Near Prestonsburg in Floyd County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Monroe's Bayonet Charge Wins the Battle
While Moore’s Virginians were contesting Pardee’s advance, several companies of the (1) 5th Kentucky moved down the spur opposite Graveyard Point towards Garfield’s main position. The Kentuckians raked Graveyard Point with heavy rifle fire until a (2) sharp volley from Garfield’s reserves drove them back.
As the battle was in progress, Cranor’s 40th Ohio arrived at Graveyard Point. Selecting 150 men from Garfield’s Ohio regiments and the 22nd Kentucky, (3) Garfield ordered Cranor to lead them across the creek and reinforce Pardee. Then he selected 120 Kentuckians, assigned them to Monroe, and ordered him to drive the rebel sharpshooters from the ridge opposite Graveyard Point. It was Kentuckian against Kentuckian as Monroe and his men (4) fought their way up and along the narrow ridge towards the crest.
Posted behind a huge boulder, a large detachment of the 5th Kentucky stubbornly contested the Union assault. Monroe ordered his men to make a bayonet charge, and with loud yells they sprang up the hill and over the rocks. Three Union soldiers leaped upon the boulder as the Confederates fell back toward their main line. A flurry of parting shots brought down two of the trio, including Private Nelson Boggs of the 14th Kentucky, who fell dead with a ball through his brain.
Though the Confederates stubbornly resisted the assault, the steady pressure from Union rifles slowly forced them to withdraw. The fighting ceased around 5 p.m., following Marshall’s order that the position be abandoned.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1862.
Location. 37° 39.031′ N, 82° 48.731′ W. Marker is near Prestonsburg, Kentucky, in Floyd County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 114, 0.1 miles east of State Highway 404. Marker is located on the Union Trail at the Middle Creek National Battlefield; the above directions are to the battlefield parking area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Prestonsburg KY 41653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Desperate Fight, but Few Casualties (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Union Assault (about 300 feet away); The Union Command Post (about 400 feet away); The Battle of Middle Creek / The Fitzpatrick Farm (about 400 feet away); Eastern Kentucky's Civil War Battles and Skirmishes, 1863-1864 (about 400 feet away); The Battle of Middle Creek (about 400 feet away); Eastern Kentucky's Civil War Battles and Skirmishes, 1861-1862 (about 400 feet away); Why They Fought Here (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prestonsburg.
More about this marker. The marker includes portraits of Lieutenant Colonel Monroe (Union) and Colonel Johnathan Cranor (Union) and a map of this phase of the battle keyed to the marker text.
Also see . . . Middle Creek National Battlefield. Official website of the Middle Creek National Battlefield Foundation. (Submitted on September 7, 2016.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 308 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.