Big Sandy Expedition

Big Sandy Expedition
Date	October 23, 1861 – November 9, 1861
Location	Eastern Kentucky
Result	Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
B.G.William "Bull" Nelson; Col. Joshua W. Sill	Col. John S. Williams
Units involved
16th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry; 2nd Ohio Infantry; 21st Ohio Infantry; 33rd Ohio Infantry; 59th Ohio Infantry; Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery; 1st Ohio Cavalry (B Company)	5th Kentucky Infantry
Strength
5,500 (twelve units of Kentucky and Ohio infantry)	1,010 (nine companies of infantry and five mounted)
Casualties and losses
Killed: 6; Wounded: 26	Killed: 31; Wounded: 55; Captured: 74

The Big Sandy Expedition was an early campaign of the American Civil War in Kentucky that began in mid-September 1861 when Union Brig. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson received orders to organize a new brigade at Maysville, Kentucky and conduct an expedition into the Big Sandy Valley region of Eastern Kentucky and stop the build-up of Confederate forces under Col. John S. Williams. This was done in three phases. From September 21 to October 20, 1861, Nelson assembled a brigade of 5,500 Union volunteers from Ohio and Kentucky. On October 23, the southern prong secured Hazel Green and the northern prong West Liberty. The two prongs were consolidated at Salyersville (Licking Station) and they began the final phase on October 31. This led to the Battle of Ivy Mountain on November 8 and the withdrawal of Confederate forces from Pikeville (Piketon) on November 9, 1861.