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County: Hardin

Fort Duffield

Marker Number: 

2449

Location: 

North end of US Bus. 31W (Main St.), West Point

During the Civil War, Louisville was an important supply depot for the Union army. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N), which ran east of West Point, was vulnerable to Confederate attacks. Needing to protect supplies at Louisville and the Union line of supply via the L&N Turnpike, in late 1861, Gen. W. T. Sherman built fortifications on the hill above West Point. Over.

Reverse Description:

In Nov. 1861, the 9th Michigan Inf., led by Col. W. W. Duffield, built Fort Duffield, a 1,000 foot long earthen wall with 10 angles of fire. A number of men who died from disease or accident were buried on the hill south of the fort. In Feb. 1862, the 9th Mich. built a bridge across Salt River that became an important transportation route for Union operations in the area.

Dedicated August 8, 2015.

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