Battle of Somerset facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Somerset
Part of the American Civil War
Date March 31, 1863 Location Somerset, Kentucky Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Quincy A. Gillmore	John Pegram
Strength
1,300	2,800
Casualties and losses
10 killed 25 wounded	290 total

The Battle of Somerset was an important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on March 31, 1863, near Somerset, Kentucky. In this battle, Union soldiers led by General Quincy A. Gillmore stopped a Confederate attack. The Confederates were led by General John Pegram. This battle is also sometimes called the Battle of Dutton's Hill.

Why the Battle Happened

In early 1863, Confederate General John Pegram led a group of cavalry soldiers into Kentucky. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. Pegram's goal was to gather supplies and cause trouble for the Union. He rode his troops near Lexington.

Union General Quincy A. Gillmore wanted to stop Pegram. He asked his commander, Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, for permission. General Burnside agreed, even though Gillmore was mostly known for his skills with cannons and building defenses. Gillmore was given a mixed group of cavalry and mounted infantry (soldiers who ride horses but fight on foot).

The Battle Begins

General Gillmore's Union forces quickly moved to catch up with Pegram's Confederates. By this time, Pegram's soldiers had already collected hundreds of cattle. On March 31, the Union troops found Pegram's forces just outside Somerset.

The battle started when Gillmore's soldiers pushed back Pegram's skirmishers. Skirmishers are small groups of soldiers sent ahead to scout and fight. The Confederates then took a strong position on a place called Dutton's Hill.

Fighting on Dutton's Hill

At first, the Union soldiers found it hard to move forward against the Confederates on the hill. So, General Gillmore brought his cannons closer to the fight. The Union artillery (cannons) began firing at the Confederate positions.

Then, soldiers from the 45th Ohio Infantry regiment made a brave charge up the hill. This attack was successful. The Confederates were forced to leave their strong position and retreat.

What Happened After the Battle

After their defeat, General Pegram's forces retreated south. They crossed the Cumberland River, leaving behind many horses and most of the cattle they had taken. This loss caused a lot of disagreement between General Pegram and his officers.

For General Gillmore, this battle was a big success. It was his first time leading soldiers in a major field command. Even after this victory, he still wanted to work with cannons and coastal defenses. Soon after, General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck moved Gillmore to South Carolina. There, he would help plan a major attack against Charleston, South Carolina.