CORRESPONDENCE - 75A SEXLINGER FARMHOUSE

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Highway and on the south by the current course of the Rio Grande River. On the east, the nominated area extends to a point immediately east of Tarpon Bend and immediately west of Stell-Lind Banco No. 128. The western border follows a line from the Loma del Muerto southward to the Rio Grande. Beginning at a point on the United States bank of the Rio Grande immediately south of Loma del Muerto, proceed due north approximately one mile to the inter- section of the Boca Chica Highway and Loma del Muerto. Then proceed east along the Boca Chica Highway, approximately 4.5 miles, to a point on the Rio Grande. Then proceed along the U.S. bank of the Rio Grande approximately 4.5 miles to the point of origin. Boundary justification: Boundaries for Palmito Ranch Battle- field encompass the large expanse of land where the most intense fighting of the conflict took place. Since the battle consisted of a series of moving skirmishes, the battlefield itself covers a large area approximately five miles long. The southern boundary follows the current path of the Rio Grande, since the river formed one border for all fighting. Also, the river, is the international boundary line between the United States and Mexico. The western boundary roughly follows a line extending from the Loma del Muerto southward to the Rio Grande. The line approximates the point at which Confederate reinforcements arrived at the scene of the battle on the afternoon of May 13, 1865, The boundary also approximates the position of "San Martin Ranch," referred to by officers of both armies in written accounts of the battle. The Boca Chica Highway forms the northern boundary of the battlefield. Although some scattered fighting may have taken place north of this line, most of the conflict was concen- trated much closer to the Rio Grande. The placement of the boundary at the highway allows for the inclusion of a broad area north of the river, provid- ing an accurate demarcation of the large area in which the running battle occurred. The battlefield's eastern boundary roughly extends from the westernmost tip of Verdolaga Lake southward to a point on the Rio Grande just east of Tarpon Bend and just west of Stall -Lind Banco No. 128, as shown on the accompanying map. This line marks the approximate location of a small levee referred to in 38 written, first hand accounts of the battle as the scene of the final skir- mish, and the place where the Con- federate Army ceased its pursuit of the Union troops on the eve of May 13,1865. Middle Creek Battlefield, Floyd County, Kentucky, is the location of an important 1862 Civil War battle. The battle was an important early victory for the Union army. After several Union defeats, victory in Kentucky was strategically and politically important. At the end of the battle, troops under the command of Colonel James Garfield held the battlefield, putting the Union in control of eastern Kentucky. The battlefield is located along a series of ridges that surround the confluence of the Right and Left forks of Middle Creek. The eastern part of the battle- field is a cemetery located on a ridge (north of State Route 114). The western boundary is a ridge above a gorge near the mouth of the Left Fork of Middle Creek. The land occupied by Union troops and the location of the engagement is characterized by steep uplands, over 600 feet above the floodplain of the creek. The ridges are bisected by several drainages. Although there are a few modern intrusions (roads and a power line), the battlefield retains integrity to the extent that a soldier who participated in the battle would recognize the battlefield today. Cultural features (roads), natural features (ridges), and reasonable limits were used to define the National Register boundaries. Verbal boundary description: Beginning at the point where State Route 114 right -of -way intersects .. with old State Route 114 /West Prestonsburg Road's right -of -way, on the north side of said roads (UTM reference A); proceed northwesterly with Grave Yard Point, approxi- mately 750 meters to a point (UTM reference B); proceed southwesterly approximately 750 meters, across an unnamed hollow to a point (UTM reference C); proceed southeasterly approximately 200 meters to a point (UTM reference D); proceed south- westerly approximately 350 meters, down the ridge to State Route,7,14's right -of -way, (UTM reference P; proceed southeasterly across State Route 114's right -of -way, 450 meters to a point (UTM reference F); proceed east across State Route 404 right -of - Middle Creek Battlefield, Floyd County, Kentucky. Detail of USGS quadrangle showing the National Register boundaries. ��., ��ri1 M1fj, �i� , _ It :•� 7 i >r Middle Creek Battlefield, Floyd County, Kentucky. Detail of USGS quadrangle showing the National Register boundaries.