Bull Mountain (Bull Gap)

Robert M. Baker



Following the State Line’s victory over the 39th Kentucky at the Johnson County Boat Fight, the two regiments met again the next day, December 5th, at Bull Mountain, just outside of Prestonsburg. Clarkson’s cavalry had moved south from Wireman’s Shoals after the battle, camped that night near Prestonsburg, and crossed the river the next morning. They continued down Town Branch, crossed Bull Creek, and began to ascend the Bull Mountain road when they encountered a detachment of the 39th Kentucky, including elements of Companies B and K, under the direct command of Col. John Dils, Jr. (Scalf 319).

A severe fight ensued lasting about an hour, after which the Union forces, being outnumbered again, withdrew (Scalf 319). It was reported, allegedly by his own officers, that Col. Dils had been killed in the fighting, but that was not the case. Clarkson was skeptical and discounted the report (Osborne 89). In fact, Dils had been knocked from his horse and dragged downhill, “severely injuring his left side and impairing his hearing,” but he was not killed. Pvt. Samuel Bird of the 7th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), Company C, was killed and is buried near the site of the battle (89).

After the Bull Mountain skirmish, Col. Clarkson proceeded toward Piketon (Pikeville) where he dispersed the Union forces that were gathered there at Camp Finnel, taking about 25 prisoners (Preston 67), destroying stores, and occupying the town (Scalf 319). The experiences of the Yankee troops captured by Clarkson and the Virginia State Line in these operations are worth recounting, most notably those of Pvt. Alexander Hall of Company I, captured in the Boat Fight. Pvt. Hall related that he was taken by exposed railcar and marched on foot to Richmond where he was slowly “starved to death by degrees” over a period of seven months, at which time he was exchanged (Brian Hall).

On December 7, Clarkson’s command was encamped at the mouth of Pond Creek on the Tug River, near the site of modern-day Williamson, West Virginia (Scalf 319). From Pond Creek, the regiment moved on to Logan, West Virginia, to meet up with Gen. Floyd. A week later, Floyd’s command withdrew to Tazewell County, Virginia (Preston 67). On December 8, Pvt. Madison Castle was killed by Rebel “guerrillas” in Floyd County, Kentucky. On December 16, Company H skirmished with an unknown Rebel force at Peter’s Creek and suffered at least four men captured (Combined Service Records, National Archives).

After the Boat Fight and the Bull Mountain skirmish, the Big Sandy Valley was relatively quiet for the next three months (Scalf 319). The scattering of the Union troops in Pikeville by the forces of Col. Clarkson convinced the Federal commanders that their camp at Piketon (Pikeville) was too exposed and that they should pull back to Peach Orchard and Louisa, places which could be more easily defended and supplied. The Big Sandy Valley from south of Peach Orchard to the Virginia border lay open to Confederate occupation, contested only by Union “scouts” and Home Guards. However, Confederate forces did not sweep into the vacuum left by the retreating Yankees. For the most part, they remained near the border, occupying Piketon, but not venturing much further north.


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