National Monuments - Kentucky

Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument

4/22/2021 Camp Nelson Heritage NM and Archeological District NHL. Founded in 1863, it was constructed by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside and the 9th Corps of the Army of Ohio to serve as a supply depot, hospital facility, and training and recruiting center for the Union Army. This is a recent (Trump-era) NPS site. Other than the so-called White House, an antebellum house that had been used as officer’s quarters, there really isn’t much left here. We took the Fort Trail and could see where the fortifications had been, but otherwise just a pleasant walk around the rolling fields.

Park sign at the VC

The White House

Interpretive signage ...

... with a view of the house

Ken and his cannon

Front view of the White House

Not much left out here

Split rail fence marking lines

Cool 360 from the fence

More signage ...

... and original views

Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument

4/23/2021 Mill Springs Battlefield NM and NHL. The Battle of Mill Springs was a significant Union victory early in the Civil War, helping to bolster morale in the North and keeping Kentucky under Union control. A quick stop at the VC for a brochure (the same as Ken already printed out) then we got on the main park access road. We didn’t expect too much here, similar to Camp Nelson. However, our first stop proved to be very interesting and enjoyable, and we made it our one representative stop for the park. Here was the site of the main part of the battle. We took a trail that meandered along the road, then passed by split rail fences down into a deep ravine, and back up again. Along the way we read interpretive panels that described the action of the battle, along with personal anecdotes and stories. The morning was overcast and a little cold, but all together it was a fun and informative experience. We ended up back at the road in a cemetery area with memorials to all the lost soldiers.

The VC area

A memorial to Zollicoffer

Info on the "Zollie Tree" ...

... no longer here

A view of the area

The "Melee at the Fence"

Said fence ...

... with us

Ken on the trail ...

... and checking out the cemetery info

Part of the cemetery