32 Facts About Felix Zollicoffer

Felix Kirk Zollicoffer was an American newspaperman, slave owner, politician, and soldier.

Felix Zollicoffer was born on a plantation in Bigbyville in Maury County, Tennessee, a son of John Jacob and Martha Zollicoffer.

Felix Zollicoffer was descended from emigrants from Switzerland who had settled in North Carolina in 1710.

Felix Zollicoffer attended the local schools and studied for a year at Jackson College in Columbia, Tennessee.

Felix Zollicoffer left at the age of sixteen, became an apprentice printer, and was engaged in newspaper work in Paris, Tennessee, from 1828 to 1830.

Felix Zollicoffer was a direct descendant of Pocahontas through her mother, Dolly.

Felix Zollicoffer edited the Mercury for a time in Huntsville, Alabama.

Felix Zollicoffer volunteered for the army in 1836 and served as a second lieutenant in the Tennessee militia in the Second Seminole War in Florida.

Felix Zollicoffer then returned to Tennessee and became owner and editor of the Columbia Observer and the Southern Agriculturist and in 1843 the editor of the Republican Banner, the state organ of the Whig Party.

Felix Zollicoffer was a member of the State Senate from 1849 until 1852, and was a delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1852, supporting General Winfield Scott.

Felix Zollicoffer was himself elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third United States Congress and was reelected as a candidate of the American Party to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Congresses.

Felix Zollicoffer declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1858 and retired to private life.

Felix Zollicoffer supported fellow Tennessee moderate John Bell for president in the election of 1860.

On July 9,1861, Felix Zollicoffer was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army.

Felix Zollicoffer then was responsible for guarding the 128 miles of Confederate line between Cumberland Gap and Tompkinsville, Kentucky.

Felix Zollicoffer retained Zollicoffer as district commander in east Tennessee.

On September 17,1861, Zollicoffer sent a force through the Cumberland Gap along the Wilderness Road to drive the Union Army from Barbourville, Kentucky, relieve pressure on the recently established Confederate line at Bowling Green, Kentucky and thwart an expected drive by Union Brigadier General George H Thomas into eastern Tennessee and the Cumberland Gap by forcing him to retain his force in Kentucky.

Felix Zollicoffer's force was essentially on a raid and soon withdrew.

In mid-October 1861, a large part of Felix Zollicoffer's force marched 40 miles from Cumberland Gap to London, Kentucky.

In November 1861, Felix Zollicoffer changed strategy and advanced westward, then back into southeastern Kentucky to strengthen Confederate control in the area just south of Somerset.

Felix Zollicoffer hoped this would put him in a position to be reinforced by Confederate forces from Bowling Green and to drive Thomas's force from the area.

Felix Zollicoffer moved west and established an encampment at Mill Springs, Kentucky, on the south bank of the Cumberland River.

Under the circumstances in December 1861, without needed supplies or reserves, Felix Zollicoffer was in no position to move against the Union force.

On December 20,1861, Zollicoffer did not respond to a movement by a force under Brigadier General Albin F Schoepf, who was attempting to provoke Zollicoffer to commit his force to an engagement in the open.

Felix Zollicoffer now had only two rafts to cross the swollen river which was nearly at flood stage, so he stayed at Beech Grove on the north side of the river.

Felix Zollicoffer led the first brigade toward Logan's Crossroads, while Carroll commanded the following brigade.

Union soldiers returned fire, killing Felix Zollicoffer who had begun to ride away as the incident unfolded.

Felix Zollicoffer further stated that Fry, not Zollicoffer, had ridden into the enemy lines and had begun the conversation, only turning upon Zollicoffer when the Confederate aide rode up.

Felix Zollicoffer states that both officers rode out from their lines and that Fry initially thought Zollicoffer was a Union officer.

Many of the old Confederate flintlock weapons would not fire in the wet conditions and Felix Zollicoffer's death caused his demoralized men to start a retreat.

Felix Zollicoffer left his artillery, mules, equipment and most of his food supply on the north bank, shattering his ordnance and logistical strength.

Felix Zollicoffer was embalmed by a Union surgeon and was eventually returned to Tennessee and interred in the Old City Cemetery in Nashville.