Battle of Camp Wildcat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Camp Wildcat
Part of the American Civil War
Date October 21, 1861 (1861-10-21) Location Laurel County, Kentucky Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Albin F. Schoepf	Felix Zollicoffer
Units involved
Camp Wildcat garrison	Zollicoffer's Brigade
Strength
7,000	5,400
Casualties and losses
5 killed 20 wounded	11 killed 42 missing or wounded

Wildcat Battlefield Site
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	13.4 miles north of London, Kentucky off U.S. Route 25
Area	129 acres (52 ha)
Built	1861 (1861)
NRHP reference No.	79001018
Added to NRHP	June 28, 1979

The Battle of Camp Wildcat was an early fight in the American Civil War. It happened on October 21, 1861, in Laurel County, Kentucky. This battle was part of a larger plan by the Confederates to move into eastern Kentucky. It was one of the first victories for the Union army during the war. It was also the second time soldiers fought in Kentucky.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

Kentucky's Neutral Stance

When the Civil War began in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln asked states still in the Union for soldiers. He wanted them to help stop the states that had left the Union. Kentucky's Governor, Beriah Magoffin, was sympathetic to the South. He refused to send troops.

However, most lawmakers in Kentucky supported the Union. So, Kentucky did not leave the Union. On May 16, a committee in Kentucky's government suggested the state stay neutral. This meant Kentucky would not pick a side in the war. Governor Magoffin announced this neutrality on May 20.

In August 1861, Kentucky held elections. Voters chose many more pro-Union lawmakers. This meant the state government now strongly supported the Union. On September 2, 1861, the U.S. flag was raised over Kentucky's Capitol building. This showed where Kentucky stood.

Confederate Army Moves In

On September 3, 1861, Confederate General Leonidas Polk ordered his troops to take Columbus, Kentucky. This town was important because it was on the Mississippi River. This action ended Kentucky's neutrality. Union General Ulysses S. Grant quickly took Paducah, Kentucky in response.

Soon after, both Union and Confederate armies began moving troops into Kentucky. Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer led about 5,400 soldiers from Tennessee. He wanted to control the Cumberland Gap. This was a key mountain pass into central Kentucky. On September 14, 1861, Zollicoffer's troops took the Cumberland Gap. They set up camp nearby. They wanted to stop Union supporters in the area. These Union supporters were training new soldiers at Camp Andrew Johnson.

Small Fights Before the Main Battle

On September 19, 1861, General Zollicoffer sent about 800 men to attack Camp Andrew Johnson. Most Union soldiers had already left the camp. They had moved to a bigger Union camp called Camp Dick Robinson. There, thousands of Union troops were gathering under General George H. Thomas.

As the Confederates got close to Camp Johnson, they met about 300 local Union fighters. These fighters, called Home Guards, quickly removed planks from a bridge. This made it hard for the Confederates to cross. A short fight broke out. But the Confederates had more soldiers. They pushed the Union Home Guards away. The Union side lost 1 soldier killed and 13 captured. The Confederates lost 7 soldiers. Zollicoffer's men then destroyed the camp buildings. They took any weapons left behind.

Zollicoffer's troops briefly went back to their camp. But soon, they sent soldiers to clear out another Union Home Guard camp. This camp was at Laurel Bridge in Laurel County, Kentucky. On September 28, another Confederate group took 200 barrels of salt. They also destroyed a salt factory in Clay County, Kentucky. They returned to their main camp on September 30. On October 16, Zollicoffer began moving his troops forward again. He wanted to push deeper into central Kentucky.

The Battle of Camp Wildcat

Map of Camp Wildcat Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

On the morning of October 21, 1861, the Confederates started moving along the Wilderness Road. Union General Albin F. Schoepf moved about 350 of his soldiers to Round Hill. This was a steep, high spot along the road. Confederate scouts attacked the Union soldiers right after they arrived. But the Confederates soon pulled back. They needed to tell General Zollicoffer what they found.

Zollicoffer sent most of two regiments to attack Round Hill. These were the 11th and 17th Tennessee Infantry Regiments. Just before the attack, the Union soldiers got help. About 250 men from the 1st Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry arrived. Some local Home Guards also joined them. The Confederate regiments attacked the steep hill. After an hour of fighting, the 11th Tennessee Infantry retreated. Soon after, more Union soldiers arrived. This forced the 17th Tennessee Infantry to retreat too.

Zollicoffer then sent more troops to attack another spot. This was called the South Rim, across the road from Round Hill. By this time, the Union had made this spot stronger. The Confederate attack there also failed. Later, the Confederates did not notice a gap in the Union lines. But Colonel Garrard quickly sent more soldiers to close it.

With many soldiers getting hurt and no success, Zollicoffer stopped attacking. The Confederates pulled back during the night. They continued their retreat all the way back to Cumberland Ford. They reached it on October 26.

What Happened After the Battle?

The Union army had 5 soldiers killed and 20 wounded. The Confederate army had 11 soldiers killed. They also had 42 soldiers wounded or missing.

The Union army had lost some battles earlier in the year. These included the Battle of Big Bethel and the First Battle of Bull Run. On the same day as Camp Wildcat, they also lost the Battle of Ball's Bluff. So, a Union victory at Camp Wildcat was very good news for the North.

In November, the Union army finished another mission. This was called the Big Sandy Expedition. These events led to the Battle of Mill Springs on January 19, 1862. General Zollicoffer was killed in that battle.

The Battlefield Today

The battlefield is about nine miles northwest of London, Kentucky. Some of the land is part of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Other parts are privately owned. A monument nearby, the Confederate Monument at Crab Orchard, remembers some of the Confederate soldiers who died.

Most of the battlefield, about 130 acres, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list helps protect important historical sites. In 2006, another 440 acres were added. This included two areas that were important for finding old artifacts. The Civil War Trust has also helped save 264 acres of the battlefield.