Martin P. Bailey was born in 1821 in Harlan County, Kentucky to Katherine Bailey. He lived much of his early life in Perry and Breathitt County. In 1849, he married Almeda Vires (who was 16 years his junior) in a ceremony at his home on Holly Creek in Breathitt County (now Wolfe County). On September 11, 1862, Martin Bailey was one of 47 men who enlisted as privates at the Hargis Fields in Jackson in the newly constituted Company B of the 5th Kentucky Infantry (Consolidated) in the Camp of Captain William Tyler Barry South. Within three days, Bailey was promoted to the rank of 3rd Corporal in Company B and served throughout much of the war in Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. From 1862 to late 1863, Corporal Bailey, Company B, and the 5th Kentucky Infantry was charged with the task of constantly guarding more than 300 salt works and mountain passes along the Kentucky and Virginia state lines. Involved in no major battles during this time, Company B was engaged in an almost "constant onslaught of snipes and treachery from every tree and rock." In August of 1863, the 5th Kentucky Infantry was ordered south by General Braxton Bragg in support of Gen. S. B. Buckner's movements near Knoxville. Arriving one day before the initiation of hostilities at the battle of Chickamauga, the 5th was organized into the Army of Tennessee where they were labeled the "Sang Diggers" by soldiers who believed they were inexperienced mountain soldiers. In the final efforts at the Battle of Chickamauga, the regiment was ordered forward into battle in the effort to take and hold Snodgrass Hill. Through bravery and determination, Private Bailey and the 5th Kentucky Infantry earned the respect of General Bragg and helped dispel the belief that they were untried and unproven soldiers. Following their brave attack up Snodgrass Hill on September 20, 1863, the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was assigned Bates Command of the Orphan Brigade throughout the conclusion of the war. However, Martin Bailey was did not finish the war. In late 1863, Bailey was granted a leave of absence to return to his home on the steep and rocky hills of Billy Fork due to a medical condition described as "cold on the lungs." He never returned. At the expiration of his leave, Martin Bailey was reported as a deserter but no doubt was unable to return to his command. After other military service, he returned to his home on Billy's Creek near the Lee and Estill County line where he lingered in his illness until the evening of October 8, 1870 when he died of fever from what the family called "malaria." Ultimately the condition that claimed the life of Corporal Martin P. Bailey took the life of four of his seven children who were buried near him on the family farm where he rests today below the Pinnacle Rock.