Bardstown Junction in Bullitt County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Action at Bardstown Junction
Great Raid
— July 6, 1863 —
The Union command was unsure where Morgan was going. Major Israel N. Stiles of the 63rd Indiana Infantry, the commander of the stockade at Shepherdsville, received information that Morgan was on the Shepherdsville Road. The major assumed that the railroad bridge at Shepherdsville would be attacked. In preparation for a defensive stand, Stiles ordered Captain D. Morris to gather his men, from Bardstown Junction and Belmont and bring them to Shepherdsville.
The advance element of Morgan's command arrived at Bardstown Junction just as Capt. Morris was leaving for Shepherdsville. The Confederates chased the Union soldiers capturing two of them, but the rest made good their escape. The other half of Morris' company was not so lucky. Lieut. W.F. Henderson caught the northbound train at Belmont and he and his men were headed for Shepherdsville.
Meanwhile, George A. "Lightning" Ellsworth, Morgan's telegraph operator, instructed the operator at Bardstown Junction, James Forker, to inform the superintendent in Louisville that the northbound train had passed the station. The ruse bought Morgan time. The Confederates burned the trestle over Long Lick Creek, the water tank-house and the stockade at Bardstown Junction before capturing the train, which included Lieut. Henderson and his small command. Those soldiers were paroled and robbed along with the other passengers and with the contents of the train's safe before the train was sent back to Elizabethtown. The Confederates then pushed on to the west heading toward Brandenburg and the Ohio River.
(captions)
The stockade at Bardstown Junction was there to protect the trestle over Long Lick Creek. It failed. The trestle was destroyed by Morgan's men.
The lightly defended stockades constructed by the Union army were no match for Morgan and his artillery.
George "Lightning" Ellsworth was an important part of Morgan's command. He was a skilled telegraph operator.
Witnesses at Bardstown Junction said that Morgan wore a roundabout jacket, grey trousers, cavalry boots and no insignia of rank. Probably much as he is pictured here.
Erected by Kentucky Heartland Civil War Trails Commission. (Marker Number 34.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail in Kentucky series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 6, 1863.
Location. 37° 56.403′ N, 85° 42.005′ W. Marker is in Bardstown Junction, Kentucky, in Bullitt County. Marker is at the intersection of Preston Highway (Kentucky Route 61) and Chapeze Lane (County Route 3219), on the right when traveling north on Preston Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shepherdsville KY 40165, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Salt River Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 0.9 miles away); Baker Beam Home (approx. 2.6 miles away); Booker Noe (approx. 2.6 miles away); Jim Beam (approx. 2.7 miles away); Stockade at Belmont (approx. 3 miles away); Morgan - On To Ohio (approx. 3.2 miles away); Fort DeWolf (approx. 3.2 miles away); L & N Bridge - Civil War (approx. 3.2 miles away).
Also see . . . George Ellsworth. (Submitted on August 18, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on September 4, 2018, by T. Patton of Jefferson, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 18, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.