Fort Williams was the site of a Civil War fort built in the spring of 1863. It was attacked on Oct. 6 by Confederate Col. John M. Hughs and his 25th Tenn. Infantry, surprising U.S. troops under Maj. Samuel Martin. More than 200 horses were captured, part of the fort was burned, and 142 men were taken prisoner and later paroled. In a nearby cemetery is buried Gen. Joseph H. Lewis, commander of 1st Kentucky (Orphan) Brigade, CSA.