HISTORY.Mill.Springs.1818.Pulaski-Wayne

There was a mill here as eary as 1818.   Charles METCALFE operated a carding
mill here which burned in 1824.  Arthur RANKIN, a miller from Palsley,
Scotland, erected the present mill in 1877.  It has been owned successively
by :  I. P. LYNCH, Ad. LANIER, Ike LANIER and J. M. SALLEE, R. L. LANIER and
Dr. J. A. JONES, B. E. ROBERTS and Sons, and T. S. ROBERTS, who was its last
operator in 1948.  The wheel was the world's second largest overshot water
wheel before World War II.  The larger one was in France.  This one has a
diameter of 40 feet and a breast of 3 feet.  It was installed in 1908 by B.
E. ROBERTS and Sons.  Its two French burrs supplied wheat flour fo a vast
area of Kentucky and Northern Tennessee, and its corn meal was eagerly
sought by discriminating housewives.
>
>The Battle of Mill Springs was fought on January 19,1862.  The purpose of
this battle was the delay or prevent the Union Army from penetrating into
Tennessee.  General Felix Zollicoffer was in command of the Confederate
troops.  His staff headquarters were in the LANIER House, a large white
house still standing just above the old mill.
>
>Eight thousand soldiers were involved in the Battle of Mill Springs.  A
thousand horses and mules, a number of small arms, and 125 dead Confederate
soldiers were left lying scattered about the battlefield.  These soldiers
were buried by local residents in a common grave.  Wounded soldiers wre
removed to the METCALFE House to be cared for.  This house is about one mile
to the south on Route 90.  The trenches and fortifications which were
prepared at Mill Springs may still be ssen at several points along the
Cumberland River.  One of the fortificatons may be seen at Mill Springs with
a canon mounted upon it.  The Battle of Mill Springs has been called by
historians "The most important battle fought in Kentucky in the War Between
the States".
>
>In May, 1963, the Monticello Woman's Club with the aid of the Kentucky
Department fo Highways reactivated the mill.  Corn is water-ground and
packaged to sell as unbolted corn meal, complete with recipes.  A gift shop
offers for sale handmade products of Monticello and Wayne County.
>
>The public is cordially invited to visit Mill Springs park.  Observe the
overshot water wheel in action--read the Civil War date-- and enjoy a picnic
in ths historic area!



Contributed by: Diana Flynn <ivie@tima.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997