Tour Stop #8: Ferry Landing Site

A gravel road leads down to the original ferry crossing on the Cumberland River.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Wayne County, Kentucky

Significance:

Original Ferry Crossing Site

MANAGED BY:

Wayne County, Kentucky.

Amenities

4 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Parking - Auto, Pets Allowed

This is the location of the original road leading up from the ferry landing of the Cumberland River that was used by both US and Confederate forces before and after the Battle of Mill Springs. Confederate soldiers crossed from the south side of the river on with orders to move north to build fortifications. Trees were felled and the soldiers began to build winter quarters of log huts for their own personal comfort. 

When the Confederate army retreated back to Beech Grove, Confederate Major General George B. Crittenden ordered the systematic retreat across the Cumberland River throughout the night of January 19-20. Everything the soldiers had brought over was left in their quarters and anything of military necessity was abandoned. The demoralized men marched down the road to the ferry crossing to board the Noble Ellis, a sidewheeled steamer, or rafts, that brought them to safety on the southside of the river. Crittenden successfully extracted his force to Mill Springs, then marched them to Monticello.

• Tour Stop #8: The Ferry Crossing

  
  

  At this location, the old roadbed winding down to water led to the ferry station. This ferry was the principle means of crossing from the northern to the southern banks of the Cumberland River and to Mill Springs. Confederate forces under Felix K. Zollicoffer crossed the river here and made their way 1-mile up the Mill Springs Road to an elevated position they could fortify. General George Crittenden used this location to ferry his army across to safety on the night of January 19-20, 1862.

  Date created:

  02/13/2024

  Audio Transcript

  Welcome to Tour Stop #8: Ferry Landing.

  You're welcome to park here and walk down to the edge of the lake.

  By the afternoon of January 19th, the Confederate army was low on morale and exhausted. General Crittenden took note of the state of his troops,
  as well as incomplete fortifications, scant provisions, and the presence of union artillery on high ground and decided that it would be impossible
  to adequately defend Beech Grove.

  
  On the night of January 19th and the morning of the 20th, the Confederates abandoned their camps and boarded a ferry named the "Noble Ellis,"
  and two flat boats, that carried them across the river to Mill Springs. Due to the size of the vessels, everything but the soldiers themselves
  was left in Beech Grove.

  
  When Federal soldiers moved into the encampment on the morning of January 20th, they found it abandoned. General George Thomas did not pursue
  the Confederate forces across the river.

  
  If you wish to visit Tour Stops# 9 & #10, you must retrace your route to Nancy. From there, take KY-80 East toward Somerset, then U.S. 27 South seven miles
  to KY-90 West. Follow KY-90 West for nine miles. Then turn right onto KY-1275. Proceed one mile. Tour Stop #9 is on your right.