A Long, Steep Road

A Long, Steep Road. . , Hauling Supplies , This trail follows the road that took soldiers and supplies from the road below to the earthwork above. It is uncertain whether the military built the road or simply improved an existing trail or road., The men and supplies at the earthwork came from Lexington, the main supply depot for the Union army in this region of Kentucky. Supplies for the Bluegrass were shipped from Cincinnati to Lexington on the Kentucky Central Railroad. A spur line ran to Nicholasville but supplies destined for other points had to be hauled overland. In all likelihood, the supplies and equipment necessary to build the earthwork, and then to garrison it, came from Lexington along the road through Athens to Boonesboro (the Civil War spelling of Boonesborough) and then up this steep road., The construction equipment needed to build the earthwork was not extensive. Shovels, picks, axes, saws, and other hand tools were all that was necessary. But the soldiers working here and later stationed here needed food, clothing, tents, cooking utensils, lanterns, and other supplies. All of these materials had to be transported up this steep road. This road, like most roads of the time, was muddy in wet weather and rutted and dusty in dry weather. This road was also steep. Mules pulling wagons loaded with supplies must have found it slow going., Bringing up Water , Another vital supply had to be brought up this steep road -- water. Water was necessary for drinking and cooking. Regulations required that each man wash his hands and face at least twice a day, before meals. There is no natural water source on the ridge top. All of the water used at the earthwork had to be hauled from the river in barrels transported on wagons or sleds, such as the one shown above., As you walk this trail, think of the difficulty involved in hauling everything you needed up this road., Building the Road , This road was built, or at least improved, by soldiers working under the direction of an army engineer, perhaps Captain Thomas B. Brooks. Manpower and hand tools were all that was available to improve this short but important stretch of road. The work detail here probably resembled that in the photo to the left.