The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement fought January 10, 1862, in Eastern Kentucky during the American Civil War.

From his headquarters in Paintsville, on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, northwest of Prestonsburg, Marshall recruited volunteers.

Gen. Don Carlos Buell directed Col. James A. Garfield, the future president, to force Marshall to retreat back into Virginia.

Garfield slowly headed south, but swampy areas and numerous streams slowed his movements, and he arrived in the vicinity of Marshall on 9 January 1862.

Garfield attacked shortly after noon, and the fighting continued for most of the afternoon until Union reinforcements arrived in time to dissuade the Confederates from assailing the Federal left.