William "Bull" Nelson, died September 29, 1862

William Nelson was 36 years old when the Civil War began.

Nelson was sent to Louisville in mid-April 1861 to determine if Kentucky would stay in the Union. On his return to Washington, D.C., Lincoln gave Nelson authority to oversee the distribution of 5,000 arms to the loyal citizens of their native state. 

Theophilus T. Garrard

On July 1, 1861, Nelson was detached from the Navy and given orders to organize a campaign into East Tennessee.  The War Department authorized Nelson to establish a training camp and organize a brigade of infantry. Nelson commissioned William J. Landram, a colonel of cavalry; and Theophilus T. Garrard, Thomas E. Bramlette, and Speed S. Fry colonels of infantry. 

Camp Dick Robinson

Landram turned his commission over to Frank Wolford. When Garrard, Bramlette, and Fry established their camps at Camp Dick Robinson in Garrard County, and Wolford erected his camp near Harrodsburg, Kentucky's neutrality effectively ended. Governor Beriah Magoffin protested to Lincoln about the Union camps, but Lincoln ignored Magoffin, stating that the will of the people wanted the camps to remain in Kentucky.

Beriah Magoffin

In August 1861, Kentucky held elections for the State General Assembly, and Unionists won majorities in both houses. Residents of Louisville continued to be divided on the issue of which side to join. The Louisville Courier was very much pro-Confederate, while the Louisville Journal was pro-Union.
Union recruits were marched into Camp Dick Robinson in violation of Kentucky's position of neutrality. On September 4, 1861, Confederate General Leonidas Polk, outraged by Union intrusions in the state, invaded Columbus, Kentucky. As a result of the Confederate invasion, Union General Ulysses Grant entered Paducah, Kentucky. Jefferson Davis allowed Confederate troops to stay in Kentucky. General Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of all Confederate forces in the West, sent General Simon Bolivar Buckner of Kentucky to invade Bowling Green, Kentucky. Union forces in Kentucky saw Buckner's move toward Bowling Green as the beginning of a massive attack on Louisville. With twenty thousand troops, Johnston established a defensive line stretching from Columbus in western Kentucky to the Cumberland Gap, controlled by Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer.  

On September 7, the Kentucky State legislature, angered by the Confederate invasion, ordered the Union flag to be raised over the state capitol in Frankfort, and declared its allegiance with the Union. The legislature also passed the "Non-Partisan Act", which stated that "any person or any person's family that joins or aids the so-called Confederate Army was no longer a citizen of the Commonwealth."  The legislature denied any member of the Confederacy the right to land, titles or money held in Kentucky or the right to legal redress for action taken against them.

Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase saw that Nelson became a brigadier general on September 16, 1861. Nelson then organized a new brigade at Camp Kenton, three miles below Maysville, and marched them to Olympian Springs, Bath County, Kentucky.  In October, Nelson led a force on the Big Sandy Expedition, defeating a rebel force at Ivy Mountain before occupying Piketon. 

Don Carlos Buell

Nelson's superiors, such as General Don Carlos Buell, commended the general's successful organization and loyalty while ignoring his volatile temper.  A number of observers criticized Nelson as brutish and tyrannical. Nelson's inability to deal with the press led to stories circulating about his short temper and profane manner, even though some stories occasionally credited him with a great deal of courage. 

 Near the end of October those troops from Ohio and Kentucky routed the Rebels at Hazel Green and West Liberty. On November 8, Confederate troops under Captain Andrew Jackson May fought a delaying action against Nelson at the Battle of Ivy Mountain.  That night and following day, Confederates under Colonel John S. Williams abandoned Piketon. Early the next morning Nelson's northern prong under Colonel Joshua W. Sill arrived in the town, which marked the end of the Big Sandy expedition.

Andrew Jackson May

At the end of November 1861, Nelson joined the Army of the Ohio under the command of Buell at Louisville.

Union Troops in Louisville

Louisville became a staging ground for Union troops heading south. Union troops flowed into Louisville from Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Andrew Jackson's Home, The Hermitage

Nelson commanded the Fourth Division and that unit became the first to enter Nashville on February 25, 1862.  Nelson, who had great respect for Andrew Jackson, wanted to visit the late president's home, The Hermitage Plantation, just outside of Nashville.  On March 12, Jackson’s ninety-fifth birthday, Nelson led his men on an 11-mile march to visit the former president’s final resting place.  After a few hours of walking around the property and remembering Andrew Jackson, the soldiers marched back to their camp. Robert Best.a private in Company H of the Indiana 36th, reported that they “reached home a short time after dark, tired, but not regretting the march for what was to be seen.”

Gravesite of Andrew Jackson

The following month, Buell received orders to join General Ulysses S. Grant at Savannah, Tennessee.  Nelson obtained the lead for that advance when Buell gave him permission to wade his men across the Duck River at Columbia, Tennessee. 

Crossing Duck River at Columbia, Tennessee

Report of Colonel Jacob Ammen, Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry, commanding Tenth Brigade, with diary of his march from Nashville:

Jacob Ammen

March 27.--General Buell pitches his tents on the opposite side of the road from the Tenth Brigade. Late in the evening General Nelson, in returning from General Buell's headquarters, informed me that he had General Buell's permission to take the advance, and gave me a verbal order to cross Duck River at daylight the 29th. I inquired if the bridge would be done. He answered, "No." "Are there boats?" He said, "No; but the river is falling; and, d--n you, get over, for we must have the advance and get the glory." He enjoined secrecy, lest we should be prevented taking the advance.

Map of the Field of Shiloh

Nelson arrived at Savannah on Saturday, April 5, 1862.  At dawn the following morning, Sunday, April 6, the enemy assaulted Federal troops below Shiloh Church. By 4:30 p.m., Confederate forces were preparing to drive the Union army off the bluff above Pittsburg Landing. About an hour later, fresh troops under Nelson reached the top of that hill, and that gave hope to a desperate situation.  Ammen's brigade of Bull Nelson's division arrived in time to be ferried over and join the left end of the line.

The Battle of Shiloh

The evening of April 6 was a dispiriting end to the first day of one of the bloodiest battles in American history. The cries of wounded and dying men on the fields between the armies could be heard in the Union and Confederate camps throughout the night. A thunderstorm passed through the area, and shelling from the Union gunboats made the night a miserable experience for both sides. 

William Sherman

General William Sherman encountered Grant under a tree, sheltering himself from the pouring rain.  Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Ulysses Grant

General P.G.T. Beauregard sent a telegram to Confederate President Jefferson Davis announcing "A COMPLETE VICTORY." He later admitted, "I thought I had General Grant just where I wanted him and could finish him up in the morning." Many of his men were jubilant, having overrun the Union camps and taken thousands of prisoners and tons of supplies. 

But Grant had reason to be optimistic, for Lew Wallace's division and 15,000 men of Don Carlos Buell's army began to arrive that evening, with Buell's men fully on the scene by 4 a.m., in time to turn the tide the next day. Beauregard did not come to the front to inspect the strength of the Union lines but remained at Shiloh Church. He also discounted intelligence reports from  Nathan Bedford Forrest that Buell's men were crossing the river to reinforce Grant. 

Ammen wrote:

April 7, 3 a.m.--Less rain. General Nelson, that energetic and wide-awake officer, is at my headquarters, near a large tree, and issues his orders to me verbally: "Colonel Ammen, you will put the Tenth Brigade in motion, as soon as you can see to move, at dawn; find the enemy and whip him." . . . It is now light, and we are again in motion through the wet undergrowth and forest. Rain has ceased. An occasional shot is fired by our skirmishers, and now we are at a clearing, and some cabins and tents are standing, from which our troops were driven yesterday. We cross the open space and halt in the forest. The battle has commenced miles to the right. The fire is extending along the line, and has been coming nearer and nearer, and now we hear the shouts of the distant combatants. The Tenth is again in motion. Our skirmish line has some work, but the enemy falls back; does not advance on our front in force. The advance is slow and cautious; the position of our left flank is examined carefully and is near a swamp; cannot be easily turned. The undergrowth, the forest, and the clearing a short distance in front are favorable to us. About a mile from our position this morning; our advance has not been interrupted. The confidence of the men increased, if I may judge from their cheerful salutes and happy countenances as I pass along the Nines. The roar of artillery and small-arms is extending to our left rapidly. The brigade on our right is engaged furiously. A battery is brought to the support of the Nineteenth, and the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry is taken from my front line to support the battery. The Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry takes position in the front line.

Thomas Crittenden

On April 7, Monday morning, Nelson’s Fourth Division bore the brunt of the fighting on the left.  On the Union left, Nelson's division led the advance, followed closely by those of Union Generals Thomas Crittenden and Alexander McCook, down the Corinth and Hamburg-Savannah Roads. After heavy fighting, Crittenden's division recaptured the Hornet's Nest area by late morning, but Crittenden and Nelson were both repulsed by determined counterattacks launched by Confederate General John Breckinridge. The Union right made steady progress, driving Confederate Generals Braxton Bragg and Leonidas Polk to the south.  

Battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862

In early afternoon, Beauregard launched a series of counterattacks from the Shiloh Church area, aiming to ensure control of the Corinth Road. The Union right was temporarily driven back by these assaults at Water Oaks Pond. Nelson resumed his attack and seized the heights overlooking Locust Grove Branch by late afternoon.  

Braxton Bragg

The Confederates withdrew and the bloodiest fighting that had ever occurred in the Western hemisphere was over.  Both sides were shocked at the carnage. None suspected that three more years of such bloodshed remained in the war and that larger and bloodier battles were yet to come. 

Corinth

After Shiloh, Nelson participated in the march on Corinth under the direction of Henry Halleck, who had taken command of the combined Army of the Ohio and Army of the Tennessee. 

Henry Halleck

When Beauregard withdrew from Corinth, Halleck decided to split the armies to pursue separate targets; Nelson went east with the Army of the Ohio towards Chattanooga. Because of Nelson's performance at Shiloh, Buell ordered his division to Murfreesboro, to protect against a surprise attack on Nashville.  Nelson was the first to enter Corinth on May 30, 1862, and he immediately became embroiled in a fight with General John Pope over who deserved credit for occupying the abandoned town. 

John Pope

Several weeks later, Nelson was caught-up in an ill-fated advance against Chattanooga that put him in the unenviable position of going against enemy cavalry with overburdened infantry.  On July 21, 1862, Nelson tried to pursue Nathan Bedford Forrest following his destruction of three bridges. Although they came within half-a-mile of of  Forrest, they failed to capture him.

On August 16, Buell ordered Nelson to assume command of federal forces in Kentucky.

NASHVILLE, August 18, 1862.General BUELL, Huntsville:

GENERAL: I had the honor to receive your telegram last night. I will proceed to execute the instructions therein to the best of my ability.

Permit me to recommend to you that a visit on your part to this place of three days’ duration only as being very necessary. There is no control here at all. Two regiments (the Twenty-seventh Kentucky and Ninth Indiana, which arrived last night) are now, at twenty minutes past 8 o’clock, seeking some one to report to, and trying to get teams to haul their baggage from the depot to camp. I am sure, from my experience when serving in your immediate presence, that your staff here do not do their duty with the promptness that would be pleasing to you. My answer was unnecessarily detained at Murfreesborough when en route for McMinnville by their dilatory proceedings. My ordnance officer was detained three hours in the ante-chamber of Major Sidell; my inspector-general two hours, and my adjutant-general failed to see him altogether, though they had gone up from Murfreesborough for that purpose.
The baggage of the division was detained at the depot and no effort of mine could procure its transportation, and in reply to my order to Captain Bingham to have it forwarded he sends me the copy of a letter from Major Sidell, said to have been written by your order, to the effect that Captain Bingham was not under my orders. At my request General Jackson went to see him this morning about transportation to Louisville and he was not up. I arrived here at midnight last night and was ready to move at 6 o’clock this morning but Captain Bingham was not to be seen by a general sent to call on him. I confess that I am not exactly acquainted with the importance that attaches to Major Sidell and Captain Bingham. My services in the army are too short to judge by my own experience, but I think that it cannot be right that the promptness of execution of the service required of any person should be relaxed to gratify the personal pretensions of any one.

A Captain Clarke, of the Sixth Ohio Regiment, fell out on the march and got into an ambulance, and instead of having himself hauled to camp, had himself taken to Nashville-in short, deserted. The next thing I heard of him was after two weeks a letter came to my headquarters detailing him for duty with Colonel Miller. I directed Captain Kendrick to write a note to Major Sidell about Clarke’s case, and inclosed an order to the provost-marshal at Nashville to arrest him and send him up under guard. I find that my instructions have not been attended to, and Major Sidell, besides, returns the letter of Captain Kendrick with an indorsement, to which I call your attention. I inclose the paper.  It will be proper to state that upon the report of the officers detained in Major Sidell’s ante-chamber I wrote him a very polite and civil note, to which he replied, denouncing as false their statements. It is since then that Major Sidell has used his office so as not to facilitate the business I have had to transact with him. The denial of Major Sidell was referred to the officers making the report, and they reaffirmed it. 

I mention these things because I am sure that you wish the public service to go ahead, not to be stopped while this or that man ruffles his plumes. 

For my part, in my own limited vision, I estimate the value of an officer in the precise ratio of his zeal for the service, and if anything crosses him to still go on, and appeal to his superior. It seems to me that any other rule would be productive of discordant action upon too many occasions to be tolerated.
I have the honor to be, &c.,

W. NELSON. 

Horatio Wright

General Horatio Wright had received command of the Department of the Ohio, which included Kentucky.  He ordered Nelson to Lexington to organize incoming levies of the  Army of Kentucky, and defend against the army of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith. 

Edmund Kirby Smith

Nelson left General Mahlon D. Manson in charge of troops at Richmond, Kentucky and he returned to Lexington to assemble a relief force to come to the aid of Buell in Tennessee. 

Mahlon D. Manson

While Nelson was in Lexington, Manson disregarded standing instructions not to engage the enemy with raw recruits.  When word reached Nelson in Lexington that the Union Army was attacking in force, he mounted his horse and rode to the battle. By the time he arrived at a cemetery south of the city, the Confederates had broken his perimeter and Union troops were streaming north into the city.  Nelson reached the field in mid-afternoon and he rallied the untrained soldiers with the intent of making an orderly withdrawal that evening.  Nelson began to organize a line near the top of a ridge. With the help of Generals Mahlon Manson and Charles Cruft, Nelson formed a thin line of some 2,500 federal troops. 

Charles Cruft

At about 5:00 pm Kirby Smith's men reached the Union line. During the fighting Nelson was struck by a bullet in the thigh and taken from the battle.  Within a few minutes, Nelson's cemetery line had crumbled. Confederate cavalry Colonel John Scott had been ordered to circle north of Richmond. Soon, the defeated Yankees were running into the Confederate cavalry's line and surrendering. Nelson was captured at dusk, but escaped in the confusion, hiding in a cornfield before heading west. 

LEXINGTON, August 31, 1862.Major General HORATIO G. WRIGHT:

General Manson yesterday morning marched his forces to Rogersville and attacked the enemy contrary to my instructions, which were that he should retreat by way of Lancaster.  I received dispatches from him at 2 o’clock the previous night, and immediately dispatched him the above instructions and proceeded in a buggy to Lancaster; from there I went on to Richmond, and arrived upon the field about 2 o’clock and found the forces entirely disorganized. After much labor I succeeded in rallying them and forming a new line of battle, but the enemy again attacking vigorously, the line was hopelessly broken and scattered and I was left on the field and am now here having a ball cut out of my leg. I should like to have you come here immediately and give and eye to proceedings, as I am wholly unable to take my saddle.

W. NELSON,Major-General.

The rout at Richmond brought enormous criticism from a public angered by possibility that this defeat would lead to a Confederate takeover of Kentucky. General Kirby Smith marched into Lexington and sent a Confederate cavalry force to take Frankfort.

Bragg decided to take Louisville. One of the major objectives of the Confederate campaign in Kentucky was to seize the Louisville and Portland Canal and sever Union supply routes on the Ohio River. One Confederate officer suggested destroying the Louisville canal so completely that "future travelers would hardly know where it was." On September 16, Bragg's army reached Munfordville, Kentucky.  The Union force soon surrendered.

Oliver P. Morton

By then, Nelson had recuperated to the point where he could resume command of the forces defending against the Confederate threat to Louisville. Newspaper correspondents confronted Nelson with unproven stories of abuse and anger. Nelson also clashed with Indiana governor Oliver Morton, a powerful politician with a strong reputation as the soldier's governor. Morton was a close friend of Mahlon Manson, and blamed Nelson for the disaster at Richmond, attacking the general while defending the honor of Indiana regiments that took part in the fight. Union General Charles C. Gilbert had accused the Indiana soldiers at Richmond of cowardice, angering men from Indiana, such Governor Oliver Morton and Union General Jefferson C. Davis.

Charles C. Gilbert

While the pressure appeared to wear on Nelson, the general doggedly maintained order among the men and continued the occupation of Louisville.  Fearing that Buell would not arrive in Louisville to prevent Bragg's army from capturing the city, Nelson ordered the construction of a hasty defensive line around the city. He also ordered the placement of pontoon bridges across the Ohio to facilitate the evacuation of the city or to receive reinforcements from Indiana. Two pontoon bridges built of coal barges were erected.  

Jefferson C. Davis

Union General Jefferson C. Davis  (not to be confused with Confederate President Jefferson Davis), who could not reach his command under General Buell, met with Nelson to offer his services. Nelson gave him the command of the city militia. Davis opened an office and assisted organizing the city militia. On Wednesday, September 17, Davis visited Nelson in his room at the Galt House hotel.  An argument developed, in which Nelson threatened Davis with arrest. Davis left the room, and, in order to avoid arrest, crossed over the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he remained until the next day.  

Stephen G. Burbridge

General Stephen G. Burbridge joined him, as Burbridge had also been relieved of command by Nelson. Davis went to Cincinnati with Burbridge and reported to General Wright, who ordered Davis to return to Louisville and report to General Buell, and Burbridge to remain in Cincinnati.

Galt House, Louisville

With the Confederate army under Bragg preparing to attack Louisville, the citizens of Louisville panicked. On September 22, 1862 General Nelson issued an evacuation order: "The women and children of this city will prepare to leave the city without delay." He ordered the Jeffersonville ferry to be used for military purposes only. Private vehicles were not allowed to go aboard the ferry boats without a special permit. Hundreds of Louisville residents gathered at the wharf for boats to New Albany or Jeffersonville.

The Evacuation of Louisville

With Frankfort in Confederate hands for about a month, Governor Magoffin maintained his office in Louisville, and the state legislature held their sessions in the Jefferson County Courthouse.  Troops, volunteers and impressed labor worked around the clock to build a ring of breastworks and entrenchments around the city. New Union regiments flowed into the city.  The Union Army arrived in time to prevent the Confederate seizure of the city. On September 25, Buell's tired and hungry men arrived in the city.  Instead of taking Louisville, Bragg left Bardstown to install Confederate Governor Richard Hawes at Frankfort.

Arrival of Buell's Troops in Louisville

Meanwhile, Jefferson Davis appealed to Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton, and together they traveled to Louisville, where Davis reported to General Buell. 

About 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 29, Davis saw the 6-foot, 4-inches, 300-pound Nelson in the main hall of the Galt House.  He asked Governor Morton to witness the conversation between him and Nelson. The governor agreed, and the two walked up to Nelson. Davis confronted Nelson and told him that he took advantage of his authority. 

“Go away, you damned puppy,” snapped Nelson. Davis crumpled up a calling card and threw it at Nelson’s face.  A backhanded slap to the face of Davis was Nelson’s reply.

Nelson turned to Morton: “Did you come here to see me insulted?” Nelson spun around and began to walk upstairs to his room, snapping at a nearby reporter, “Did you hear that insolent scoundrel insult me, sir? I suppose he didn’t know me, sir. I’ll teach him a lesson, sir.”

Davis borrowed a revolver from an Indiana attorney, Thomas Gibson.  Seeing Nelson, only three feet away, near a stairway, Davis fired one shot from the Tranter pistol.  The bullet tore into Nelson’s chest. Nelson staggered back and then somehow managed to climb up the stairs, collapsing in the hallway of the second floor.

General Thomas Crittenden, who had been eating his breakfast in the hotel, rushed up the stairs to Nelson’s side. “Are you seriously hurt?” 

“Tom, I am murdered, ” Nelson whispered, "It's all over."
  
According to newspaper reports, Nelson requested to see his friend Rev. Mr. Talbot, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, who was then in the hotel.  Talbot administered the sacraments. Nelson died about 20 minutes after being shot, at the age of 38, two days after his birthday.

Davis was placed under military arrest. The following afternoon Nelson was interred at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

According to Harper's Weekly, Henry Mosler visited the hotel shortly after the incident. Part investigative reporter, part crime scene artist, Mosler depicted the incident for his editors in New York. Ten days later, on October 18, they published an engraving based on Mosler's drawings and account.

Harper's Weekly Illustration of the Murder

From Harper's Weekly, October 18, 1862:

Our picture is from a sketch by our artist, Mr. Mosler, who visited the spot immediately after the affair. 

. . . General Nelson threw up both hands and caught a gentleman near by around the neck, and exclaimed, "I am shot!" He then walked up the flight of stairs toward General Buell's room, but sank at the top of the stairs, and was unable to proceed further. He was then conveyed to his room, and when laid on his bed requested that the Rev. Mr. Talbott, an Episcopal clergyman stopping in the house, might be sent to him at once. The reverend gentleman arrived in about five minutes.

Mr. Talbott found General Nelson extremely anxious as to his future welfare, and deeply penitent about the many sins he had committed. He knew that he must die immediately, and requested the ordinance of baptism might be administered, which was done. The General then whispered, "It's all over," and died in fifteen minutes after he was conveyed to his room. His death was easy, the passing away of his spirit as though the General had fallen into a quiet sleep.

According to the New York World:

The deceased was a brave man and a good subordinate General, but he failed to pay any respect to those courtesies, not to say decencies of life, without which ability and bravery are useless as a military leader. He was blasphemous, indecent and abusive beyond all precedent in his conversation and deportment towards his equals and inferiors in rank. If one-half that has been reported of him is true, it is a marvel he was not shot months since. Such a man, no matter what his claims, should not have been permitted to remain in the army a month--He was perpetually violating that most essential of the army regulations which insists on 'conduct becoming a gentleman'. Had he been displaced for this cause it would have been worth a victory to our armies in the warning it would have been to the mass of our officers, whose discipline in this respect is very defective.

The New York Herald wrote:

Major-General Nelson was a Kentuckian, and was formerly a Lieutenant in the navy. He was one of the officers of the Mississippi, which conveyed the suite of Kossuth to our shores. Upon the breaking out of the rebellion he espoused the cause of the Union. Brigadier-General Jefferson C. Davis hails from Indiana, and was a Lieutenant at Fort Sumter when it was bombarded and captured, and from his talents and gallantry was assigned a higher position in the army. His conduct in the Missouri Campaign was brilliant, particularly at Pea Ridge. General Nelson also distinguished himself on many a hard-fought field, but more particularly at Shiloh, where he fought with great heroism. He was recently wounded at the battle of Richmond, Ky, and had not wholly recovered when he was killed. Both officers were admirable fighters and high-strung gentlemen.

The New York Times:

Gen. NELSON called Gen. DAVIS "a cowardly son of a b -- k,'' when Gen. DAVIS fired at him and killed him.

Buell wired Halleck in Washington:

FLOYD’S FORK, KY.,Via Louisville, October 3, 1862. (Received 6.20 p.m.) 

General H. W. HALLECK:
Brigadier-General Davis is under arrest at Louisville for the killing of General Nelson. His trial by a court-martial or military commission should take place immediately, but I can’t spare officers from the army now in motion to compose a court. It can perhaps better be done from Washington.

The circumstances are that on a previous occasion Nelson censured Davis for what he considered neglect of duty, ordered him to report to general Wright at Cincinnati, Ohio. Davis said will reference to that matter that if he could not get satisfaction or justice would take the law into his own hands. On the occasion of the killing he approached Nelson in a large company and introduced the subject. Harsh or violent words ensued, and Nelson slapped Davis in the face and walked off. Davis followed him, having procured a pistol from some person in the party, and met Nelson in the hall of the hotel. Davis fired. The ball entered the right breast, inflicting a mortal wound and causing death in a few minutes.

D. C. BUELL,Major-General.

With Nelson dead, the command went to General Buell.  The largest battle in Kentucky, the Battle of Perryville, was fought just nine days after Nelson's shooting.  On October 1, the Union army marched out of Louisville with sixty thousand men. Buell sent a small Federal force to Frankfort to deceive Bragg as to the exact direction and location of the Federal army. The ruse worked. On October 4, the small Federal force attacked Frankfort and Bragg left the city and headed back for Bardstown, thinking the entire Federal force was headed for Frankfort. Bragg decided that all Confederate forces should concentrate at Harrodsburg. On October 8, 1862, Buell and Bragg fought at Perryville.  Bragg's 16,000 men attacked Buell's 60,000 men. Federal forces suffered 845 dead, 2,851 wounded and 515 missing, while the Confederate toll was 3,396. Although Bragg won the Battle of Perryville tactically, he decided to pull out of Perryville and link up with Smith. Once Smith and Bragg joined forces, Bragg decided to leave Kentucky and head for Tennessee.

Halleck referred the matter of a court-martial to General Wright in Cincinnati, who made the observation that since Buell had never proffered any charges to his attention, Davis should be returned to duty and the matter dropped. Though Davis should have been court-martialed, his case was instead handled by Jefferson County court. 

On June 12, 1863, authorities honored Nelson by naming the new supply depot in Jessamine County after him.  Camp Nelson served as a major recruiting and training base of African American Kentucky troops.  An escort detail removed Nelson's remains from Cave Hill Cemetery to Camp Dick Robinson.  After the war, it became Camp Nelson National Cemetery.

The murder case was removed from the Jefferson County court docket in May 1864 by Attorney General James Speed, who arranged for the indictment to be dismissed.  Jefferson C. Davis joined William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. Davis was never prosecuted for the murder.

On March 8, 1872, the family plot at Maysville Cemetery became Nelson's final resting place.