Starting his regiment eastward, from Cincinnati, Garfield, on the 19th of December, reported to General Buell, who informed him that he had been selected to command an expedition to drive Marshall and his forces from Kentucky.That evening Garfield received his orders, which organized the Eighteenth Brigade of the Army of the Ohio, and placed him in command.General Buell with these orders sent a letter of instruction, giving general directions as to the campaign, leaving all matters of detail and the fate of the expedition, however, largely to the discretion of the brigade commander.The latter reached his command on the 24th of December, at Louisa, some twenty-eight miles up the Big Sandy.He then proceeded to concentrate his troops, the main body consisting of his own regiment--the Forty-second Ohio--the Fourteenth Kentucky, and a battalion of Ohio cavalry under Major McLaughlin, which was with him; but these gave only some fifteen hundred men for duty.
The next largest portion of his command was stationed at Paris, Kentucky, under Colonel Cranor, with his regiment, the Fortieth Ohio, 800 strong.Cranor was ordered to join the main body as expeditiously as possible, and to bring with him that portion of Colonel Wolford's Kentucky cavalry stationed at Stanford, consisting of three small battalions under Lieutenant-Colonel Letcher, and to report at Prestonburg.The twenty-second Kentucky was ordered from Maysville, and some three hundred men of that command reported before Garfield reached Paintville.He was also joined by a battalion of west Virginia cavalry under Colonel Bolles.After a toilsome march in mid-winter, Garfield's command, on the 7th of January, drove Marshall's forces from the mouth of Jenny's Creek, and occupied Paintville.On the morning of the 9th, Cranor reported with his command, footsore and exhausted, after a march of over one hundred miles through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.At noon of the 9th Garfield advanced his command to attack Marshall with his cavalry, pressing the rebels as they fell back.Reaching Prestonburg some fifteen miles from Paintville, he learned that Marshall was encamped and fortified on Abbott's Creek.Pushing on to the mouth of the creek, some three miles below Prestonburg, he there encamped for the night, a sleety rain adding to the discomfort of the men.
Intending to force the enemy to battle, he ordered up his reserves under Colonel Sheldon from Paintville, with every available man.
As soon as the morning light enabled the command to move, Garfield advanced, and soon engaged the rebel cavalry, which was driven in after a slight skirmish, falling back on the main body some two miles in the rear, strongly posted on high ground, between Abbott's Creek and Middle Creek, at the mouth of the latter stream.It was impossible to tell what disposition Marshall had made for his defence, owing to the formation of the ground at this point concealing his troops until our forces drew his fire.Throwing several detachments forward, the entire command was soon actively engaged.The engagement lasted for some four hours, commending at about twelve o'clock.At 4 P.M., the reserves under Sheldon reached the field of battle, and the enemy was driven from his position.Night coming on prevented pursuit.
Marshall's command fled down the valley, set fire to their stores, and pressed forward in rapid retreat to Abington, Va.Garfield with his command returned to Paintville, where it could receive supplies.In February he received orders from Buell, directing him to advance to Piketon, and drive the rebels from that place, which he did, and later from Pound Gap.This freed Eastern Kentucky of rebel troops, and relieved the Union men of that section of the depredations that had been committed on them by the roving bands of the enemy.The services of Garfield's command were recognized by Buell, and the thanks of the Commanding General extended to Garfield and his troops.Shortly after this Garfield received his commission as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, to date from the "Battle of Middle Creek."In the latter part of March General Garfield was ordered to leave a small force in the Big Sandy Valley, and to report with the rest of his brigade to General Buell at Louisville.
