Fort Williams Historic Site in Glasgow KY, a little known Civil War battlefield

The history of the American Civil War is filled with stories about the larger battles in more well known areas such as Gettysburg, Shiloh and others. However, there are a lot of Civil War battlefields and historic sights that we need to remember that played a role in the war between the states.

Fort Williams was ordered constructed in Glasgow in the spring of 1863. It was during the spring and summer of 1863 that the Union army began to build defensive works at strategic points in Kentucky to defend transportation networks and supply depots in the Commonwealth from Confederate raids.

Fort Williams was constructed under the supervision of Lieut. Miles D. McAlister. Who was Chief Engineer for the Department of the Ohio. He constructed a “figure 8” shaped redoubt, an enclosed fort, built to withstand attacks from all sides. The fort was armed with 24-pounder and 6-pounder cannon. The fort had several names but was finally officially named Fort Williams in November of 1863 in honor of Gen. Thomas Williams who was killed in battle.

Glasgow was garrisoned by Union troops throughout the war. Glasgow’s strategic importance was due to its location. It was the crossroads of several north-south and east-west roads and by June 1863 a branch of the L&N Railroad.

In December, 1862, John Hunt Morgan led an army of 3,000 men, known as Morgan's Raiders, on a raid through Southern Kentucky. He fought various battles and destroyed railroads and telegraph lines along his route. One stop was in Glasgow, where he was met by three companies of Michigan Cavalry. He drove out the Michigan troops and held control of Glasgow for three days while he destroyed Union rail and communication facilities. He fought a small battle at Bearwallow before moving on.

Fort Williams was built in 1863 to keep John Hunt Morgan out and to maintain Union control over Southern Kentucky. It was raided and captured on October 6, 1863 by Col. Hughes of the 25th Tennessee, CSA. Many men, horses and supplies were captured and taken to Tennessee.

Hidden History of Kentucky in the Civil War https://amzn.to/3wpQ5YK
The Civil War in Kentucky https://amzn.to/3gufycL
Creating a Confederate Kentucky: https://amzn.to/3cBuxAw
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