New Haven Battlefield Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Haven Battlefield Site
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 Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Lyons Station Rd. in LaRue County, Kentucky |
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| Nearest city | New Haven, Kentucky |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000793 |
| Added to NRHP | August 04, 2004 |
The New Haven Battlefield is an important historical site in Kentucky. It was a place where soldiers fought during the American Civil War. This battlefield is located where the Rolling Fork river meets the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad line. This railroad connected Knoxville and New Haven, Kentucky. The battlefield includes the James Howell Farm, which is also known as the "New Haven Battlefield Site" on the National Register of Historic Places. This area saw fighting on December 30, 1862.
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Fort Allen: A Key Stronghold
The James Howell Farm was first built in 1830. It grew over the years. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad built tracks near the farm, with a station in New Haven. This railroad was very important for moving supplies and troops.
Building Fort Allen
Fort Allen, Kentucky, was named after Union Captain John K. Allen. He was a leader from the 78th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Captain Allen and his soldiers built this fort between October 27 and November 5, 1862. They used strong logs, standing them upright in the ground to make walls about 7 ft (2.1 m) tall.
The fort was designed to hold one company of infantry soldiers. At the corners, they built stockades around Army Sibley tents. The walls between each tent were about 45 ft (0.014 km) long. A brick "furnace" was built in the center for cooking. Later, a smaller headquarters and a stable for horses were added for the regimental staff.
Who Guarded the Fort?
After successfully defending Fort Allen in a small battle, the 78th Illinois Regiment moved south in January 1863. The 63rd Indiana Infantry then took over the fort.
In January 1864, the 63rd Indiana Infantry moved to Camp Nelson. The 33rd Kentucky Infantry replaced them. Their commander, Cyrus J. Wilson, was the last leader of Fort Allen. The fort was left empty in April 1864. Later, on September 19, 1864, a guerrilla fighter named Henry C. Magruder burned the fort's military buildings.
The Skirmish at New Haven
During a time known as Morgan's Christmas Raid in 1862, some Confederate soldiers arrived near New Haven. Three companies of the 9th Kentucky Cavalry came on December 29. Their goal was to destroy the railroad bridge over the Rolling Fork river.
A Refusal to Surrender
The next morning, Captain Henry P. Housley, who was from New Haven, delivered a demand for surrender to Fort Allen. He was a Confederate soldier. However, the fort's commander, Colonel William H. Benneson of the 78th Illinois Infantry, refused to give up. This was a brave decision, as other Union forts had surrendered when faced with Confederate artillery.
The Battle Begins
The Confederates began their attack on Fort Allen. They used a 12-pound mountain howitzer, which is a type of cannon. They fired from about 1,200 yd (1,100 m) away. The soldiers firing the cannon were cavalrymen, not trained artillery crews. They didn't adjust the cannon's aim correctly. Because of this, their shots went over the fort. Instead, shells hit and damaged the New Haven House and Mansion House, which were taverns or hotels in the town.
Confederate mounted riflemen, using Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-muskets, got off their horses and formed a firing line. When they got within 400 yd (370 m) of the fort, the Union soldiers inside fired back. The Union soldiers used .69 caliber muzzle-loading rifles.
After about 90 minutes of fighting, the Confederate forces pulled back. They took their howitzer with them. Only one Confederate soldier was confirmed wounded. The Union soldiers at Fort Allen had no casualties, and the fort itself was not damaged by the cannon fire.
