Remains of Civil War Fort at Boonesboro

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Constructed in 1863 by African-American Union soldiers, little remains of the earthen Civil War Fort at Boonseboro. However, the site is open for self-guided tours and offers beautiful views of the Kentucky River. A one mile nature loop trail is also available at the site, along with a collection of "Scenes from the River" murals.

Images

Fort Boonesborough remains

Little remains of the earthen fort built by the Union Army to defend the Kentucky River from advancing Confederate Troops.

Capt. Thomas B. Brooks was an engineer officer with Co. A, 1st New York Engineers and this is his original design for the Fort at Clays Ferry.

Today’s view of the Kentucky River

(October 2008) Sign at site of Civil War Fort at Boonesboro

(October 2008) One of the murals in the parking lot

(October 2008) Another parking lot mural

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

African-American Union troops built this earthen fort in 1863 in order to defend the ford and ferry at Boonesboro. This fort and the fort at Clay's Ferry were both designed by engineer Capt. Thomas Brooks. Due to the nature of this fort and an attack by Confederate soldiers before the completion of the fort, very little remains today. However, the site offers beautiful views of the countryside and of the Kentucky River. A wooded nature trail, the same path used by Union soldiers at the time of construction, can still be explored today. The trail is a moderately strenuous, one mile loop. A collection of murals titled "Scenes from the River" is also on display at the site.

After the fall of the Fort at Boonesboro, a second fort was built nearby, Fort Boonesborough, which is now a Kentucky State Park.

Sources

About the Fort, Civil War Fort at Boonesboro. Accessed November 16th 2020. http://www.civilwarfortatboonesboro.com/html/about_the_fort.html.

Civil War Fort at Boonesboro, Visit Winchester KY. Accessed November 16th 2020. https://visitwinchesterky.com/contact/civil-war-fort-at-boonesboro/.

The Murals, Civil War Fort at Boonesboro. Accessed November 16th 2020. http://www.civilwarfortatboonesboro.com/html/the_murals.html.

Civil War Fort at Boonesboro, Visit Lexington. Accessed November 16th 2020. https://www.visitlex.com/listing/civil-war-fort-at-boonesboro/6246/.