KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Battle of Ivy Mountain
(Marker Number: 164)

County: Floyd
Location: S. of Prestonsburg, US 23, 460

Description: Site of first important Civil War engagement in Big Sandy Valley, November 8, 1861, when Confederate forces led by Captain Andrew Jackson May were defeated by Federal troops under General William Nelson.

(Subjects: Civil War | Nelson, William)

Battle of Middle Creek
(Marker Number: 85)

County: Floyd
Location: 1 mi. W. of Prestonsburg, KY 114

Description: Deciding factor in control of Big Sandy Valley. On Jan. 10, 1862, Gen. Humphrey Marshall, leading Confederates, was defeated here by Union forces under Col. James A. Garfield, later President of the U.S.

(Subjects: Civil War | Garfield, James A. | Marshall, Humphrey)

Boone Salt Springs
(Marker Number: 151)

County: Floyd
Location: David, KY 404

Description: Discovered by Daniel Boone and one or two companions while exploring Eastern Kentucky, winter 1767-68. Later called Young's Salt Works. These springs provided salt for pioneers in the valley and for troops on both sides during the Civil War.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel | Civil War | Salt Works)

County Named, 1799
(Marker Number: 817)

County: Floyd
Location: South Lake Dr., Prestonsburg, US 23

Description: 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 1780, nearby what is now Louisville. Named Lieut. of Jefferson Co., part of Va., 1781. Killed in Indian ambush, 1783.

(Subjects: Clark, George Rogers | Floyd, John | Forts and Stations | Indians)

Garfield Place- 1 block west
(Marker Number: 172)

County: Floyd
Location: Prestonsburg, US 23, 460

Description: Used by Colonel, later President, James A. Garfield as his headquarters following Battle of Middle Creek, January 10, 1862.

(Subjects: Civil War | Garfield, James A.)

Little Floyd
(Marker Number: 905)

County: Floyd
Location: Jct. US 23 & Mare Creek Rd.

Description: 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 set up Stratton Settlement, 1796, at mouth of Mare Creek and with two others directed laying out of Prestonsburg, 1797.

Morgan's Last Raid
(Marker Number: 623)

County: Floyd
Location: Prestonsburg, W. of Bridge, KY 114

Description: On tragic last Kentucky raid, CSA Gen. John H. Morgan and Raiders entered state June 1, 1864, took Mt. Sterling June 8, lost it on 9th, took Lexington on 10th, and Cynthiana on 11th. USA under General S. G. Burbridge defeated CSA next day. Morgan retreated through here, reaching Virginia June 20. See map on other side. Raiders never recovered from this reverse.

(Subjects: Burbridge, Stephen G. | Civil War | Cynthiana, Battle of | Lexington | Morgan, John Hunt | Mt. Sterling)

Prestonsburg Toll Bridge
(Marker Number: 2117)

County: Floyd
Location: 105 North Front St., Prestonsburg

Description: 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 and was painted red. The cost to build the bridge was $22,000. Closed to traffic and dismantled in the 1930s. Over. Presented by City of Prestonsburg.

(Reverse) Chesapeake & Ohio Railway System - Known as C & O, the railway entered Floyd County in Nov. 1904, and was a leader in passenger travel in this area until the automobile. The C & O ended its role in passenger travel July 7, 1963. In 1980 the C & O combined with other lines to form CSX Corporation, which mostly hauls coal. Over. Presented by Prestonsburg Tourism and CSX Transportation.

(Subjects: Coal | Railroads)

Samuel May House
(Marker Number: 2018)

County: Floyd
Location: Prestonsburg, 117 N. Lake Dr., Old US 23 & US 460

Description: Built in 1817 by Samuel May, this is the oldest house in Prestonsburg. It was constructed of bricks manufactured at the site. The 350-acre farm, with its grist mill, was a recruitment and supply post for Confederates during Civil War. The house was restored in 1997 by the City of Prestonsburg and Friends of Samuel May House, Inc. Presented by Burl Spurlock Family.

(Reverse) 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 senator in 1835, he proposed improving a critical road in eastern Ky., the Mt. Sterling-Pound Gap Rd. He died in California during gold rush. Presented by E. Carter & P. Hughes Families.

(Subjects: Civil War | Confederate Army | Grist Mills | Mills | Revolutionary War | Roads)

Stratton Settlement
(Marker Number: 690)

County: Floyd
Location: Jct. US 23 & Mare Creek Rd.

Description: Founded, 1796, by Solomon Stratton, veteran of George Rogers Clark's expedition to Illinois, 1778. In Virginia militia, 1783. In 1788 he and son explored this region. Eight years later, he and kinsmen from Virginia settled here. In 1797, he, Matthias Harman, Andrew Hood, laid out Prestonsburg for Col. John Preston. Stratton died 1819; unmarked grave, 500 feet east.

(Subjects: Clark, George Rogers)

The Battle of Middle Creek
(Marker Number: 2093)

County: Floyd
Location: At battlefield site, Jct. KY 114 & 404

Description: 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 Ohioans and Kentuckians advanced up Middle Creek and clashed with Marshall's 1,967 Virginians and Kentuckians. Marshall's main force occupied ridge on the south side of Middle Creek. The battle began about noon, with the Union troops fighting their way up the ridges and the Confederates counterattacking down them. Turning point came at 4:00 p.m., when Garfield's reserves arrived from Paintsville. Faced with fresh Union troops and advancing shadows, Marshall withdrew his troops from ridge and retreated. Union losses: 3 killed, 18 wounded; Confederate losses: 12 killed, 15 wounded.

(Reverse) The Fitzpatrick Farm - The Battle of Middle Creek was fought on land owned by Henry Clay Fitzpatrick (1823-1895), son of Jonathan Fitzpatrick and grandson of Bath Co., Va., native John Fitzpatrick, Revolutionary War veteran, who established a farm here sometime before 1800. John is buried on Graveyard Point, Garfield's command post during battle. Henry's son Hiram H. Fitzpatrick, Floyd County Clerk, inherited the farm and passed it to his son Henry D. Fitzpatrick, Sr. and daughter Osa F. Ligon. Next owners were Henry D. Fitzpatrick, Jr., president of The Bank Josephine, and Osa's daughter, Sally Ligon Clarke. Farm is now owned by Middle Creek National Battlefield Foundation, founded in 1992 by Franklin D. Fitzpatrick, son of H. D. Fitzpatrick, Jr.

(Subjects: Confederate Army | Garfield, James A. | Marshall, Humphrey | Revolutionary War | Union Army)