1863 - The Third Year
January was a wet opening to 1863. A storm spread two inches of ice
and about one inch of snow at Pine Grove in Clark County but produced
22 inches of snow in Frankfort in Franklin County — enough to damage
a railroad bridge. Rains returned in February to finished the replenishment
of water in ponds. But, the Confederates returned as well. Winchester
fell on the 22nd of February. Skirmishes were reported during March at
Mount Sterling in Montgomery County, Danville in Boyle County, Louisa
in Lawrence County, Paris in Bourbon County, and Owenton in Owen County.
The Confederates moved south during April but skirmishes continued in
the southern and southeastern counties throughout the year. The rains
continued into March but food for livestock was becoming scarce, a long-term
effect of the previous year's drought. Spring was late but the farmers
got their crops planted in April.
