Scott W. Owens
Battle of Sipsey River
Wed Apr 25 02:39:04 2001


I THINK that what Croxton called "Lanier's Mills" was in fact Sipsey Mills, a location/structure complex grist mill/cotton gin distinct from Lanier's Mill located further upstream near Benevola. My brother, president of the local historical society, has visited the former site and the ruins at this site would suggest that a three-story brick structure once stood there. The confusion may have come from the fact that both were once owned by Lanier (not sure exactly who) until 1859 when, supposedly, my GGgrandfather William Horton purchased Sipsey Mills from Lanier. This site is described in his estate after his death in 1881. Whether the mill was put back into operation is unknown, but I would suspect that it was. What is located now and what type of structure existed at the time (1865) at the latter site we have yet to investigate.

Further, I THINK that Croxton crossed the Sipsey at the Sipsey Mills site, near Pleasant Ridge, and about 11:00, according to Clinton and his eyewitness, when the mill had about burned out, Wirt Adams arrived from Bridgeville. I think the entire Federal force had crossed the river when Adams got to Sipsey Mills, and he attacked the 6th Kentucky Cav about where the Pleasant Ridge-Lewiston road crosses Shambley Creek, about 2 and 1/2 miles from Pleasant Ridge. The Yankees had at least had time to send riders into Pleasant Ridge and steal horses, because when I was young, the local historian, old enough to have heard this from witness, said as much. During the first assault by Adams, it would be logical that in the chaos of a brigade attacking an understrength regiment (Roger's company was detached with Sutherland in Carrollton at the time) any fugitives from this would run for the thickest cover. Moving through the thickets around Shambley Creek would land one right on the John D. Horton plantation (taken from the Snedicor 1856 Map). Croxton then sent the 2nd Michigan Cav and hurried the rest of the brigade north. Supposedly after checking the Confederate attack at that point they retreated northward, tried to hold off Adams again unsuccessfully, and fell back to near Romulus, all this in a heavy rain.

Just southwest of Romulus I found on a topo map a wonderfu defensive position in a semicircle facing southwest. It looks like a fortress on the map. I think this is where the last Confederate charges, involving Wood's regiment with Captain Luckett occurred at dark. By then everybody was too wet and tired to try anymore, and all made camp.

Please email me. Couldn't get your email to send through.

Scott Owens