In late 1862, a three-sided Federal stockade of upright hewn logs set in ditches about four feet deep was built at Green River Bridge, open on the north toward the bridge, with a path descending beside a steep wooded hill. On January 1, 1863, after spending New Year's Eve in Campbellsville, about 3,900 Confederates under John Hunt Morgan rode to this undefended site while returning to Tennessee from their Christmas Raid into Kentucky and burned the Green River Bridge, government horse corn stored in the bottoms, and the stockade. That evening, Maj. J.B. McCreary of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry wrote that his rear guard burned two very large pens of U.S. corn, the bridge across Green River, and Green River Stockade, which was a tough job; after the war he served in the U.S. Senate and as Governor of Kentucky for two terms. During May 1863, troops of the 8th Michigan under Lt. Col. Ralph Ely, aided by some soldiers of the 79th New York Highlanders, began rebuilding the bridge, with Ely's headquarters tent in the stockade and his men camped at the Federal Field Hospital Site and the old cavalry camp across the road. Most of the 8th Michigan left in late May and early June for Vicksburg, the 11th New York Cavalry replaced them until the 25th Michigan arrived in mid-June 1863, and a detachment of the 8th Michigan with a few men from the 79th New York continued to occupy the area until December 1863, completing the new bridge and stockade. Although Col. Orlando H. Moore of the 25th Michigan was sent from Louisville to guard Green River Bridge against Confederate incursions and considered making his stand here, he reported that at no time did his troops occupy the stockade, instead moving a half mile south down the road to a defensive position at the narrows of Green River. After the Battle of Tebbs Bend, the Union stockade was enlarged and became more commanding, and in September 1863 a Louisville paper reported that a storm flag twenty feet long and ten feet wide had been sent by the government to be raised at Green River Bridge in honor of the repulse of Morgan's band by a handful of men. For the first time, an artillery piece was ordered to defend the bridge, and a Detroit paper reported that Lt. Hogan, after receiving a large 24-pounder called a bull dog, designed a neat and serviceable port hole that could be opened with ease by a child and closed itself at the rebound of the gun. In December 1862, the Louisville Journal sharply criticized the slowness of Federal operations while rebel cavalry made bold raids, captured troops, carried off or destroyed army stores and camp equipment, and burned bridges and broke up railroads.