Grayson in Carter County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

A Masterful Retreat

Confederate Raids and Invasions, and a Federal Retreat, in Kentucky

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

1. A Masterful Retreat Marker

Inscription. As Gen. George W. Morgan's Union force, 8,000 when here, retreated from Cumberland Gap, they were harassed from West Liberty by CSA Gen. John H. Morgan's Raiders. Failure of reinforcements to reach here caused Confederates to leave Oct. 1, 1862 and rejoin main CSA force in Lexington. Union forces reached Greenup Oct. 3, 200 miles in 16 days.

Erected 1963 by Kentucky Historical Society; Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 642.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky - Confederate Raids and Invasions, and a Federal Retreat, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 19.881′ N, 82° 56.561′ W. Marker was in Grayson, Kentucky, in Carter County. It was on East Main Street (U.S. 60) west of Prichard School Drive. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 406 E Main St, Grayson KY 41143, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Kentucky’s

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Kyova Tri-State Region

and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Eastern Kentucky Railway (approx. 0.2 miles away); County Named, 1838 (approx. half a mile away); We Honor William Jason Fields (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Reunion (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mount Savage Furnace (approx. 0.7 miles away); Pactolus Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Eastern Kentucky Railway (approx. 3.6 miles away); a different marker also named A Masterful Retreat (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grayson.

Another marker is no longer nearby. World War I Memorial (was approx. half a mile away but has been

A Masterful Retreat Marker [Reverse] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

2. A Masterful Retreat Marker [Reverse]

confirmed missing).

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

3. A Masterful Retreat Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 955 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on May 16, 2025, by Darryl R Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.