The Battle of Salyersville, also called Battle of Ivy Point Hill, was the largest of the many skirmishes in Magoffin County, Kentucky

Magoffin County, Kentucky

Magoffin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky which was formed from parts of Floyd, Johnson, and Morgan Counties and officially created on 22 February 1860. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. Its county seat is Salyersville...

, during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

In April 1864, Confederate

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

 Colonel Ezekiel F. Clay led his regiment of mounted infantry

Mounted infantry

Mounted infantry were soldiers who rode horses instead of marching, but actually fought on foot . The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry...

 on a raid to Kentucky

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

. He was opposed by the forces of the Sub-District of Eastern Kentucky under Union

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 Colonel George W. Gallup, consisting of the 14th Kentucky Infantry

14th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

The 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...

 and 39th Kentucky Infantry

39th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

The 39th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 39th Kentucky Infantry was organized at Peach Orchard in Lawrence County, Kentucky on November 18, 1862. It mustered in for a three-year enlistment on...

, and reinforcements under Colonel C. J. True consisting of the 40th Kentucky Infantry

40th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

The 40th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 40th Kentucky Infantry was organized at Grayson and Falmouth, Kentucky on July 30, 1863 under the command of Colonel Clinton J...

 and the 11th Michigan Cavalry

11th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

The 11th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 11th Michigan Cavalry was organized at Kalamazoo and Detroit, Michigan October 10-December 10, 1863. Among its ranks was future Michigan politician and author...

. On April 13, 1864, the Confederates attacked the Union position at Paintsville

Paintsville, Kentucky

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,681 households, and 1,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 786.1 people per square mile . There were 1,901 housing units at an average density of 361.7 per square mile...

, but Colonel Gallup's 750 men held their position. On April 14, combat was renewed, and the Confederates were driven to Salyersville

Salyersville, Kentucky

Salyersville is a city in and the county seat of Magoffin County, Kentucky, United States. It is located on the Licking River. The population was 1,604 at the 2000 census.-History:...

with heavy losses. Colonel Clay was wounded and captured along with a significant part of his command, 100 horses and 200 stand of arms.