Near Nancy in Pulaski County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Dawn of Battle

Mill Springs Battleﬁeld

— National Historic Landmark —

Dawn of Battle Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

1. Dawn of Battle Marker

Inscription. Shortly before daylight on January 19, 1862, the lead elements of the Confederate column encountered Union pickets—a guard detachment—at Timmy's Branch about a mile south of here. The Confederates fired on the Union troops, who retreated in haste. W.J. Worsham, 19th Tennessee Infantry, recalled, "Sunday morning at daylight the Cavalry ran upon the enemy's pickets one and one half mile out in their front. A few shots were exchanged and the enemy slowly fell back to his main line."

Upon hearing the shots, Union officers rushed reinforcements forward. The 10th Indiana and the 1st Kentucky Cavalry (U.S.) arrived first and formed a battle line on the ridge behind you.

Three regiments of the lead Confederate brigade—the 15th Mississippi, 19th Tennessee and 20th Tennessee—came over the hill in front of you in line of battle. With a shout, the Confederates, whose line straddled the road, surged forward.

Across the road, the 19th Tennessee opened fire on the Union forces. Hoping to get behind the Union line, the 15th Mississippi and the 20th Tennessee on this side of the road made for the ravine behind you. The Confederate maneuvers set up the battle, which was fought in separate engagements on both sides of the road.

Inset
After marching all night through a misty January rain, just

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as the gray dawn appeared in the East, we heard fire from the Federal pickets as they fired on our advance.
James Binford, 15th Mississippi Infantry

Erected 2014 by Mill Springs Battlefield Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 19, 1862.

Location. 37° 3.322′ N, 84° 44.346′ W. Marker is near Nancy, Kentucky, in Pulaski County. It is on Kentucky Route 235 0.1 miles south of Route 761, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nancy KY 42544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Confederate Dead (here, next to this marker); "Confederate Mass Grave" (here, next to this marker); Confederate Mass Grave Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Gen'l Felix K. Zollicoffer (within shouting distance of this marker); Mill Springs Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); A Fatal Mistake (within shouting distance of this marker); Felix K. Zollicoffer / "Zollie Tree" (within shouting distance of this marker); The Zollie Tree (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nancy.

Dawn of Battle Marker at the memorial cemetery. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

2. Dawn of Battle Marker at the memorial cemetery.

The grave markers do not mark actual individual burials but are memorial grave markers.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Dawn of Battle (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mistaken Identity - A Deadly Error (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "The Zollie Tree" (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Mill Springs Battlefield Association. (Submitted on August 2, 2019.)

Marker in far right background at Zollicoffer Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

3. Marker in far right background at Zollicoffer Park.

Marker is at the Mill Springs Battlefield Tour Stop # 2. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

4. Marker is at the Mill Springs Battlefield Tour Stop # 2.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 425 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.