| Conflict: | Battle of Deserted House |
| Partof: | the American Civil War |
| Date: | January 30, 1863 |
| Place: | Suffolk, Virginia |
| Result: | Union victory |
| Combatant1: |  United States (Union) |
| Combatant2: | CSA (Confederacy) |
| Commander1: | Michael Corcoran |
| Commander2: | Roger Atkinson Pryor |
| Strength1: | 8,000 |
| Strength2: | 1,800 |
| Casualties1: | 22 killed 108 wounded 12 missing 142 total[1] |
| Casualties2: | 8 killed 31 wounded 39 total |
The battle of Deserted House, or the Battle of Kelly’s Store, was a minor engagement during the American Civil War in southeast Virginia.
Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. Roger A. Pryor crossed the Blackwater River into southeast Virginia on a foraging expedition.[1] Maj. Gen. John J. Peck commanded the Union garrison at Suffolk. Peck organized a force to drive Pryor out of the area and assigned Brig. Gen. Michael Corcoran to its command.[1] Anticipating an attack from the Union garrison, Pryor prepared his forces for battle near Kelly’s Store, located 8 miles west of Suffolk.[1]
Corcoran’s cavalry engaged Pryor’s forces near a place called Deserted House. The Confederates retreated two miles before making another stand. The 13th Indiana Infantry charged and routed this new line. A final stand by the Confederates was made along the Blackwater River which was broken by the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry.[2] Although suffering far more casualties than the Confederates (142-39), the Union forces prevailed. Corcoran's troops returned to Suffolk the following day.
In April, a larger foraging effort and demonstration against Suffolk was carried out by Lt. Gen. James Longstreet.