The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-29
The Battle OF Ivy Mountain.

To THE EDITOR: have read with much
interest the sketches of the late war which
from time to time have appeared in the col
umns of THE TRIBUNE; but having seen no
account published of the campaign in Eastern
Kentucky in the Fall of 1861, / ask for little
space to give few "reminiscences
Brig Zen. William Nelson commanded the
Union forces, and the rebel Gen. Humphrey
Marshall commanded those of the enemy. The
troops under Nelson, as well as / recollect,
were: Cd, 21st aud 33d Ohio, Konkle's battery,
five companies of Kentucky infantry and four
companies of Kentucky cavalry. The troops
marched from Paris, KY, southeast till We
struck the Big Sandy River near Prestonburg
Detachments of the enemy were captured on
the way at Hazel Green and West Liberty.
Marshall retreated from Prestonburg in the
direction of Piketon. Gen. Nelson sent de-
tachment by circuitOuS route to cut Oft the
enemy's retreat to Virginia, while he pushed
on after the rebel mountaineers with his main
force. 1t was Nov. 8, and our line of march was
OH road Ia very poor one for artillery that
led most of the way along the right bank of
the Big Sandy AT point about midway be-
tween Prestonburg and PiketOn, where the
river made a horseshoe bend, the road was
cut at the base of Ivy Mountain and about 20
feet above the river. On the opposite side of
the river, in standing corn, and on the noun
tain above us the enemy were secreted. When
marching on this bend, with Konke's battery
about midway on the bend, like thunder from
clear sky the enemy poured destructive
fire on us from the mountain above and from
the standing corn across the river The road
was so narrow it was impossible to get the
range with the cannon. The infantry in front
marched ahead out of the bend, while that in
rear fell back to the other end of the bend, and
began to ascend the mountain. The battery
was soon run back to open ground, where we
could get the range, and soon dispersed the
enemy across the river with canister and shell.
The infantry in front began to ascend the
mountain one side while Col. Norton, OF
the 2lst Ohio, with his regiment, soon gained
the summit and came down on the enemy and
drove them from their barricade, and on their
retreat were met by the infantry ascending
from the other side, aud were completely de-
feated and broken up into small squads, which
escaped eastward into Virginia. We buried
about 40 of their dead. Our loss was six killed
and % wounded.
This little engagement was known as the
battle of Ivy Mountain" The force marched
on to Piketon, expecting to find Marshall with
his troops i'll position at or near Piketon, but
the detachment sent ahead had failed to cut
off the enemy's retreat, and the remnant OF
Marshall's forces escaped into Virginia by way
of Pound Gap. We marched back from Pike
ton to Louisa by way of Prestonburg and
Paintville. At Louisa took boats, went down
the Big Sandy, thence down the Ohio to Louis
yjlle. Thus began and ended short but very
laborious campaign during the months of Octo-
Der and November, 1861, when most of us were
not Injured to the privations and hardships at
tendant on soldiers life in active service
SAMUEL KELso Co. d, 1st Ohio L. A. (Kon-
kle's battery, Muscle Fork. Mo.