Defense of Cincinnati

Defense of Cincinnati
Part of the American Civil War
In 1862, 60,000 Ohio, local, militia volunteers, nicknamed the "Squirrel Hunters", marched in "defense of Cincinnati", across the Ohio River, heading into Kentucky, during the American Civil War.
Date September 1–13, 1862 Location Kenton County & Campbell County, Kentucky, & Cincinnati, Ohio Result Union strategic victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Lew Wallace	Henry Heth
Strength
85,000 [approximate 25,000 military & 60,000 militia]	8,000 [approximate]
Casualties and losses
6 (1 killed  5 wounded)	unknown

The Defense of Cincinnati occurred during what is now referred to as the Confederate Heartland Offensive (or Kentucky Campaign) of American Civil War from September 1 through September 13, 1862, when Cincinnati, Ohio, was threatened by Confederate forces.

Confederate Brigadier General Henry Heth had been sent north to threaten Cincinnati, then the sixth largest city in the United States. Heth was under orders from his superior, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith not to attack the city, but to make a "demonstration". Cincinnati's mayor George Hatch ordered all business closed, and Union Major General Lew Wallace declared martial law, seized sixteen steamboats and had them armed, and organized the citizens of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport, Kentucky for defense. Among, the groups organized were the "Black Brigade of Cincinnati", a forcibly, conscripted group of free, African Americans. Although not armed, the Black Brigade was given its own flag and paid $13 for one month's service, being the same pay given to privates, at that time.

Along eight miles of hilltops from Ludlow to present-day Fort Thomas, Kentucky, volunteers and soldiers constructed rifle pits and earthwork fortifications, which were defended by 25,000 Union Army soldiers and 60,000 local militia volunteers, called "Squirrel Hunters." Construction of the defenses was directed by Colonel Charles Whittlesey until relieved by Major James H. Simpson, chief of Topographical Engineers for the Department of the Ohio.