On December 16, General Jeremiah Sullivan sent Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll from Jackson, Tennessee to Lexington.
At Lexington, Ingersoll had 670 men (mostly raw recruits) and two 3-inch guns; part of his force was a contingent of cavalry under Col. Isaac Roberts Hawkins.
[1][2] As Forrest approached, Ingersoll ordered the destruction of a bridge across Beech Creek at Lower Road, and concentrated his forces along Old Stage Road, where he guessed that Forrest must attack.
But the bridge across Beech Creek had not been destroyed, and Forrest crossed it, fell upon the flank of Ingersoll's command, and routed it.
Union forces attempted to cut off his withdrawal at the Battle of Parker's Cross Roads on December 31, 1862, but were not successful.