PRESTONBURG, Engagements at and near. In September 1861 Col. John S. Wil liams began to organize a Confederate force at Prestonburg, in eastern Kentucky, to operate in the interior of the State. On 8 November Gen. William Nelson, who had advanced against him with three Ohio regiments, detachments of Kentucky infantry and cavalry and two sec tions of artillery, with a part of this force en countered a detachment thrown forward by Williams to cover his withdrawal. After a well-contested engagement at Ivy Mountain, Williams was forced from his position and re treated through Pound Gap into Virginia, with a loss of 10 killed, 15 wounded and 40 missing. Nelson was recalled to Louisville, and Wil liams returned to Prestonburg. Gen. Humphrey Marshall had been ordered, 1 November, to the command of the Confederate forces in eastern Kentucky, including those of Williams, and soon had in addition two Virginia regiments and a battery of four guns, making a total force of about 2,400 men, who were badly clothed, many of them barefooted, and generally badly armed, many of the men having only shotguns and squirrel-rifles. In the beginning of January 1862 Marshall had the greater part of his com mand intrenched near Paintsville, on the main branch of the Big Sandy River, a few miles north of Prestonburg. On 17 December Gen eral Buell assigned Col. James A. Garfield to the command of a brigade of about 3,000 men, partly cavalry, and sent him against Marshall and to clear the valley of the Big Sandy, On the 23d, When Garfield began his march up the course of the river, the greater part of the brigade was concentrated at Louisa, on the Big Sandy. On 6 Jan. 1862, after driving in
several scouting parties, Garfield arrived within seven miles of Paintsville. Marshall, well in formed of his approach, fell back from Paints ville on the night of the 5th to the forks of Middle Creek, about three miles above Pres tonburg. Garfield advanced through Paints vile, defeated Marshall's cavalry at the mouth of Jennis' Creek on the 7th, and on the morning of the 10th attacked Marshall on Middle Creek with cavalry and was repulsed by artillery alone. Garfield now attacked with infantry and the fight continued from noon to near dark with varying success, several Union advances being repulsed; but Marshall finally abandoned his Position. though not retiring from the field un 61 next morning, when, being out of food for his men, he marched to Martin's Mill. Garfield did not pursue. He crossed the river on the 11th and occupied Prestonburg, and on the 12th and 13th withdrew to Paintsville. Both sides claimed the victory. Garfield had 1,700 men on the field, and his loss was two killed and 25 wounded. Marshall had 1,500 engaged, and lost 11 killed and 15 wounded. Consult 'Official Records> (Vol. VII) ; The Century Company's 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil (ed.
by R. U. Johnson and C C. Buel, Vol. I, New York 1887) ; 'War of the Rebellion: Com pilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies) (Series 1, Vol. VII, p. 21; Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 31; Vol. XXI, p. 1065; Washington 1882-88).