The Preserve > Fort Craig

Note: Fort Craig is on private property.
A viewpoint is available from the Preserve trail.
There is no public access.

The First Ohio Light Artillery of the Union Army started
building Fort Craig in January of 1862, on the foundation
of a small Confederate artillery battery that had been built
earlier, referred to on old maps as an "Old Reb Fort." 
Union General Alexander McCook ordered the
construction. Located at the western edge of the village
of Woodsonville, about 1,000 yards east of the Louisville-
Nashville Railroad Bridge, this fort marked the left
position of the Union line in the battle of September 14-17, 1862. Shortly before this battle, Union Colonel John T. Wilder ordered
additional work done to the fort to make it more useable
for artillery.

The fort looked quite different in 1862. The inside walls of the fort were “revetted,” or lined with logs held in place by posts set deep into the ground. This kept the dirt from sliding back into the fort, while allowing the riflemen to stand close to the edge to fire over the parapets. The low spots in the parapets were for the cannons to fire through and each cannon sat upon a plank platform.

The powder magazines were covered with tongue- and-groove boards, on top of which (running at right angles to the lower layer) was another layer of boards sealed against water leakage by resin and tar. Five feet of earth covered the top of the magazine as the roof.

Major A. H. Abbot's 67th Indiana Infantry defended this fort, showing much strength. The fierceness of this battle can be illustrated by the fact that the battle flag of the 67th had 146 bullet holes in it. Major Abbot was killed during the battle, standing on top of the parapet directing his men. At least two cannon were stationed here during the battle on September 14; one was a 12-pounder smoothbore Napoleon, which fired grapeshot at the 7th Mississippi on the southeast. The other gun was likely either a 12-pounder Howitzer or a 3¼ inch Parrott Rifle.

The right end of the Union line was anchored on a large log stockade that stood on the steep bank of the Green River, about 100 yards across the Louisville-Nashville Railroad track west of the Robert A. Smith monument. This stockade was made of long logs eight to ten inches in diameter, sitting upright very close together and 2.5 feet into the ground. Dirt was banked up around the bottom to the height of three to four feet. Holes cut between the logs enabled riflemen inside to fire upon attackers. The 69th Indiana Infantry held this stockade during the battle.

There was also a strong system of infantry trenches around the stockade and on the high ground between the Stockade and Fort Craig. This was a truly strong position.

The Union Army forgot, however, to “shut the back door” – to protect the heights on the north side of the Green River. This strategic flaw allowed the 7th, 9th, and 29th Mississippi regiments under the command of General James R. Chalmers to dominate the Union position during the battle.

All of the “woodwork” used in Fort Craig and the Stockade was cannibalized for firewood by Union forces after the battle.

Plans for Fort Craig today include the construction of a boardwalk around the west, north, and east perimeter to allow visitors to view the works without treading on them. This will help prevent erosion while allowing public access to learn about his important part of Civil War History.