Mill Springs Battlefield

— National Historic Landmark —

It was midmorning and the battle was raging when directly across the road Union Colonel Robert McCook ordered the 9th Ohio Infantry to charge the enemy. It was one of the few successful bayonet charges of the Civil War and was instrumental in bringing the Battle of Mill Springs to a close.

The Charge of the 9th Ohio
The 9th Ohio was a German-American regiment, and the only Union regiment present with battle experience. Major Gustave Kämmerling urged his men forward, saying, "If it gets too hot for you, shut your eyes my boys—forward!"

The bayonet charge flanked the Confederate left and turned it toward the high hill in the distance, The sustained charge of more than a mile created panic among the Confederates. Some Tennessee troops, who feared they would be outflanked and trapped, fled. It was the beginning of a full-scale Confederate retreat.

Inset:
If it gets too hot for you, shut your eyes my boys — forward!

Photo captions: Left side: Maj, Gustave Kämmerling 9th Ohio Infantry. Kämmerling and the men of his regiment had fought in the German revolution of 1848.
Main photo: 1862 Currier and Ives lithograph of the bayonet charge of the 9th Ohio at Mill Springs Most of the difficult charge took place through woods and underbrush.

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