The company was officially formed at Prestonburg, Kentucky, September 1861, as Company A, 1st Kentucky Cavalry. Captain John Shawhan was made company commander and Lieutenant William VanHook as Executive Officer. John Lafferty was 2nd sergeant in charge of drilling the soldiers. Their first engagement was at Piketon, Kentucky. Lafferty's narrative provides a detailed account of the battle from a soldier's perspective: "After reorganizing our company, we drilled hard every day for about a month while in that camp and did some scouting service throughout the country. We then moved our camp to Pikeville where other companies were organized. Most of the companies composing our body were infantry; but ours, being mounted to do either cavalry or infantry service, was called Mounted Infantry. "After we had been in Pikeville a week or so, we received information through our scouts that a strong force of Federal soldiers was coming up Big Sandy River in the direction of our camp. This created must excitement and for the first time we began to realize what war meant. We promptly began preparations to meet the enemy face to face and try our skill at killing. "As the country around us was mountainous, we were in position to go out and select a place of vantage on the mountainside where we could take them by surprise and do serious damage to them before they came near our camp. A detail of one hundred and sixteen men was selected from among those assembled at our camp to go out and engage the enemy from the mountain side. Brother James D. and I were of the number selected. Nearly all our men in the detail were armed with double-barreled shot guns, and we had prepared cartridges, each containing eleven buckshot, so that such a charge would be very effective at short range. We went several miles from camp to a point on the Big Sandy River called the Narrows, or better known as Ivy Mountain or Ivy Creek. We left our horses at the top of the mountain in care of a squad of horseholders, and went down to a place where we established ourselves behind the rock, about one hundred feet above the narrow mountain road which had been dug or blasted out of the side of the mountain. At that place the mountain was almost perpendicular. The road was about one hundred feet above the river, was very narrow and extended in that condition for about two miles. We were completely hidden from the view of those who might pass along on the road. "After a short time, the enemy under the command of General William Nelson and numbering about four thousand came along on that road and filled it full, as far as I could see, with men, wagons, and horses. The men, wearing their new blue uniforms, presented a grand appearance, marching gaily along, wholly ignorance of our presence. After the head of the column had passed us, Lieutenant Wm. H. Van Hook who was commanding us, gave the order to fire, and instantly all of our men fired their double-barreled shotguns from behind the rocks into the ranks of the enemy and continued firing as fast as they could reload their guns. At no time did we shoot at them more than one hundred to hundred and fifty feet away. We were so securely protected behind the rocks above them that when we stepped back to reload our guns we were out of all danger; and as we stepped forward to fire, we were only partly exposed for a moment. "Completely surprised by our attack, the whole body became panic-stricken and thoroughly demoralized. Passage forward or backward for a time was impossible and they were kept within easy range of our guns. With no escape, they in a disorganized way, opened fire upon us with slight effect. We fought for one hour and a quarter and our shotguns with buckshot were so effective at that distance that their losses were 160 killed and 500 wounded. Our losses were 7 killed and a few wounded. "During the progress of the battle when the confusion on the road was at its height, I could see, from where I was located, that a great many of their men and horses fell over the precipice into the river below, and I could see the water splash as they fell into it. No doubt most of them fell over from the effects of wounds and exhaustion but many were crowded over during the wild excitement. "Our ammunition became exhausted and we were ordered to retreat. By that time the enemy had climbed the mountain at a point two miles from us and was making an effort to prevent our escape. In retreating from our position we had to run for some distance over the top of the mountain to the place where our horses were in charge of the horseholders. Each man was making the best possible speed to get back to his horse. The wounded, one of whom was myself, together with our helpers, lagged behind our more fortunate comrades, who, upon reaching their horses, started posthaste to make good their escape. The horseholders, having heard that several of our number had been killed, ran also with the unclaimed horses in their possession. The horseholders should have held their post until it was certain that all who were able to return had arrived. However, they had not gone very far before they were informed that others were still behind, and they came back to us in time to enable us to reach our camp in Pikeville in safety. We left our dead behind. I hardly think so small a body of men at any time during the war fought greater odds and did greater execution. "The first man I saw killed during the war was Dr. _ of Owen County who fell by my side in that battle. I received two wounds, one in my left hand and one in my hip, though severe they were not dangerous. The bullet in my hip was not removed. "There was much sadness and sorrow in camp upon our return when it became known that seven of our men had been killed. The report also had the effect to fill each man with the determination to fight the enemy to the bitter end. "My wounds did not give me a great deal of trouble and about four weeks thereafter I was able to report for duty." -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html