American Civil War Monuments

Battle of Ivy Mountain Monument

U.S. 23

Ivel, Kentucky

Photo and text courtesy of LCWRT Member Charlie Moore

The Battle of Ivy Mountain took place in far eastern Kentucky along the banks of the Big Sandy River on Nov. 8, 1861. The front of the monument reads:

“Here on Nov. 8, 1861, 300 men from companies A&C, 5^th Kentucky Infantry C.S.A and companies B.C, & D, 1^st Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, C.S.A., commanded by Captain Andrew J. May fought a delaying action against four Federal Regiments, the 2^nd Ohio Infantry, the 21^st Ohio Infantry, the 59^th Ohio Infantry, the 16^th Kentucky Infantry and a section of Battery D, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery, commanded by General William Bull Nelson.”  

The reverse side reads: 

“Mustered into service just two weeks earlier and armed only with shotguns and squirrel rifles, May’s Confederate mountaineers were outnumbered eight to one.  Nevertheless, they detained Nelson’s progress long enough to vacate Piketon (Pikeville) and move the main body of Confederate troops to Pound Gap. Union losses were eight killed and twenty-four wounded.  Confederate losses were ten killed and fifteen wounded.”  The monument was dedicated on Nov.10, 2001.