During the Civil War, Pack's Ferry was a strategic river crossing for Federal troops in the area. On the morning of August 6, 1862, 900 men and 2 artillery guns of Confederate Col. G. C. Wharton's command fired on 23rd Ohio soldiers under Maj. Comly. Though the fight threatened Union control of the crossing, the Ohioans held until reinforcements neared and Wharton's men withdrew.