Bowling Green in Warren County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Civil War Rifle Trench

Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 7, 2015

1. Civil War Rifle Trench Marker

Inscription.
Bowling Green's Civil War Defenses The Confederate army occupied Bowling Green from September 1861 to February 1862. During that time, troops camped nearby to guard against a Union attack coming through the open ground between Fort Webb and Fort C.F. Smith.

The Union army pushed the Confederates from Bowling Green and Kentucky in February 1862. As part of the city's defenses, Union soldiers dug a long rifle trench. It began near the L&N Railroad tracks and ended in the middle of this park.

Rifle Pit of Rifle Trench? Judging from the shape and length of this feature, it was mislabeled as a rifle pit. This was actually a rifle trench, designed to protect a large number of men in this zigzag defensive line.

Building a Rifle Trench There were several ways to construct a rifle trench, One common method was to dig a trench and throw the dirt up on one side to create a breast high wall. Safely behind the wall of dirt, soldiers could fire their weapons against an approaching enemy.

{Map caption}
This enlarged section of the 1863 Union Army Corps of Engineers map of Bowling Green shows the location of this trench. You are near the lower-right end of the trench.

Erected by

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Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1862.

Location. 36° 59.946′ N, 86° 26.237′ W. Marker is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in Warren County. Marker can be reached from Center Street south of East 4th Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Located in Roland Bland Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Center Street, Bowling Green KY 42101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Civil War Defense Line (here, next to this marker); Ernest Hogan (within shouting distance of this marker); Louisville & Nashville Railroad Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); College Street Commercial Development (approx. 0.2 miles away); Residential Architecture (approx. 0.2 miles away); An African American Neighborhood (approx. 0.2 miles away); Standard Filling Station No. 1 (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bowling Green.

Civil War Rifle Trench Marker near trench in Roland Bland Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 7, 2015

2. Civil War Rifle Trench Marker near trench in Roland Bland Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 401 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 8, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.