Apparitions of Mill Springs

The first time I saw the mill at Mill Springs was from our boat on the majestic waters of Lake Cumberland. High on the rugged hills of Wayne County it stood. In eighteen twenty-five a post office was established near the mill. It was called Mill Springs. This mill had the world’s largest over-shot wheel. The mill with its many years of service is still in operation today. In May there is always a corn bread festival at Mill Springs.

The clear pristine waters of Lake Cumberland cover the some of the rugged terrain and its history. Let me go back when there was just the Cumberland River below Mill Springs. The Union and the Confederacy each wanted to control Kentucky, a border state. The Rebels had moved into Mill Springs in November of sixty-one and fortified the area north and south of the Cumberland River. Brig. General George Thomas of the Union was ordered to push the Confederate Army south of the Cumberland River.

The weather was wet and Thomas’ army found it difficult to march through the mud soaked country but they arrived on January the seventeenth at Logan’s Crossing. The Confederate Army was ordered to attack at Logan’s Crossing and they did. The Union army pushed the Rebels into Tennessee. Thomas’ army took over the Confederate position at Mill Springs. This was the first victory of many for the Union in the Western Campaign. There were thirty-nine Union boys that met their maker and are buried in the Mill Springs National Cemetery. The Southern boys were taken to Tennessee.

Many souls of soldiers killed in any battle seem to be bound to a restless existence on earth. This is true of those that fought and died at Mill Springs. It is said that it is not always easy to find the apparitions in Mill Springs. However there are violent spirits roaming Mill Springs.

In a recent reenactment at Mill Springs a boy who was just able to hold a musket participated. On Saturday at two o’clock the reenactment started. The little body stood tall in line waiting for the orders to advance. His proud father stood beside him and the rest of the group that surrounded them.

In the blink of an eye he saw an entire regiment pass in front of them. This regiment looked so real even more than they did. He could hear their yelling, the stomping of their shoes, and felt the motion of the air when they passed. This was another group of enactors and he was excited.

He advanced with the regiment and he saw them disappear into thin air. His unit was still standing tall waiting for their orders to advance. He wanted to run and hide but he stepped back in line and waited for the command. He was mortified that he broke formation but he knew in his heart what he had seen. No one else saw or heard the regiment but him. However most adults are not sensitive to the spirit world where young children are.

Each year with their reenactment at Mill Springs is the “Ghost Walk.” This is one of their biggest events and lots of fun. The reenactment of Mill Springs is well attended, much larger than some of the well-known battlefield reenactments. Could it be because of their active ghosts?