Discovered by Daniel Boone and companions while exploring eastern Kentucky, Winter 1767-68. Later called Young’s Salt Works, these springs provided salt for pioneers and later for Civil War troops. — — Map (db m145960) HM
Daniel Boone, in company with William Hill, spent the winter of 1767–68 hunting and exploring on the upper waters of the Big Sandy River. They were forced to make camp near this spot during the severe winter months close to the salt lick which . . . — — Map (db m145961) HM
While the debate over Kentucky’s neutrality raged in Frankfort, men of the Big Sandy Region were taking action. For Jack May, Hiram Hawkins, John S. Williams, and others, the choice had already been made. President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 . . . — — Map (db m87861) HM
(Front Side)
Here, on Nov. 8, 1861, 300 men from Companies A & C, 5th Kentucky Infantry, C.S.A. and Companies B, C, & D, 1st Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, C.S.A., commanded by Captain Andrew J. May, fought a delaying action against . . . — — Map (db m87859) HM
The Battle of Ivy Mountain
November 8, 1861
In the Fall of 1861, General William “Bull” Nelson, Union commander in Northeastern Kentucky, was ordered to break up a large Confederate recruiting camp at Prestonsburg. The camp was . . . — — Map (db m87860) HM
The Battle of Middlecreek, Jan. 10, 1862, was the largest Civil War engagement in Eastern Kentucky. Northerner Col. James A. Garfield led his army into the entrenched forces of CSA General Humphrey Marshall. Control of the Pound Gap gateway into . . . — — Map (db m146051) HM
Frenchman Solomon DeRossett built a log house on this site in 1799. Collected fur pelts for Napoleon Bonaparate’s army. Levisa River served as first conduit for travel and means of importing frontier supplies. During spring rains, huge log rafts . . . — — Map (db m146053) HM
Rubin Ferguson lived here and operated a ferry and boat dock during the late 1800’s. Barrels of meal, flour, corn, coffee, cotton, tools and building materials arrived here from various ports down river. Some of the boats were “The Andy . . . — — Map (db m146050) HM
Compared to battles fought later in the war, Middle Creek produced very light casualties. Though more than 3,000 participated in the fight, only fifteen men were killed.
Union losses at Middle Creek were three killed and eighteen wounded. . . . — — Map (db m97547) HM
For Col. John Floyd. Born Amherst County, Va., 1750. Led party to survey land now Kentucky, 1774. With George Rogers Clark’s Indian expeditions. Back in Va., joined Colonial navy. Captured, taken to England. Escaped. Built Floyd’s Station, 1779 or . . . — — Map (db m97255) HM
Skirmish at West Liberty, October 23 1861 - Col. L.A. Harris' 2nd Ohio Infantry regiment and a company of Union cavalry, part of Gen. William "Bull" Nelson's command, skirmish with Capt. Jack May's much smaller Morgan Guards, driving them . . . — — Map (db m69143) HM
Marshall's Raid Through Eastern Kentucky, March-April 1863 - On March 15, 1863, Marshall comes through Pound Gap with 1,800 mounted men, including Col. Henry Giltner's 4th Kentucky, Col. Thomas Johnson's 2nd Kentucky, Col. Ezekiel F. . . . — — Map (db m69145) HM
All Veterans Gave Some
These Veterans Gave All
World War I
Harris Arnett • Grade Burchett • Reuben Calvin Clark • James H. Collins • William M. Cox • Jesse Coyer • Sam Dillon • Bud Endicott • Josh Fife • Tip Gayheart • Edward D. Hall . . . — — Map (db m97261) WM
Doris Faye Burchett • James Edison Carey • Glenda May Cisco • Kenneth Forrest Cisco • Paulette Cline • Sandra Faye Cline • Linda Darby • Emogene Darby • James Edward Goble • John Spencer Goble • Anna Laura Goble • Jane Carol Harris • Margaret Louise . . . — — Map (db m212046) HM
In Memory Of
John Graham
Revolutionary Soldier
Who Rests in Floyd County
This Tablet
Marks the Site of the First
Floyd County Court House
Given By Him — — Map (db m97202) HM
Born in Bourbon County, Clay was the son of Congressman Brutus J. Clay and the nephew of Cassius M. Clay, Lincoln's Minister to Russia. He saw action at Middle Creek and later served with Wheeler's Cavalry in Tennessee. Wounded and captured during . . . — — Map (db m69140) HM
Son of a Frankfort lawyer, Monroe led the charge which decided the battle's outcome. He and his regiment later saw action at Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Champion Hill, Thompson's Hill, and other important battles. In 1864 Monroe assumed command . . . — — Map (db m69141) HM
The Union and Confederate forces were led by two very different men. Humphrey Marshall was a Kentucky blue blood and a representative of one of the state's leading families. James A. Garfield was a self-made man born in a log cabin on his father's . . . — — Map (db m69138) HM
The battle’s turning point came when Garfield ordered Lt. Col. George W. Monroe and a detachment of the 22nd Kentucky to charge up the steep ridge opposite Graveyard Point and drive the Confederate sharpshooters back to their main line. Monroe was a . . . — — Map (db m97546) HM
(Side One)
Morgan’s Last Raid
On tragic last Kentucky raid, Gen. John H. Morgan and Raiders entered state June 1, 1864, took Mt. Sterling June 8, lost it on June 9th, took Lexington on 10th, and Cynthiana on 11th. USA under Gen. . . . — — Map (db m97225) HM
(Side One)
Prestonsburg Toll Bridge
This bridge, known as “Old Red” Bridge,” crossed the Levisa Fork of Big Sandy River. Opened for foot passengers and vehicles on January 6, 1908, it had a span of 430 feet was . . . — — Map (db m97203) HM
(Side One)
Samuel May (1783 - 1851)
Son of Revolutionary War veteran John May and Sarah Phillips May, Samuel settled in Prestonsburg around 1807. Commissioned to build county’s first brick courthouse in 1818. Elected state . . . — — Map (db m97260) HM
Middle Creek was Eastern Kentucky's largest and most significant Civil War battle. It was fought during the first phase of the war, when it was still doubtful which government would control the region. The Confederates never regained the strategic . . . — — Map (db m69136) HM
(Obverse Side)
The Battle of Middle Creek
At this site, on Jan. 10, 1862, Union troops under Col. James A. Garfield defeated Confederates led by Gen. Humphrey Marshall. Garfield's 1,100 Ohioians and Kentuckians advanced up Middle . . . — — Map (db m66935) HM
(Side One)
The Burns House:
Garfield’s Headquarters Following the Battle of Middle Creek
Built in 1857 by Prestonsburg attorney John M. Burns, the house later known as “The Garfield Place” stood near this spot. . . . — — Map (db m97224) HM
Marshall’s command post at the Forks of Middle Creek provided him with an excellent vantage point from which to view the valley and deal with unforeseen contingencies. The lower valley, extending northeast, was his route of approach. The left fork . . . — — Map (db m97393) HM
Pursued by Garfield after his strong defensive position on Hager’s Hill was outflanked, Marshall decided to fall back to Prestonsburg, move up Middle Creek, and lure his adversary into an ambush.
After abandoning his fortified position on Hager . . . — — Map (db m97392) HM
The 400-acre May Farm, with its steam-powered grist mill, was used as a recruiting post and staging area by the region’s leading secessionists.
In September 1861, Jack May, Hiram Hawkins, Ezekial Clay, James M. Thomas, Benjamin Desha, and other . . . — — Map (db m97381) HM
The Middle Creek National Battlefield Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation, is an organization of community leaders and historians who have joined together to preserve this nationally significant Civil War battlefield. The foundation's purpose . . . — — Map (db m69139) HM
The Confederate position along the heavily wooded ridge overlooking Middle Creek was a strong one. To avoid exposing his troops to the combined fire of all the Confederate regiments, Garfield chose to assault the south end of their line rather than . . . — — Map (db m97540) HM
During the reconnaissance which preceded the battle, Garfield chose Graveyard Point, the high ridge opposite Spurlock Creek, as his command post.
In a letter to his wife, Lucretia, written several days after the battle, Garfield says:
. . . — — Map (db m97539) HM
During the first few months of the war, Kentucky remained neutral. The August 1861 election, however, sent a Unionist majority to Frankfort. The new legislature voted to suppress the rebellion, and Federal marshals began arresting men suspected of . . . — — Map (db m69137) HM
In 1845, Ky. Legislature put Mare Creek farm of Tandy R. Stratton in Floyd County. In Pike since it was formed from Floyd, 1821. Strip separates farm area from Floyd, forming "island" in Pike. Reported to be the only instance in U.S. His grandfather . . . — — Map (db m170890) HM
