His grandfather, George Zollicoffer, had served as a captain in the Revolutionary War, and had been granted a tract of land in Tennessee as payment for his military service.

[7] Following the secession of the Deep South in 1861, Zollicoffer served as a delegate to that year's peace conference in Washington, D.C. in an attempt to prevent the approaching civil war.

[11] A separate vote on the same date would determine if Tennessee should join the Confederacy if the voters approved the measure asserting independence of the State.

[11] On May 9, a joint committee of the legislature issued an explanation sponsored by Harris of the military alliance Tennessee had entered into with the Confederacy on May 7.

[19] Harris initially tried to sway eastern Tennessee's pro-Union population with a lenient policy and the stationing of only fifteen companies of troops in the region.

[22] In an effort to prevent a Union Army incursion into east Tennessee, Zollicoffer took the initiative and occupied Cumberland Gap on September 14, 1861.

[23] Zollicoffer then was responsible for guarding the 128 miles (206 km) of Confederate line between Cumberland Gap and Tompkinsville, Kentucky.

[24] On September 15, 1861, General Albert Sidney Johnston assumed command of Confederate forces in the Western Theater between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.

[30][31] In mid-October 1861, a large part of Zollicoffer's force marched 40 miles (64 km) from Cumberland Gap to London, Kentucky.

[25][32] In November 1861, Zollicoffer changed strategy and advanced westward, then back into southeastern Kentucky to strengthen Confederate control in the area just south of Somerset.

[30] Before he moved west, Zollicoffer left forces to guard the Cumberland Gap and three other approaches to east Tennessee.

[33][35] They were not properly prepared to meet the growing Union threat and Zollicoffer's expectation that he would solve this problem by receiving supplies and reinforcements at Beech Grove, opposite Mill Springs, was too optimistic.

[37] Ultimately, he could bring only a single regiment to Mill Springs, having been ordered to send the rest of his men to Bowling Green.

[39] While lingering at Knoxville for two more weeks, Crittenden sent word to Zollicoffer to move back to the south side of the Cumberland River.

[40] Because of the incessant rain and resulting mud, Thomas needed 18 days to move his force and equipment from Lebanon to Logan's Crossroads.

[41] On January 18, 1862, Crittenden ordered an advance at midnight, while the two Union forces under Thomas and Schoepf were separated by the rain-swollen Fishing Creek.

[43] In the confusion, the near-sighted Zollicoffer, wearing a white raincoat, rode into the lines of the 4th Kentucky and began to discuss the problem with the Union colonel, Speed S.

[44] Historian Stuart W. Sanders discusses the encounter at the greatest length and also quotes a subsequent account by Colonel Fry.

[47][48] Many of the old Confederate flintlock weapons would not fire in the wet conditions and Zollicoffer's death caused his demoralized men to start a retreat.

[49] He left his artillery, mules, equipment and most of his food supply on the north bank, shattering his ordnance and logistical strength[49] Federal officials treated Zollicoffer's body with respect.