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

Lost River Cave and Valley

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 11, 2011

1. Lost River Cave and Valley marker

Inscription.

Lost River Cave and Valley. . At various times during the Civil War, the Confederate and Union armies were garrisoned in Bowling Green. Many encamped around Lost River Cave. Soldiers on both sides recorded their impressions of Lost River Cave and Valley in diaries and letters., "Probably everyone in the regiment explored this great natural curiosity and brought away many beautiful stalactites found on its roof." , Union Private William W. Calkins , 104th Illinois Infantry, "I joined a party of explorers and penetrated the cave. Lighting our candles. We wandered over the detached rocks far into the interior, beyond the sounds of a very busy camp - far beyond the reach of daylight." , Union Private Stephen F. Fleharty, 102nd Illinois Infantry, Many soldiers wrote their names on the cave walls to record their explorations. Still visible today are: B. A. Patten and C. Moon, 105th Illinois Infantry, J. A. Ball, 72nd Indiana Infantry, and Isaac F. Morrison, 51st Ohio Infantry. Morrison cleverly wrote his name backwards but you can read it using a mirror., "We moved South of Bowling Green where we find a spring 20 feet across and no bottom has been found." , Confederate Private John S. Graham, 6th Kentucky Infantry, Civil War Regiments Encamped , at or Near Lost River Cave, Confederate Regiments. 2nd Kentucky Infantry , 3rd Kentucky Infantry , 4th Kentucky Infantry , 5th Kentucky Infantry , 6th Kentucky Infantry , 9th Kentucky Infantry , 2nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry , Union Regiments. 86th Illinois Infantry , 102nd Illinois Infantry , 104th Illinois Infantry , 105th Illinois Infantry , 10th Indiana Infantry , 15th Indiana Infantry , 30th Indiana Infantry , 38th Indiana Infantry , 42nd Indiana Infantry , 70th Indiana Infantry , 72nd Indiana Infantry , 75th Indiana Infantry , 88th Indiana Infantry , 101st Indiana Infantry, 8th Kansas Infantry, 3rd Kentucky (US) Infantry , 5th Kentucky (US) Infantry , 6th Kentucky (US) Infantry , 9th Kentucky (US) Infantry , 15th Kentucky (US) Infantry, 2nd Minnesota Infantry, 1st Ohio Infantry , 3rd Ohio Infantry , 4th Ohio Infantry , 6th Ohio Infantry , 15th Ohio Infantry , 51st Ohio Infantry , 65th Ohio Infantry , 108th Ohio Infantry , , 77th Pennsylvania Infantry , 79th Pennsylvania Infantry

At various times during the Civil War, the Confederate and Union armies were garrisoned in Bowling Green. Many encamped around Lost River Cave. Soldiers on both sides recorded their impressions of Lost River Cave and Valley in diaries and letters.

"Probably everyone in the regiment explored this great natural curiosity and brought away many beautiful stalactites found on its roof."
Union Private William W. Calkins
104th Illinois Infantry

"I joined a party of explorers and penetrated the cave. Lighting our candles. We wandered over the detached rocks far into the interior, beyond the sounds of a very busy camp - far beyond the reach of daylight."
Union Private Stephen F. Fleharty, 102nd Illinois Infantry

Many soldiers wrote their names on the cave walls to record their explorations. Still visible today are: B. A. Patten and C. Moon, 105th Illinois Infantry, J. A. Ball, 72nd Indiana Infantry, and Isaac F. Morrison, 51st Ohio Infantry. Morrison cleverly wrote his name backwards but you can read it using a mirror.

"We moved South of Bowling Green where we find a spring 20 feet across and no bottom has been found."
Confederate Private John S. Graham, 6th Kentucky Infantry

Civil War Regiments Encamped
at or Near Lost River Cave

Confederate Regiments2nd

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Kentucky Infantry
3rd Kentucky Infantry
4th Kentucky Infantry
5th Kentucky Infantry
6th Kentucky Infantry
9th Kentucky Infantry
2nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Union Regiments 86th Illinois Infantry
102nd Illinois Infantry
104th Illinois Infantry
105th Illinois Infantry

10th Indiana Infantry
15th Indiana Infantry
30th Indiana Infantry
38th Indiana Infantry
42nd Indiana Infantry
70th Indiana Infantry
72nd Indiana Infantry
75th Indiana Infantry
88th Indiana Infantry
101st Indiana Infantry

8th Kansas Infantry

3rd Kentucky (US) Infantry
5th Kentucky (US) Infantry
6th Kentucky (US) Infantry
9th Kentucky (US) Infantry
15th Kentucky (US) Infantry

2nd Minnesota Infantry

1st Ohio Infantry
3rd Ohio Infantry
4th Ohio Infantry
6th Ohio Infantry
15th Ohio Infantry
51st Ohio Infantry
65th Ohio Infantry
108th Ohio Infantry

77th Pennsylvania Infantry
79th Pennsylvania Infantry

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 36° 57.2′ N, 86° 28.401′ W. Marker is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in Warren County. Marker is on Nashville

Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 5, 2019

2. Lost River Cave and Valley Marker

Marker on left.

Road (U.S. 31W). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bowling Green KY 42104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morgan's Command Organized (within shouting distance of this marker); Tourist Court (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Mill Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); Protecting A Natural Treasure (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lost River Cave & Valley (about 400 feet away); Civil War Camps (about 500 feet away); Underground Nite Club (about 500 feet away); Lost River Blue Holes, Trees, Wild Flowers And Quarrying Ruins (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bowling Green.

Also see . . . Lost River Cave website. (Submitted on January 12, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky.)

Lost River Cave image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 11, 2011

3. Lost River Cave

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. This page has been viewed 936 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 12, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. 2. submitted on November 30, 2019, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3. submitted on January 12, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.