Near Wickliffe in Ballard County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Union Supply Base

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 16, 2023

1. Union Supply Base Marker

Inscription.
One of first Kentucky positions, Fort Jefferson, occupied by Union troops after Confederate seizure of Columbus, Sept. 1861. From this base, Gen. U.S. Grant directed demonstration against Columbus, Jan. 1862. Troops from here joined in capturing Ft. Henry, Feb. 1862. One of four river ports in area used as Union supply bases for operations in the western theater.

Erected 1964 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 757.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 36° 57.305′ N, 89° 5.484′ W. Marker is near Wickliffe, Kentucky, in Ballard County. It is on Westvaco Road (U.S. 51/62), on the right when traveling south. Located at the entrance to Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wickliffe KY 42087, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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: Purpose of Fort Jefferson & Town of Clarksville (within shouting distance of this marker); Brief Overview of Fort Jefferson, 1780-1781 (within shouting distance of this marker); Ft. Jefferson/Town of Clarksville Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Flags! Flags! Flags! (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis and Clark in Kentucky Fort Jefferson (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Jefferson Site / Indian Massacre (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Jefferson (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross at the Confluence (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 17, 2009

2. Union Supply Base Marker

of all markers in Wickliffe.

Markers at the Fort Jefferson Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 17, 2009

3. Markers at the Fort Jefferson Site

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 10, 2026

4. Union Supply Base Marker

Markers have since moved south of the Fort Jefferson Visitors Center. This marker is on the far right.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,588 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 20, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on May 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 10, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.