Qualla: Big Sandy Expedition https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition en-us © 2026 Bendyline Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:40:06 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_res/siteimages/rsslogo.png Qualla: Big Sandy Expedition https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition Big Sandy Expedition: Introduction https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition/ On November 8, 1861, in a torrential rain, the Union advance guard rounded a bend on the West Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and disappeared down a seven-foot-wide muddy path. Above them on Ivy Mountain, hidden behind rocks and bushes, 250 Confederate riflemen waited. The hillside exploded with smoke from double-barrel shotguns and old muskets. Four Union soldiers were dead in the first volley; thirteen more lay wounded. Brigadier General William Bull Nelson rode forward, drew his saber, climbed onto a conspicuous rock, and shouted that if the Confederates could not hit him they could not hit any of his men. He stayed up there until the 21st Ohio Infantry reached the top of the ridge and started rolling boulders down on the Confederates, who scattered.

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]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/t/j/big-sandy-expedition-wp/dntj-big-sandy-expedition-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full Big Sandy Expedition: Kentucky's Neutrality Breaks https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition/ In early September 1861, Kentucky's careful neutrality collapsed. Confederate Major General Leonidas Polk ordered troops to seize Hickman in the western corner of the state. The legislature - with the Confederate-leaning members absent - voted to invite federal soldiers in. Withi...

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]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/t/j/big-sandy-expedition-wp/dntj-big-sandy-expedition-kentuckys-neutrality-breaks.mp3 0:06 2 full Big Sandy Expedition: Bull Nelson's Brigade https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition/ William Bull Nelson - a former Navy lieutenant turned army general, big and loud and prone to fistfights - made his headquarters at Camp Kenton near Washington, Kentucky and announced he would equip volunteers to end treason in Kentucky. He moved his staging area to Olympian Spri...

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]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/t/j/big-sandy-expedition-wp/dntj-big-sandy-expedition-bull-nelsons-brigade.mp3 0:06 3 full Big Sandy Expedition: West Liberty and Hazel Green https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition/ On October 22 Nelson sent 1,600 men under Harris to take West Liberty 35 miles east. The next dawn Nelson himself faced about 200 Confederates at Hazel Green with 3,500 men and artillery. Thirty-eight surrendered after a brief fight. Up at West Liberty, Harris's column hit 500 to...

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]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/t/j/big-sandy-expedition-wp/dntj-big-sandy-expedition-west-liberty-and-hazel-green.mp3 0:06 4 full Big Sandy Expedition: Ivy Mountain and the Aftermath https://qualla.com/big-sandy-expedition/ Joshua W. Sill led the northern prong of the expedition up John's Creek on November 7, swinging south to cut off Pikeville. Nelson took the main column down the Old State Road. The Battle of Ivy Mountain on November 8 ended in a Union victory with six Federal killed and 24 wounde...

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]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/t/j/big-sandy-expedition-wp/dntj-big-sandy-expedition-ivy-mountain-and-the-aftermath.mp3 0:06 5 full