Rutledge's Battery
Mill Springs Battlefield
— National Historic Landmark —
Captain Arthur M. Rutledge, a West Point graduate, organized the Tennessee Light Artillery Battery-110 men, two howitzers and four six-pounders-in May 1861. That September, the battery joined General Felix Zollicoffer's army at Cumberland Ford. They were with the army at Beech Grove when the Confederates marched into battle on January 19, 1862.
Rutledge ordered two six-pounders to a position on the Mill Springs road, leaving four guns in reserve. The battery supported the 15th Mississippi Infantry, which charged the Union line at the fence from the ravine. Poor conditions rendered their shots all but useless. The day was wet and cold. Smoke from discharged weapons hung near the ground, restricting visibility. The terrain made it impossible to see the enemy. Look toward the top of the hill in front of you. The Union position—the split-rail fence—is not visible.
Rutledge's Battery retreated with the rest of the Confederate army to Beech Grove. His men answered the Union artillery bombardment desperately trying to sink the steamboat Noble Ellis as it carried Confederate soldiers across the
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The Confederates left Rutledge's guns with the rest of the artillery when they abandoned Beech Grove. The Federals took the captured guns to Somerset. Ironically, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan burned the guns during his July 1862 raid into Kentucky.
Photo captions:
Left: The officers of Rutledge's Battery in May 1861; Artbur M. Rutledge is in the center.
From left to right, starting with the upper row: Frank Johnson, George Trabui, Jack B. Long James C. Wheeler, E.T Falconet, A.M. Rutledge, Joe E. Harris, George E. Purvis, J.P. Humphrey, J. Griffith and M.S. Cockrill.
Right: A full six-gun battery. This is the 17th New York; Union and Confederate batteries had the same number of men, horses, and pieces of equipment.
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° 3.165′ N, 84° 44.257′ W. Marker is near Nancy, Kentucky, in Pulaski County. Marker can be reached from Kentucky Route 235, 0.3 miles south of Kentucky Route 761, on the left when traveling
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Last Stand (here, next to this marker); Turpin/Simpson Properties (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confederate Retreat (about 600 feet away); The Union Advance (about 800 feet away); Victory! (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Confederate Mass Grave" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Dead (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dawn of Battle (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nancy.
Also see . . . Mill Springs Battlefield Association. (Submitted on August 2, 2019.)
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 326 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on March 5, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on July 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
