Sept. 1861, General S. B. Buckner with 5,000 CSA occupied Bowling Green, part of Confederate defense line along Ky.-Tennessee border. Purpose: to prevent USA moves south, provide base for future CSA moves north. Scouting in this area, October 31, CSA attacked home guard and small Union force here. After skirmish, CSA retired "with three buggy loads of killed and wounded."