Appalachian Mountain Civil War Timeline
Ante-bellum
1825 Road built from Pound to Pikeville.
1831 Nat Turner Rebellion in Southampton County, VA.
May 20, 1837 The first steamboat ascends the Big Sandy as far as Prestonsburg.
1837 The Kentucky legislature appropriates $25,000 to construct the Mount Sterling to Pound Gap Road.
1837 Major economic depression sweeps the nation and lasts until 1843.
1840 The timber trade starts in earnest in the Big Sandy Valley.
1841 First coal mine established at Abbott Shoal in Floyd County, KY.
1841 Revolt on the slave ship Creole.
1845 Large tannery (John Dils'?) established in Pike County, KY.
Aug. 1848 A small slave uprising is put down in Harrison and Bracken County. Most of the slaves were the chattel of some famous and prominent Kentucky citizens, including Cassius Clay. Some of the slaves were armed and succeeded in injuring one of their pursuers. Three of seven were found guilty of conspiracy and insurrection.
Jan. 1849 Heavy rains bring flooding to northern and eastern Kentucky. Many mills are washed away or severely damaged.
1849 Samuel May erects erects a steam-powered grist and saw mill at Abbott Shoal.
1850 Fugitive Slave Act passed.
1850 The Peach Orchard Coal Company begins operation.
1850: Tobacco becomes more important as a crop in the western-most counties of Virginia.
1856 The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad is completed from Lynchburg to Wytheville and into Tennessee.
1857 Landmark Dred Scott case.
Dec. 1860 South Carolina secedes from the Union.
1861
Spring 1861 Peach Orchard Coal Company closes down due to the war.
Apr. 12, 1861 War begins, attack on Fort Sumter.
May 1861 J. F. Stewart states that the first armed soldiers seen in the valley were some rebels who stopped at Cassville, VA (modern Ft. Gay?), on this date.
late Summer 1861 Two companies of Home Guards are formed in Lawrence County and armed by the state.
Sep. 3, 1861 Confederate forces enter Kentucky at Hickman and Columbus and compromise the State’s neutrality (Collins).
Sep. 5, 1861 Union troops under the command of General Grant move into Paducah. Thus, Confederate troops were the first to enter neutral Kentucky (Collins, see also note for May 1861).
Sep. 1861 Skirmish at Grayson, Carter County, KY.
Sep. 1861 An Ohio cavalry regiment appears in Louisa.
Sep. 1861 Capture of the saltworks in Clay County, KY.
Oct. 1861 John Dils, Jr. is arrested by order of C.S.A. Col. Williams. He is taken to Richmond and held in prison, but soon released.
Oct. 23, 1861 Skirmish at Hazel Green, Wolfe County, KY.
Oct. 23, 1861 Skirmish at West Liberty, KY.
Fall 1861 Recruiting begins for the 14th Kentucky Infantry at Louisa.
Nov. 8, 1861 Battle at Ivy Mountain, Pike County, KY.
Nov. 9, 1861 Skirmish at Pikeville, Pike County, KY.
Nov. 13, 1861 Skirmish at Pikeville, Pike County, KY.
Dec. 10, 1861 The 14th Kentucky Infantry musters into the U. S. service at Louisa.
Dec. 17, 1861 Skirmish at Eversole's, Perry County, KY.
Dec. 22, 1861 John Schrack reports the the position of McLaughlin's Squadron as Louisa, KY.
Dec. 23, 1861 Union forces advance from Louisa, KY.
Dec. 24, 1861 McLaughlin's Squadron at George's Creek.
Dec. 26, 1861 Col. Garfield reports the strength of the Rebels located at Paintsville at around 2,500 and remarks that they have thrown up breastworks in preparation for battle.
late Dec. 1861 McLaughlin's moves to Camp Murray.
1862
New Year's Day 1862 McLaughlin's out on scout, four men from Company B captured by the rebels.
Jan. 1862 Fortieth Ohio Infantry is encamped at Pikeville, KY.
Jan. 7, 1862 Battle of Jenny’s Creek, near Paintsville.
Jan. 10, 1862 Battle of Middle Creek, near Prestonsburg.
Jan. 12-13, 1862 Expedition to Logan Court House and up the Guyandotte, WV. The 37th Ohio attacks a mixed force of Confederate home guards and bushwhackers.
Jan. 24-30, 1862 Expeditions to the Little Sandy and Piketon.
Feb. 1862 John Dils visits Washington and has a personal audience with Lincoln
Feb. 5, 1862 John Schrack reports that, on a recent scout, his unit captured four rebels and "Killd the old Judge of pike Co."
Feb. 8, 1862 McLaughlin's leaves from Camp Powell, near Middle Creek, and arrives in Pikeville the next day.
Feb. 13, 1862 Marshall orders Witcher to patrol the area between Piketon and Grundy.
Feb. 22, 1862 The Big Sandy Valley floods, particularly around Piketon. The region is devastated.
Mar. 1862 Menifee murders an elderly Pike County man who refused to divulge the whereabouts of his sons.
Mar. 5, 1862 Col. J. A. Garfield orders Capt. Garrard of the 22nd Kentucky Volunteers to ride to Elkhorn Creek and drive out the Rebels under Menifee.
Mar. 7, 1862 Col. Garfield mentions that a change in favor of the Union has occurred in Buchanan County. Community meetings have been held where the participants have expressed their favor for the Union, and a delegation was even sent to Garfield to express such sentiments and to invite the regiment to move into the area.
Mar. 7, 1862: Many of Garfield's men are sick due to "exposure" following the terrible flood.
Mar. 13, 1862 John Schrack reports from Pikeville that, on a scout, his unit had a skirmish with the rebels suffering minor casualties while inflicting minor casualties.
Mar. 14, 1862 Brigadier General Marshall orders the Kentucky-Virginia border closed.
Mar. 16, 1862 Attack on Pound Gap by forces under Col. Garfield.
Mar. 19, 1862 Following the attack at Pound Gap, Marshall calls out the militia of most of the Southwest Virginia counties. He refers to Buchanan as a “very bad district.”
Mar. 20, 1862 Marshall reports a Unionist “movement” in Buchanan County.
Mar. 24, 1862 Marshall remarks in a letter that his call-up has “produced a strong movement” of men to the Union. He states that Unionists in Buchanan County have become “quite bold.”
Mar. 25, 1862 Private Morris mentions a skirmish with the "great Guerrillah Cheif" two days out of Pikeville, near the mouth of Card Creek.
Mar. 29, 1862 John Schrack reports from Pikeville that the 110th Ohio and 16th Kentucky are based there with McLaughlin's Squadron. He also states that the 42 Ohio and the 22 Kentucky left Pikeville for Lewisville (Louisville?) a few days previously. He also reports a skirmish happening a couple days previous with "wicker's" (Witcher's ?) men in which at least two rebels were killed and eight captured.
Apr. 2, 1862 Brig. Gen. Henry Heth complains that the Virginia State Line and Rangers are no better than robbers and plunderers.
Apr. 10, 1862 Marshall sends Col. Bowen to Buchanan to recruit 300 men. He gets 100. At the same time he sends his militia men home to plant their crops.
Apr. 16, 1862 Confederate Congress passes the first draft bill.
Apr. 18, 1862 John Schrack reports from Pikeville that it has rained for days and continues to do so.
Apr. 25, 1862 Marshall reports that Ratliff’s unit was surprised by a group of Union men in Buchanan County.
May 3, 1862 The Confederate War Department declares martial law in Buchanan County.
May 3, 1862 John Schrack reports from Pikeville that he has returned from a six days' scout from Whitesburg to Gladesville.
May 7, 1862 McLaughlin's Squadron, based in Pikeville, is out on scout.
May 11, 1862 A soldier of the 16th Kentucky drowns trying to swim the river at Pikeville.
May 12, 1862 The river is so low that Union forces at Pikeville are in danger of running out of supplies.
May 14, 1862 Marshall issues an order for the local militia units in Southwest Virginia to form and make themselves available for deployment into the field. At the same time he issues orders dealing with espionage and sympathizers.
May 17, 1862 John B. Floyd is appointed Maj. Gen. of the Virginia State Line by Gov. John Letcher.
May 28, 1862 McLaughlin's out on a scout through Whitesburg and to the Kentucky River.
May 31, 1862 McLaughlin's arrives in Gladesville, VA.
Jun. 16 & 29, 1862 John Schrack reports his position as Prestonsburg.
Jul. 4, 1862 Colonel Craynor's command still encamped at Prestonsburg.
Jul. 7, 1862 McLaughlin's scouts to West Liberty and has a skirmish.
Jul. 12, 1862 Genls. Williams and Loring report that 150 “Yankees” from Logan County, WV, had plundered the citizens of Buchanan County.
Jul. 19, 1862 Major McLaughlin dies?
Jul. 23, 1862 Craynor's command has moved back to Louisa.
Jul. 27, 1862 McLaughlin's Squadron is near Stevenson, AL.
Jul. 29, 1862 The surrender of Mt. Sterling demanded, by over 200 men who are reported to be on their way to join the Confederate Army; they are defated, with 6 killed, as many wounded, and about 50 prisoners (Collins).
Aug. 3?, 1862 John Dils’ store in Piketon is plundered by soldiers under Moore and Menifee. This action is cited by Osborne as the first cross-border action involving the Virginia State Line.
Aug. 4-5, 1862: "Confederate guerrillas and Kentucky Home Guards skirmished in Piketon, Pike County . . . Fight resumed at Piketon, Pike County, on August 5. After a desperate struggle the guerrillas drove off the Home Guards but lost nine men." (Damian Beach 66). Collins refers to this same incident, but states that the two skirmishes at Piketon were separate from the last skirmish at Peter Creek on the 6th, where the nine home guards were killed. The actions on the 4th and 5th are probably connected to the sacking of Dils' store on the 3rd.
Aug. 14, 1862 McLaughlin's Squadron is back in Louisa. Schrack reports that the rebels are preparing to attack. He also reports that the rebels have taken over Pike County, but that the Home Guards (under John Dils?) there had captured a rebel Captain.
Aug. 16, 1862 "In a skirmish in Lawrence, Martin County, six miles from Warfield, Confederate cavalry repulsed and defeated a unit of Kentucky Home Guards." (Damian Beach 68)
Aug. 17, 1862 Edward O. Guerrant mentions John S. Phelps, Captain of Home Guards, also using the phrase "nihil exit." Perhaps he means "nihil est" - there is nothing. Was Captain Phelps killed? Is this related to the action mentioned above (Aug. 16)?
Aug. 19, 1862 Marshall writes Randolph complaining about Menifee’s “preemptive” forays into Pike County ahead of his own forces.
Aug. 26, 1862 The Home Guards have been driven from Pike County and have arrived in Louisa.
Aug. 26, 1862 It is feared that mixed cavalry and infantry under Menifee, Witcher, and Jenkins have designs on the banks in Ironton, Ceredo, and Ashland.
Aug. 27, 1862 Officers are commissioned for Company E, Second Virginia State Line.
Sep. 1862 The Fortieth Ohio Cavalry leaves Pikeville, KY.
Sep. 1862 The 39th Kentucky consists of about 400 men with 200 guns of varying type.
Sep. 1, 1862 Dils receives his commission as commander of the 39th Kentucky.
Sep. 6, 1862 McLaughlin's Squadron goes out on scout from Louisa.
Sep. 15, 1862 Schrack reports from Catlettsburg that the Squadron's relocation was necessary because Louisa was in danger of being surrounded by Marshall's forces.
Sep. 19, 1862 Schrack reports the position of the Squadron as Gallipolis, OH.
Sep. 26, 1862 Skirmish at West Liberty, KY.
Oct. 1862 The 39th Kentucky is involved in action at Ceredo, WV.
Oct. 2, 1862 The Ashland Union paper reports an "outrage" committed on three women in the area of Paintsville, KY, by at least one Union soldier in league with two alleged secessionists. One of the women was stabbed and died shortly afterward.
Oct. 14, 1862 Skirmish at Manchester, Clay County, KY.
Oct. 16-25, 1862 Operations in Montgomery County, KY.
Oct. 16-25, 1862 Operations in Powell County, KY.
Oct. 23-24, 1862 Destruction of the Goose Creek Saltworks, Clay County, KY.
Nov. 5, 1862 The 39th Kentucky encamps at Piketon.
Nov. 5, 1862 "Affair at Piketon," Pikeville, Pike County, KY (the 39th may not have been involved).
Nov. 6, 1862 John B. Auxier goes to Johnson County to recruit for the 39th.
Nov. 18, 1862 Companies A, B, C, and D of the 39th are organized.
end of Nov. 1862 Recruiting slows down, but J. F. Stewart estimates that about 1,000 men have joined the 39th.
Dec. 1862? Menifee executes another elderly man near the Sandy River who refuses to deliver up his sons for conscription.
Dec. 4, 1862 The 39th Kentucky is beaten badly at Wireman’s Shoals, KY.
Dec. 5, 1862 Elements of the 39th led by Colonel Dils are again defeated at Bull Gap, near Prestonsburg, KY. The 39th is driven from Pike County back to Lawrence County, KY.
Dec. 5-11, 1862 McLaughlin's Squadron out on a scout from Catlettsburg.
Dec. 7, 1862 McLaughlin's scouts from Prestonsburg to Pikeville.
Dec. 8, 1862 Pvt. Madison Castle, Co. G, 39th KY, is killed in Floyd County, KY.
Dec. 8-12, 1862 Colonel Dils rendezvous his regiment at Camp George, George's Creek.
Dec. 12, 1862 Schrack reports that the Squadron will relocate from Catlettsburg to Prestonsburg the next day to support the 40th. He reports the river being very low.
Dec. 13, 1862 In the heat of an argument, an officer from the 34 Virginia Cavalry shot Lt.-Col. James Harrison of the 2d Virginia State Line. Lt.-Col. Harrison was only wounded and the other officer was never held accountable for the assault and battery.
Dec. 26, 1862 Guerrillas captured in Powell County, KY.
Dec. 27-28, 1862: A small group of men from the Knox Creek neighborhood of Buchanan County, VA, the Bakers, Smiths, Dotsons, Esteps, and Blankenships, joins Company H of the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
Dec. 30, 1862 The 40th O.V.I. is ordered from Catlettsburg to Richmond, KY. Schrack's company is infected with measles. The 84th Ind. is based with Schrack's regiment.
Dec. 31, 1862 A contingent of the 16th Virginia Cavalry under Col. Ferguson attacks a small party of the 39th Kentucky completely routing the Union unit.
1863
Jan. 1863 Nathaniel Menifee is relieved of his command in the 4th Virginia State Line.
Jan. 1, 1863 Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation.
Jan. 1, 1863 On this day, two men are publicly executed for desertion by the Virginia State Line at Glade Springs(Gladesville?), VA. Within the week, three more mutineers of Irish extraction were also executed before the same battalion. See Osborne, pp. 103-4.
Jan. 5, 1863 Schrack reports that more than 100 men have deserted from the 84th Ind. at Louisa, and more are threatening to leave; a reaction to Lincoln's Proclamation.
Jan. 10, 1863 McLaughlin's scouts up the Little Sandy.
Jan. 12, 1863 Desertions from the 84th total 200, and more are deserting from the 40th and 2nd Ohio Cavalries.
Jan. 17, 1862 Schrack reports that "Kentucky has a notion to secede from the Union and Indianna and Illinois talks of seceding from Lincoln."
Jan. 17, 1863 Buchanan County and the surrounding counties come under the command of C.S.A. General D. S. Donelson and the Department of East Tennessee.
Jan. 18, 1863 Shelton Laurel Massacre in Madison County, NC. 13 local Unionists are executed and their bodies dumped in a shallow and common grave.
Jan. 26, 1862 Half a dozen officers have resigned from the 40th and more are soon to follow. Five to ten men desert from each of the Union regiments each day.
Jan. 28, 1863 Morris reports that Major McFall has "gone home."
Feb. 5, 1863 117th O.V.I. is at Peach Orchard[?].
Feb. 13. 1863 Louisa is garrisoned by the 14th, the Second Ohio Cavalry and the 38th [39th?].
Feb. 14, 1863 Gen. White at Louisa mentions that the river is down, making the movement of supplies to Piketon very difficult.
Feb. 16, 1863 The 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry musters-in at Peach Orchard, Lawrence County, KY.
Feb. 17, 1863 Schrack reports Louisa again surrounded by rebels.
Feb. 21, 1863 Action of unknown type, Pvt. Noah Reynolds killed in Johnson County, KY.
Feb. 24, 1863 Skirmish at Stoner Bridge, Montgomery County, KY.
Feb. 27, 1863 Trooper Baughman reports little snow this winter, but much rain. He states that the Big Sandy is falling, meaning supply will be difficult.
Early 1863 The Old Sulphur Springs Baptist Church is established just north of present-day Hurley, Buchanan County.
Mar. 1, 1863 Recruiting for Company L, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, occurs at Alexandria, KY.
Mar. 2, 1863 Morris reports that Captain Fisher has gone home.
Mar. 3, 1863 John Schrack predicts the war will last two more years due to the inept handling by the Union officer corps.
Mar. 9, 1863 Skirmish at Hazel Green, KY.
Mar. 12, 1863 Skirmishing around Louisa, KY.
Mar. 16, 1863 Company A, Second Ohio Cavalry, returns from a scout near Louisa to find that the regiment has been ordered to Lexington, KY.
Mar. 19, 1863 Skirmish at Hazel Green, KY.
Mar. 19, 1863 Skirmish at Mt. Sterling, KY.
Mar. 22, 1863 Capture of Mt. Sterling, KY.
Mar. 24, 1863: "General Humphrey Marshall's Confederate infantry attempted to take the town of Louisa, Lawrence County, attacking a portion of General White's Federal forces and were repulsed when the Federals were reinforced." (Damian Beach 124)
Mar. 25-26, 1863 Skirmishing around Louisa, KY.
Mar. 26, 1863 Schrack reports that his regiment had been skirmishing with the rebels within eight miles of their camp at Louisa.
Mar. 28, 1863 Recruiting for Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, occurs in Buchanan County.
late Mar. 1863 Humphrey Marshall's forces stand outside Louisa ready to give battle. Inexplicably, he refuses to do so, leaving his position overnight.
Apr. 1863 The 39th receives horses and equipment appropriate for a mounted infantry unit.
Apr. 1, 1863 The Virginia State Rangers and State Line are dissolved and incorporated into the regular Confederate Army.
Apr. 1, 1863 The 39th Kentucky and the 10th Kentucky (USA) set out after Marshall's supply train.
Apr. 8, 1863 McLaughlin's sets out on another scout from Louisa.
Apr. 8, 1863: Seven men from the 39th die of disease on this day, two in Louisa and five in Ashland.
Apr. 10, 1863: Six more men die from disease in the hospitals in Ashland and Louisa.
Apr. 12 (or 15), 1863 The 39th Kentucky captures Colonel French at Piketon, Pike County, KY. [?]
Apr. 13, 1863 Burnside's order No. 38: execution was threatened to any rebel sympathizers caught with secessionist papers or to anyone who simply declared sympathy for the Confederacy.
Apr. 15, 1863 Skirmish at Pikeville, Pike County, KY.
Apr. 18, 1863 Morris states that cavalry was sent to reinforce Col. Dils.
Apr. 19, 1863 Morris states that the 39th has returned to camp with 74 prisoners.
May 9, 1863 Morris reports that the steamer Transfer has been captured and burned by Rebel Bill Smith.
May 10, 1863 Morris reports a skirmish with Rebel Bill, but he escaped.
mid May The 39th, the 14th, and an Illinois regiment march up the Big Sandy, under the command of Colonel Gallup. They encamp at Camp Beaver.
May 15, 1863 Recruiting for Company H, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, occurs in Buchanan County (probably the northern section), VA. The recruiting officer is Hiram Justice. Many of these men had previously served in Company E of the 2nd VSL.
May 18, 1863 The infantry companies at Louisa are outfitted with horses and equipment.
Jun. 1863 The Northwestern counties of Virginia break away from the rest of Virginia and form the loyalist state of West Virginia.
Jun. 1863: Since February and by the end of June of 1863, at least 65 of the 39th's men died of disease. Peach Orchard is alleged to have a forgotten cemetery where quite a few of the 39th's soldiers who died in the Fall and Spring of 1862-3 are interred.
Jun. 13, 1863 Skirmish at Howard's Mills, Montgomery County, KY.
Jun. 16, 1863 Action at Triplett's Bridge, Rowan County, KY.
Jun. 22, 1863 Schrack's regiment (2nd Ohio Cav) is located six miles above Prestonsburg [Camp Beaver?].
Jun. 27, 1863 The 39th skirmishes at Beaver Creek, Floyd County, KY.
Jun. 27, 1863 Supply up the Big Sandy River is impossible.
Jul. 2, 1863 Action at the “Mouth of Card [Creek],” Pike County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Jul. 2, 1863 Skirmish at Coal Run, Pike County, KY.
Jul. 2, 1863 Skirmish at Marrowbone Creek, Pike County, KY. Pvt. Harvey Collins, Co. D, 39th KY, may have been killed here.
Jul. 5, 1863 Maj. Gen. Hartsuff, in his general orders No. 8, required that for every Union citizen harmed by the rebels, five rebel sympathizers would be arrested and have the same injuries inflicted upon them for punishment.
Jul. 7, 1863 Second Ohio and 10th KY CAV USA raid into Virginia at Gladeville taking many prisoners and destroying much materiel.
Jul. 8, 1863 Action at the Mouth of Pond Creek, Pike County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Jul. 10, 1863 Elements of the 39th and 14th Kentucky, and the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, with others, are involved in action at Beaver Creek under Gen. White.
Jul. 31, 1863 Unidentified action.
Jul. 31, 1863 Gen. Burnside declares martial law in Kentucky.
Aug. 8, 1863 The Second Ohio Cavalry sent to Lexington.
Aug. 21, 1863 Sgt. Lewis P. Damron, Co. K, 39th KY, is killed in action in Carter County, KY.
Aug, 27, 1863 Skirmishing between Federal forces under Colonel Dils against guerrillas at Clark's Neck, Lawrence County or in Carter County, KY.
Aug. 29, 1863 Action at the Little Fork of the Little Sandy River, Lawrence County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Sep. 22 or 23, 1863 Action at the Mouth of Marrowbone Creek, Pike County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Oct. 6, 1863 Skirmish in Morgan County, KY.
Oct. 10, 1863 Skirmish at Salyersville, KY.
Oct. 12, 1863 Skirmish at West Liberty, KY.
Oct. 30, 1863 "Lieut. Col. Orlando Brown, Jr., 14th Ky. infantry, and Maj. Stephen M. Ferguson, 39th Ky. infantry, with 160 men, repulse Prentice's Confederate cavalry at Salyersville, Magoffin co., capturing 50 prisoners."
Nov. 30, 1863 Skirmish at Salyersville, KY.
Dec. 1, 1863 Skirmish at Salyersville, KY.
Dec. 1-10, 1863 Skirmishing in and around Mt. Sterling, KY.
Dec. 1-10, 1863 Skirmishing in and around Jackson, KY.
Dec. 7, 1863 The 39th Kentucky is involved in action at the Pound Gap.
Dec. 10, 1863 Col. John Dils, Jr. is dismissed from command of the 39th Kentucky.
Dec. 15, 1863 "Capt. Peter Everett's Confederate cavalry defeated a detachment of Col. Geo. W. Gallup's 39th Ky. Federal infantry."
1864
Jan. 1, 1864 Pvt. Apperson Nollen, Co. F, 39th KY, is killed in action in Floyd County, KY.
Jan. 9, 1864 Company H, 39th Kentucky, is attacked at Turman’s Ferry, now Buchanan, KY, by a large force of the 16th Virginia Cavalry.
Jan. 27, 1864 Sergeant John Schrack dies in hospital at Knoxville, TN.
Feb. 15, 1864 Elements of the 39th Kentucky with the 14th capture Col. Ferguson and portions of the 16th Virginia Cavalry at Laurel Creek, WV.
Mar. 31, 1864 Skirmish at the Forks of Beaver, Floyd County, KY.
Mar. 1864 Jack May reassumes command of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, but finds that all five of the Buchanan County companies have deserted and returned to their homes.
Apr. 4, 1864 From the Ironton Register, April 14, 1864: "Private dispatches are to the effect, that the rebels, emboldened by the continued inactivity of the Union troops, up Sandy, had previous to that time (April 4th) penetrated their lines as far as Peach Orchard, at which place they robbed Col. Dill's store of about $700 worth of goods, and the clerk of $43; Captain Soward's store of $500. Henry Danby, agent of the Great Western Mining Company, was robbed of $200. The number killed, taken prisoner and captured horses is as stated in the dispatch, but it was locking the door after the thief had departed. Guerrillas are reported on the increase, and stirring times are apprehended in that quarter."
Apr. 5, 1864 Skirmish at Quicksand Creek, KY, between Captain Reuben Patrick's Co. I of the 14th KY and Captain Bradshaw of Hodge's Brigade.
Apr. 6 or 7, 1864 Col. Mims leads elements of the 39th Kentucky against the 7th Battalion Confederate Cavalry under Col. Prentice at “Brushy” [Fork or Creek], Pike County, KY.
Apr. 8, 1864 Action at John’s Creek, Pike County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Apr. 13, 1864 Action at Paintsville, Johnson County, KY, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D and other elements under Lt. Col. Ferguson. The 39th is referred to as "Home Guards," and the Confederate forces were mostly cavalry. Isaac Vicars is killed.
Apr. 14, 1864 Battle of Half Mountain (also called The Meadows of Licking or Puncheon Creek), Magoffin County, KY.
Apr. 14, 1864 Skirmish at Booneville, Owsley County, KY.
Apr. 16, 1864 Skirmish at Salyersville, KY.
Apr. 25, 1864 Action in Wayne County, WV, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Apr. 27, 1864 Skirmish on Troublesome Creek, KY.
May 9, 1864 Skirmish in Letcher County, KY (near Pound Gap?).
May 9-13, 1864 Rockhouse Creek, KY, expedition by elements of the 39th Kentucky.
May 16, 1864 Skirmish at Pond Creek, Pike County, KY.
May 18, 1864 Skirmish in Pike County, KY. Pvt. Uriah Runion, Co. I, 39th KY, was killed.
Jun. 1, 1864 Skirmish in Letcher County, KY (near Pound Gap?).
Jun. 8, 1864 Mt. Sterling is captured by Morgan's Raiders.
Jun. 9, 1864 Battle of Mount Sterling, KY.
Jun. 12, 1864 Battle of Cynthiana, KY. Morgan's command was dispersed for the last time.
Jul. 18, 1864 John Richmond’s store in Floyd County is plundered by Confederate troops under Captain Lawson.
Aug. 8-9, 1864 An incident is alleged to have occurred in Louisa where the 39th fired on a Federal colored infantry regiment. A mass desertion from the 39th occurs as a result of this action.
Sep. 13, 1864 Two guerrilla prisoners, W. L. Master and John Lancaster, are ordered to be turned over to Col. Mims at Louisa to be publicly executed in retaliation for the killing of a Unionist.
Sep. 16, 1864 Peyton Blackburn, Sr., Co. E, 39th KY, is killed in Lawrence County, KY. Some believe that this was a private or feud killing.
mid-Sep. 1864 The Buchanan Companies of the 10th Kentucky desert and return home.
late Sep. 1864 Burbridge moves from Pikeville up the Big Sandy to Grundy, VA. From there he proceeds over the mountains through Richlands by the end of the month.
Sep. 23, 1864: Skirmish between unknown forces at an unknown site in East Kentucky.
Sep. 28, 1864 Burbridge’s forces move through Buchanan County on their way to Saltville.
Oct. 2, 1864 Battle of Saltville, VA.
Nov. 4 or 5, 1864 "A large body of guerrillas, under Witcher and Bill Smith, makes a raid on Peach Orchard, Lawrence Co., 45 miles from the mouth of Big Sandy Rivere, captures Col. Dills, late of the 39th Ky., burns two little steamers and some houses, and pillages the stores" (from Collins). "At the Peach Orchard, Lawrence County, forty-five miles from the mouth of the Big Sandy River, a large body of guerrillas attacked and captured a part of the Thirty-ninth Kentucky Infantry, including their commander Colonel Dils. The raiders also burned two steamers and a number of stores." From Damian Beach, pp. 200-201.
Nov. 9, 1864 Skirmish at Devil's Creek, Wolfe County, KY.
Nov. 9, 1864 The Charleston Journal reported that Colonel Bill Smith was the "supreme commander" of Cabell and Wayne Counties, WV.
Nov. 11, 1864 Skirmish at Holly Creek, Breathitt County, KY.
Nov. 21, 1864 Elements of the 39th refuse to leave the region when the unit is ordered to make an expedition into Virginia against the salt and lead works at Wytheville?.
Dec. 24, 1864 "Rebel" Bill Smith completes organization of at least six to eight hundred men into "Smith's Battalion."
Dec. 27, 1864 Burbridge's command is in Letcher County, KY.
1865
Jan. 9 - Feb. 15, 1865 Scouts sent out from Mt. Sterling, KY.
Jan. 1, 1865 Pvt. George Willis, Co F, 39th KY, is killed in Lawrence County, KY.
Feb. 22, 1865 Action on the Open Fork of the Little Sandy involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Feb. 25, 1865 Skirmish at Pikeville, Pike County, KY. Pvt. Lackey Newsome, Co. K, 39th KY, is killed.
Mar. 2, 1865 Skirmish near Mt. Sterling, KY.
Mar. 2, 1865 Skirmish at Slate Creek, Montgomery County, KY.
Mar. 9, 1865 Skirmish in Montgomery County, KY.
Mar. 11, 1865 By President Lincoln’s Proclamation, all Union deserters were given sixty days to return to their units under a General Amnesty.
Mar 19, 1865 Skirmish near Mt. Sterling, KY.
Apr. 5, 1865 Action at Twelvepole, Wayne County, WV, involving the 39th Kentucky, Co. D.
Apr. 26, 1865 The 39th Kentucky is ordered to get in the rear of the Confederates who were marching to Mount Sterling to surrender, just in case they changed their minds.
Jul. 1865 The 39th Kentucky is ordered to sweep the area between the Big Sandy River and McDowell County, WV, for guerrillas.
Sep. 15, 1865 The 39th Kentucky musters-out at Louisville, KY.
1875 Members of the James gang pay a visit to the bank in Huntington, WV, "withdrawing" between ten and twelve thousand dollars.
Sources
Jimmie Epling, Jr.; John B. Wells III; Marlitta Perkins; Brian Hall; Collins' History of Kentucky; America's Civil War magazine; Jeff Weaver; Randall Osborne; Phillip S. Paludan; William Ely; John David Preston; Lowell Harrison; Henry Scalf; Richard Stone; Letters of John Schrack; Diary of Barcella Franklin Morris; "Last Statement of Judge John Frew Stewart"; Letters of P. S. Baughman; The Civil War Diary of Edward O. Guerrant; and many others! Be sure to check out the Sources Page to see where I got my material.
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