Cincinnati was never invaded by Confederate troops during the Civil War, but there was a time when the fear of invasion was real. Kentucky Life explains the presence of Fort-Somethings in Northern Ky.

Volunteers and Union soldiers constructed rifle pits and earthwork fortifications along eight miles of hilltops in Northern Kentucky. Harper's Weekly wrote: "At the time we write Kirby Smith and the rebels he leads are reported to have fallen back to a place called Florence; whether with a view to 'skedaddle' back to rebeldom or to entice our troops out of their fortications remains to be seen."

Fort Mitchell, named for General Ormsby M. Mitchel (one "l" is correct), an astronomy professor at Cincinnati College, was built to protect the road from Lexington to Covington from Confederate invaders.

The Rebels made their move on Sept. 10, 1862, on Fort Mitchell. The Union soldiers had the upper hand, capturing 16 and killing two while losing four men themselves. The Confederates withdrew.

Fort Wright was named for General Horatio Wright, who led the building of earthworks that helped repel the Confederate attack.