3 SEP--This Day in US Military History

2015-09-03T19:37:22-04:00

1861 – Confederate General Leonidas Polk commits a major political blunder by marching his troops into Columbus, Kentucky—negating Kentucky’s avowed neutrality and causing the Unionist legislature to invite the U.S. government to drive the invaders away.

Kentucky was heavily divided prior to the war. Although slavery was prevalent in the state, nationalism was strong and Unionists prevented the calling of a convention to consider secession after the firing on Fort Sumter in April. Governor Beriah Magoffin refused to send troops to either side, and a special session of the legislature in the summer of 1861 issued a warning to both the Confederate and Union armies not to deploy forces in the state. Union and Confederates alike recognized the folly of entering Kentucky into the war, as it would tip the delicate political balance to the other side.
President Lincoln, a Kentucky native who carefully observed the state’s neutrality, soon realized that the Confederates were acquiring resources and recruiting troops from the state. However, in three special elections held that summer, the Union cause had gained support. Kentucky’s geographic location made permanent neutrality nearly impossible. The major rivers of the upper south drained into the Ohio River through Kentucky, and the state had the country’s ninth largest population.
Troops from both sides began to build fortifications along the border in the opening months of the war, but the Confederates made a critical blunder when General Polk occupied Columbus, Kentucky, on September 3. This preemptive move against the forces of General Ulysses S. Grant, who waited across the Ohio River in Illinois, proved costly for the Confederates. Kentucky’s Unionist legislature invited Federal troops in to drive away the invaders, and on September 6, Grant occupied Paducah and Southland, at the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, respectively. These were vital positions that allowed the Union a tremendous advantage in the contest for Kentucky and Tennessee. During the war, some 50,000 white and 24,000 black Kentuckians fought for the North, while 35,000 joined the South.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/september-3/

September 3

3 September 1609 - Henry Hudson discovered the island of Manhattan. 1709 - The 1st major group of Swiss and German colonists reached the Carolinas. 1752 - The Gregorian Adjustment to the calendar w...

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 3 at 2015 7:39 PM

2015-09-03T19:39:13-04:00

MSG Private RallyPoint Member thanks for the historical perspective daily.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 3 at 2015 7:45 PM

2015-09-03T19:45:45-04:00

cool

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Sep 3 at 2015 8:25 PM

2015-09-03T20:25:25-04:00

1960 - Seoul, Korea - Um Chun-soon was born in a city that was still in a shambles only 7 years after the Korean War! My wife!!!! :-) :-)

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 3 at 2015 10:58 PM

2015-09-03T22:58:25-04:00

So THIS is the man who's fort causes such misery! Curse you! I'll do 3 NTC rotations to get out of a JRTC one.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 11:11 PM

2015-09-03T23:11:58-04:00

And he still got a Post named after him. Hmmm, somebody had friends with influence.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 4 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-09-04T12:17:30-04:00

MSG Private RallyPoint Member, Every day. Every single day you post "This Day..." I read 'em all. But, I forget to vote you "up" sometimes. Thanks for keeping this going!

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Sep 4 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-09-04T12:43:00-04:00

I live in KY, a native son now returned after 35 years of globe-trotting and military service. This was a dark day in Kentucky's claim to neutrality!

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 8:18 PM

2015-09-06T20:18:58-04:00

cool