Battle of Middle Creek

The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement fought January 10, 1862, in Eastern Kentucky during the American Civil War.[2] It was the only battle personally commanded by future president James A. Garfield, then a colonel in the Union Army.

Battle of Middle Creek
Part of the American Civil War

Eastern portion of the field, looking toward Garfield's command post
DateJanuary 10, 1862 (1862-01-10)
Location
Floyd County, Kentucky
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
James A. Garfield Humphrey Marshall
Units involved
18th Brigade (consisted of 14th Kentucky (USA), 22nd Kentucky (USA), 1st Kentucky Cavalry (USA), 40th Ohio, and 42nd Ohio) (5th Kentucky (CSA), 54th Virginia, Jeffress' Artillery Battery, cavalry companies of Cameron, Clay, Holliday, Shawhan, Stone, Thomas)
Strength
2,100 2,500
Casualties and losses
27 65
Middle Creek Battlefield
Battle of Middle Creek is located in Kentucky
Battle of Middle Creek
Battle of Middle Creek is located in the United States
Battle of Middle Creek
Nearest cityPrestonsburg, Kentucky
Built1862
NRHP reference No.91001665
Added to NRHPMarch 26, 1992[1]
Map of Middle Creek Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Background

More than 1 month after Confederate Colonel John S. Williams left Kentucky, following the fight at Ivy Mountain, Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall led another force into Eastern Kentucky to continue recruiting activities. From his headquarters in Paintsville, on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, northwest of Prestonsburg, Marshall recruited volunteers. He raised a force of more than 2,000 men by early January, but could only partially equip them.[2]

Battle

Union Brig. Gen. Don Carlos Buell directed Col. James A. Garfield, the future president, to force Marshall to retreat back into Virginia. Leaving Louisa, Garfield took command of the 18th Brigade and began his march south on Paintsville. He compelled the Confederates to abandon Paintsville and retreat to the vicinity of Prestonsburg. Garfield slowly headed south, but swampy areas and numerous streams slowed his movements, and he arrived in the vicinity of Marshall on the 9th. Heading out at 4:00 a.m. on January 10, Garfield marched a mile west near the Forks of Middle Creek, fought off the Confederate cavalry, and turned west to attack Marshall. Marshall had put his men in line of battle north and east of the creek near its forks. Garfield attacked shortly after noon, and the fighting continued for most of the afternoon until Union reinforcements arrived in time to dissuade the Confederates from assailing the Federal left. Instead, the Confederates retired south and were ordered back to Virginia on January 24. Garfield's force moved to Prestonsburg after the fight and then retired to Paintsville. Union forces had halted the Confederate 1861 offensive in Kentucky, and Middle Creek demonstrated that their strength had not diminished.[2]

Aftermath

The Battle of Middle Creek, along with the Battle of Mill Springs a little more than a week later, cemented Union control of Eastern Kentucky until Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg launched his offensive in the summer and fall of 1862. Following these two January victories in Kentucky, the Federals carried the war into Tennessee in February.[2]

In October 1992, the battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.[3]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Battle Summary". National Park Service. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. Middle Creek Battlefield Archived November 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, National Park Service, n.d. Accessed 2014-04-09.

37.6507°N 82.8147°W / 37.6507; -82.8147

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