Colonel Nathaniel M. Menifee
Colonel Nathaniel McClure Menifee for a time commanded
the 4th Regiment Virginia State Line (VSL) of
General John Buchanan Floyd. Much of Col. Menifee's recruiting was
done in Eastern Kentucky.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Colonel Nathaniel McClure Menifee was born 1826
in KY. Raised in MO. Lost left leg in Mexican
War. Moved to California but returned to KY
in 1861. In 1865 resided in Roanoke Co., VA.
After WBTS moved to Cuba and Brazil. Never
heard of again(?). Unmarried, no family.
SERVICE HISTORY
Colonel Menifee first appeared in Eastern Kentucky in fall of 1861. Local newspapers described him as "A Captain Menifee, a one-legged man from Arkansas". He began his Confederate military career as a drill instructor for John Stuart Williams' 5th KY Infantry at Camp Dixie, Prestonsburg, Floyd Co.
- Spring of 1862: Menifee started to recruit for himself and claimed a Colonel's commission from the Provisional Confederate Government of Kentucky.
- March 14, 1862: Skirmish with Union troops in Floyd Co., KY
- Midsummer of 1862: Menifee, mounted on a fine black mare, appeared on Holly Creek in Wise Co., VA and began recruiting in earnest and soon had a core band of under 100 men.
- August 3, 1862: Raid on John Dil's store in Piketon, Pike Co., KY
- August 1862: Pursued by Home Guards from Piketon, Menifee was attacked on Cloe Creek. Menifee and most of his men escape and made their way through Jesse's Gap back to Holly Creek in Wise Co., VA.
- September 1862: Menifee established a camp
of instruction at Castlewoods, Russell Co.,
VA, a gathering point for many Confederate
irregulars.
- First week of October, 1862: Menifee had to leave
for an operation of an old war wound. This resulted
in extensive desertions from the 4th Regiment VSL.
- Late November 1862 he was relieved of command but
later reinstated.
- November 1862: Warfield Skirmish, Martin Co., KY
- December 1862: Several raids in Floyd Co, KY
Reports from the OR
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH BRIGADE,
Camp Brownlow, March 5, 1862.
Capt. DANIEL GARRARD,
Twenty-second Kentucky Volunteers:
DEAR SIR: You will proceed to-morrow morning with the force placed under your command, by the shortest route, to the point where the main road to the Pound Gap intersects the Elkhorn Creek. You will proceed thence down the Elkhorn to its mouth, scouting the valley thoroughly, and thence return to this place.
The object of your expedition is to capture or drive out a predatory band of rebels under the command of Captain Menifee, who is also acting as scout for Marshall. You are ordered to take possession of all arms of active secessionists in the vicinity through which you pass, and also capture and bring to these headquarters all who are found in arms or actively aiding the rebellion.
I particularly desire you to gather all the information in your power of the whereabouts of General Marshall or any force in the vicinity of Pound Gap. You are Specially charged to keep your men from committing any outrages upon the persons or property of citizens. Make thorough work of it, and return within four days. On your return you will make a full report to me in writing.
Very truly, yours,
J. A. GARFIELD,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
ABINGDON, VA., August 19, 1862.
Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH:
....I think it discreet also to ask your advice and opinion on another point. A man by the name of Menifee is in Kentucky recruiting for General Floyd's Virginia State Line, and has gathered some 300 men in the mountains. He has committed violence on private property, taking all the property, for instance, from the store of a citizen of Kentucky and in a Kentucky town, and is now moving forward on the line of my contemplated movement, I have no doubt plundering and exciting the whole country.
I have written to the colonel commanding the Fifth Kentucky at Piketon, to warn him that if his troops are intended to enter Floyd's command in Virginia he must repair with his command to Virginia and report to his superior officer, and that I will not permit an independent band to go in front of my lines, pursuing its own policy and arousing prejudices against us by its lawless conduct.
Suppose I have to use force to arrest and expel this person and his force, should I be justifiable? I want your opinion as a military man. Floyd is taking all he can get from this quarter. They raise partisan rangers under authority from General Loring, and march the command when raised off to Floyd's camp as part of the troops raised for him and swear them in for twelve months. I do not seek to interfere, as I am only here temporarily, but it is exceedingly detrimental to the service of the Confederacy, and Governor Letcher ought to have it stopped.
Send me the small-arms, if you please, without delay.
Truly, yours, &c.,
H. MARSHALL.
CATLETTSBURG, Tuesday, August 26, 1862--12 m.
General J. T. BOYLE:
DEAR SIR: Mr. Bowman has just come in direct from the camp of Colonel Cranor, and I advise as to the state of affairs as they there existed on last evening. The colonel has at his command, including cavalry and infantry, not to exceed in all 1,100 men, and horses and mules, all told, not to exceed 300. The forces which he has good cause to think are about to be brought against him greatly exceed his own, and aid is urgently desired. He will be able to hold his position against very superior numbers, but it is very desirable that an advance be made by him to check the enemy in their progress down the Sandy. Colonel Cranor desired of Mr. Bowman to have you made acquainted with the necessities of the case.
Mr. Bowman has been active among the enemy and made the acquaintance of many, and most particularly one Charles Ferguson, who detailed a plan by which they intended much mischief. The intention of Menifee, Witcher, and Jenkins, noted leaders, is to attack first Ceredo, in Virginia, which is within sight of this city, plunder that town, cross the Sandy and rob and plunder Catlettsburg, and thence proceed to Ashland for the plunder of the bank there located, and thence cross the Ohio to the town of Ironton for the same purpose. This scheme is well devised and can be readily executed, as there are no forces here, Captain Matchett and his command having been withdrawn last week, and this vicinity being without any protection whatever.
Menifee, Witcher, and Jenkins have a command of 500 horsemen, as well as an amount of footmen whose numbers cannot be ascertained, although it is known not to be large.
William Damren, a scout from Pike County, and who was captured five months since by some of Col. Jack May's regiment and taken to Tazewell County, Virginia, returned last evening. He was paroled some few days since and remained a day or two afterward among the the enemy. At about the 16th or 18th instant, as far as his memory serves him, he overheard conversation between officers there present what designs were had upon this region of the Sandy.
In about ten days from that date Marshall, with his division, was to enter Kentucky by the Sounding or Pound Gap, as sometimes called, and May, with the forces at his command, was coming down the left fork of the Sandy and overrun the entire valley to the mouth, and between the two the force would be formidable. The number of the enemy now under arms in Pike does not exceed 1,000 men, but may be increased at any day. These are as near facts as may be known.
In running this country a horse is indispensable, and Colonel Cranor, who is well pleased-with the project and desires to aid to his utmost, asks that inasmuch as he has some captured horses an order may be made allowing him to give to Bowman the use of one or two of them as circumstances may require, and he requested particularly that you might be addressed on the subject. Our expenses for horses thus far used have been $1 per diem, and circumstances might arise when they could not be obtained for hire, and thus some good object frustrated. Colonel Cranor desires that some paper may be sent by which he may be enabled to know that Bowman is acting legitimately. At the time I saw you in person I was not aware that such would be necessary, for the reason that in other cases of the same nature and of which I am cognizant such was not demanded. Bowman's services will be very valuable, and Colonel Cranor desires to avail himself of them, as he told him.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours,
CHARLES R. SMITH.
SOME OF MENIFEE'S ASSOCIATES
- Thomas Cecil, son of Judge Wm. Cecil, Pike
Co. Later surgeon of 10th KY Cavalry.
- A. Jackson Fry of Marrowbone Creek area,
Pike Co., KY. Moved to Texas after WBTS.
- Samuel R. Marrs of Pike Co., KY. Later
with 10th KY Cavalry.
- Jefferson Fleming of Pike Co., KY, and
his brother John J. Fleming, also Pike Co.,
KY. Later served with the 7th Confederate
Cavalry Battalion.
LINKS