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

A Scene of Battle

Mill Springs Battleﬁeld

— National Historic Landmark —

A Scene of Battle Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

1. A Scene of Battle Marker

Inscription. Alfred Edward Mathews, a renowned illustrator, created this drawing. We don't know if he participated in the battle, but it is obvious he was here. You are standing approximately where Mathews stood to sketch this scene. Compare the image to the landscape—it is still remarkably accurate.

During the Civil War, newspapers and weekly magazines relied on artists to supply drawings of battles, Photography was in its infancy—subjects had to stand still, often for several minutes, while the image was exposed. This technical limitation made photographing battles impossible. The most accurate battle scenes were drawn by artists who observed the battle or visited the battlefield shortly afterward.

Soldier and Artist
Alfred E. Mathews was born in England in 1831. Two years later his family immigrated to Ohio. When the Civil War began, Mathews joined the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, later transferring to the 31st Ohio Infantry.

While a soldier, Mathews drew more than thirty sketches of scenes he witnessed, or from firsthand accounts. After the war, three firms hired Mathews to make sketches of his drawings suitable for production as lithographs. Mathews settled in Colorado in 1866. He died there in 1874.

Photo captions: Bottom left: Alfred E. Mathews, ca. 1864. Main photo: A.E. Mathews' drawing

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of the death of Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer at the Battle of Mill Springs.

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 year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 37° 3.363′ N, 84° 44.375′ W. Marker is near Nancy, Kentucky, in Pulaski County. Marker can be reached from Kentucky Route 235, 0.1 miles Kentucky 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The General Commanding (within shouting distance of this marker); Fix Bayonets, Charge! (within shouting distance of this marker); The Zollie Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Felix K. Zollicoffer / "Zollie Tree" (within shouting distance of this marker); A Fatal Mistake (within shouting distance of this marker); Mill Springs Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen'l Felix K. Zollicoffer (within shouting distance of this marker); Melee at the Fence (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nancy.

Also see . . .

A Scene of Battle Marker and area of battle. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

2. A Scene of Battle Marker and area of battle.

1. Blog post on Alfred Mathews and the Civil War. (Submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Battle of Mills Spring. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 30, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

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

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

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

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.