The Fight for Big Hill: The 1st Georgia Cavalry Opens the Kentucky Campaign

General Edmund Kirby Smith’s invasion of Kentucky began on August 13, 1862, and was spearheaded by the two regiments of his cavalry command, the 1st Louisiana and the 1st Georgia. Starting out for Kentucky, “joy seemed to pervade the very souls of the entire command,” one Georgian recalled. “They moved with cheerfulness and alacrity, anticipating a stirring time.”

Ten days later, the cavalrymen had a stirring time when they learned that a Federal wagon train bound for Cumberland Gap near Big Hill a few miles southeast of Richmond, Kentucky. Taking position atop the hill, the Georgians soon got into a fight with the rookie 7th Kentucky Cavalry (US) under Colonel Leonidas Metcalfe and a portion of the 3rd Tennessee (US) under Lieutenant Colonel John C. Chiles. 

After pushing the Kentuckians off Big Hill, the Confederate cavalry pursued the fleeing bluecoats before running into the 3rd Tennessee at the Merritt Jones tavern at the foot of the hill. “The Yankees had a very strong position on the side of a hill and under cover of heavy timbers and thick undergrowth," our correspondent noted. "The firing was regular and the contest was severe. After exhausting the supply of our artillery ammunition (which was small), a forward movement was ordered by Colonel Scott. The 1st Georgia Cavalry except Co. A had been dismounted and under the command of Colonel Morrison and Major Harper made a flank movement to the right and succeeded in turning the enemy’s left wing. Then the Louisiana cavalry, amid a heavy fire, mounted and rushed to the charge. Co. A of the 1st Georgia, Ector’s Dragoons, led in this charge. In a few moments, the Yankees were completely routed and the retreat became general.”

The Georgian’s account of the opening 10 days of the Kentucky campaign first saw publication in the September 16, 1862, edition of the Atlanta Southern Confederacy.

 

A Union supply train headed south to Cumberland Gap became the target of about 700 Confederate cavalrymen under the command of Colonel John Scott and resulted in the action at Big Hill on August 23, 1862. The 7th Kentucky Cavalry, scarcely in uniform for a week, fell back in confusion once Scott opened with his artillery. 

Headquarters, Camp Scott on Big Hill, Kentucky

August 26, 1862

          On the 13th instant at 5 p.m., we received orders to march into Kentucky. Joy seemed to pervade the very souls of the entire command and they moved with cheerfulness and alacrity, anticipating a stirring time.

          We left Kingston, Tennessee and passed through Montgomery in Morgan County and Jamestown in Prentiss County, Tennessee. At the latter place, a small party of our men dashed into town and arrested some suspicious characters. Here we rested a few hours during a great rainstorm. The next morning at 2 o’clock we were on the march to Monticello, Wayne Co., Kentucky which we reached in a few hours and had a lively time with the Home Guards who were soon dispersed and then camped for the night.

          At 2 o’clock the next morning, the merry voices of our whole command gave note of our departure and we were off for Somerset in Pulaski County. We crossed Fishing Creek and scaled the hills with almost magic speed. At Somerset, we found everything astir. A considerable quantity of clothing, commissary stores, and arms were burned. We were off again and soon reached London, having marched 170 miles in 70 hours, nearly all the way to the tune of Dixie and others so common to Southern boys.

          New scenes opened to us at London. We had one hour’s sharpshooting after which the town was ours with 205 prisoners, 170 wagons, and 290 mules and horses with a large lot of stores, arms, ammunition, etc., but our losses were few. At 11 a.m., a scouting party of 55 men under Captain James H. Strickland advanced eight miles towards Barbourville in the direction of Cumberland Gap, cautiously examining the country and making efforts to learn the strength of the enemy. This party was attacked by an infantry force of the enemy and a skirmish ensued. Our boys fell back with the loss on our side of three wounded; two of the enemy were known to be killed.

Captain James H. Strickland
Co. A, 1st Georgia Cavalry

          After cutting the telegraph wires and doing everything necessary and proper, we marched three miles out from London and soon we were all asleep and rested for two days. Colonel James J. Morrison and Major A.R. Harper with nine companies (six of the 1st Georgia Cavalry and three of Scott’s Louisiana cavalry, some 300 men) then marched in the direction of Mount Vernon in Rockcastle County with one piece of artillery. This proved to be a somewhat perilous trip as the country is quite broken and very difficult for cavalry to move through. The march will never be forgotten by any of the party. The vigilance, coolness, and valor of all the officers and men could not be surpassed. We soon passed the never-to-be-forgotten spot where the Wild Cat fight took place. It is a very strong position. A few miles further, we encamped for the night.

          Early next morning, we marched into Mount Vernon capturing a number of Home Guards and Federal soldiers, 76 wagons, 235 mules, and a large quantity of commissary stores. Early in the day, a small detachment was sent out towards Crab Orchard in Lincoln County. The enemy was found to be too strong for us, however. We remained near Mount Vernon all day and night and the next day fell back 17 miles. Here we were joined by Colonel John Scott with 250 men and two more pieces of artillery. That night, we moved back to Mount Vernon and the next morning occupied the town. Early in the day, skirmishing took place between the scouts. Soon our entire force was in line of battle north of town on Crab Orchard road. We advanced two miles and learned that a large force of the enemy had come up to Rockcastle Creek on the Richmond road.

The action at Big Hill occurred along what is today KY-421 and has both a Kentucky historical marker and the interpretive panel above explaining what occurred on August 23, 1862. A week later, Kirby Smith's army of about 7,000 men would clash with two brigades of newly raised Union infantry at the Battle of Richmond just a few miles northwest of Big Hill. The Confederate victory, one of the most lopsided of the war, opened the Kentucky Bluegrass to Confederate occupation and sent a wave of panic into Ohio and Indiana in the early days of September. 

          We then fell back, crossed the mountains, and the next day pushed on towards Richmond. Soon the enemy was reported to be in force near Big Hill on the Richmond road. They drove in our advance guard and the fight became general. The Yankees had a very strong position on the side of a hill and under cover of heavy timbers and thick undergrowth. The firing was regular and the contest was severe.

After exhausting the supply of our artillery ammunition (which was small), a forward movement was ordered by Colonel Scott (see "Riding with Scott's Louisiana Cavalry"). The 1st Georgia Cavalry except Co. A had been dismounted and under the command of Colonel Morrison and Major Harper made a flank movement to the right and succeeded in turning the enemy’s left wing. Then the Louisiana cavalry, amid a heavy fire, mounted and rushed to the charge. Co. A of the 1st Georgia, Ector’s Dragoons, led in this charge. In a few moments, the Yankees were completely routed and the retreat became general.

          After pursuing them a considerable distance down the mountains, which was quite difficult, it was discovered that they had succeeded in reaching a strong position and determined on making a stand. A creek ran across the road and over it a bridge on which had been placed some wagons, blocking up the passage. The creek flowed through a ditch three feet deep in front of which there was a fence. The mountain was within 60 yards of the bridge along the side of which was a trail in which a wagon had been placed to block it up.

          After some firing, the order was given to charge which was gallantly done with Ector’s Dragoons under Major Harper leading the charge. The enemy’s fire was severe, the ditch crossed, and the enemy driven from their strong position. After firing all their guns, the little band fell back across the ditch, halted, and reloaded. At this moment, Ector’s Dragoons were joined by Lieutenant Colonel Crabb and his command the charge was again made in gallant style. The charge now became general. It was led by Colonel Morrison and the gallant old hero Captain Haynie. The Louisiana cavalry and the Buckner Guards bore a conspicuous part in this grand charge. The enemy fled and was pursued for several miles. The victory was decisive resulting in the capture of a large number of prisoners.

          The Georgians then under Morrison and Harper marched 25 miles that night and took a position on the Lexington road. Early the next morning, learning that the strength of the enemy was too great to meet, we marched back to Big Hill where we are now encamped. Captain James Strickland of Co. A led his company in both charges and his subordinate officers and men displayed the highest courage. Lieutenants Taylor and Warthen went forward with the captain. It would be invidious to particularize the men of the command where all did so well, but Privates Goodman, Brown, Roane, Holland, Stevens, and Benton displayed unusual coolness and heroism such as seldom seen in anyone while Sergeant Strickland had three horses shot from under him.

Source:

Letter from unnamed officer, 1st Georgia Cavalry, Southern Confederacy (Georgia), September 16, 1862, pg. 2

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