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

Battle on a Sabbath Morn

Mill Springs Battleﬁeld

— National Historic Landmark —

Battle on a Sabbath Morn Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

1. Battle on a Sabbath Morn Marker

Inscription. You are near the center of the battlefield east of the road. Union and Confederate forces clashed violently here Sunday morning, January 19, 1862.

The Union line stood to your left, behind a split-rail fence at the edge of the woods (now part of the field). The Confederate line was to your right, in the wooded ravine. The rain was falling in torrents. The Confederates struggled out of the mud-slicked ravine to launch repeated assaults against the Federals.

The fight at the split-rail fence was desperate and often hand- to-hand. Lieutenant James Binford, 15th Mississippi Infantry, remembered, "Our entire line, putting their guns through the cracks of the fence, fired into them with ball and buckshot, and the scene that followed defied description."

The 15th Mississippi fell back, and the 20th Tennessee, armed only with old flintlock muskets, surged forward. One Tennesseean wrote, " Mine went off once in the action, and although I wiped the pan and primed a dozen times it would do so no more."

The Confederate assaults failed. Each time, the Federals drove them back. The cost in lives was tremendous.

Drawing Inset
There were delicate forms whose beardleśs faces showed tender years. Some had the horrible frowns of war still upon' their features, others lay in calm repose as if they were dreaming of loved ones at home.
Eastham Tarrant, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, (U.S.)

Erected 2014

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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° 3.398′ N, 84° 44.351′ W. Marker is near Nancy, Kentucky, in Pulaski County. It can be reached from Kentucky Route 235 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: Melee at the Fence (here, next to this marker); The General Commanding

Battle area outlined on marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

2. Battle area outlined on marker.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Fix Bayonets, Charge! (within shouting distance of this marker); A Scene of Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); Balie Peyton, Jr. (1833-1862) (within shouting distance of this marker); Felix K. Zollicoffer / "Zollie Tree" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Zollie Tree (about 300 feet away); A Fatal Mistake (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nancy.

Other markers no longer nearby. "Battle on a Sabbath Morn" (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Union Line at the Fence (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); George Henry Thomas (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Fix Bayonets - Charge! (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Mistaken Identity - A Deadly Error (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker

Battle on a Sabbath Morn Marker in far background (on left of two). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

3. Battle on a Sabbath Morn Marker in far background (on left of two).

now near it); "The Zollie Tree" (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

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

Positions of the Soldiers At This Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 15, 2019

4. Positions of the Soldiers At This Location

The Union position would have been behind the left side of the fence while the Confederates would have been attacking uphill from the ravine in the far right of the photo.

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

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2019

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

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on March 6, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.