry USA.

On October 21, 1861 in Laurel County, Kentucky, Camp Wildcat was the site of one of the first Union victories in Kentucky.

This mile marker in Shelby County, Kentucky is the site of the Simpsonville Massacre. On January 25, 1865, Confederate guerrillas attacked and killed 22 members of the 5th United States Colored Cavalry (USCC). Four other members would later die of their injuries.