Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-13
THE BATrLE or TOP MOUNTAIN,
RosENCRANz FIGHTS FLOYD.
The Old Thief is Beaten, and Steals
Away in the Night.
FLOYD'S CAMP, MUNITIONS, AND
PERSONAL BAGGAGE TAKEN.

GAINESVILLE, Va, Sept. PA battle
noon near Summervie. Gen Rosencranz,
after making reconnaissance, found Floyd's
army OF five thousand men, with sixteen field
pieces, entrenched in powerful position on
Top Mountain, at Cannx Ferry, on tie west
side of Ganley River. The rear, and the ex-
tremes of both TANKS were inaccessible. The
front was masked with heavy forests and
close jungle.
Col. Lytle's tenth Ohio regiment of Ben
hams brigade, was in advance, and drove
strong detachment of the rebels out of camp,
this side of Floyd's position the site of which
was unknown. Shortly afterwards Lytes
scouts, consisting of four companies, suddenly
discovered themselves in face OF a parapet
battery, and long line of palisades for rifle.
men, and the battle opened fiercely. The re-
mainder of the Ohio. tenth, and thirteenth,
were brought into action successfully by Gen.
Benham, and the twelfth afterwards by Capt.
Hartsuff, whose object was an armed recou-
noisance.
The enemy played upon our forces terrf-
cally with musketry, rifles, canister, and shell,
causing some casualties. Col. Lytle led sew
eral companies to charge the battery, when he
was brought down by Il shot in the leg.
Smiths thirteenth Ohio engaged the enemy
on the left, and Col loves twelfth Ohio di.
rectly i'll front. Lowe fell dead at the head
of his regiment early in the hottest fire, by
ball in the forehead
McMulleu's h0witzer battery and Snyder's
two field pieces, meantime, got into the best
position possible under the circumstances, and
soon silenccd two rebel guns, The fire slack
ened at intervals, but grew more furious as
night approached when the German brigade
was led CALAMITY into action by Col. McCooL,
under direction of Adjuant General Hartsuff;
but, after furious fight OF three hours, he re-
called all of the troops, and the men laid on
their arms within a short distance of the enc
my, each ready TO resume the conflict next
morning.
The thief Floyd fled during the night, sink
ing the boats in the river and destroying the
temporary bridge which he made when he first
occupied the position. The turbulence and
depth of the river and the exhaustion of the
troops, made ii impossible to follow him. He
left his camp equipage, wagons, horses, a large
quantity of ammunition, and fifty head of cat.
tie.
Our loss is Is killed and about 70 wounded.
generally flesh wounds. The rebel loss is not
known, for they carried their dead and wound
ed with them, but it must have been serious.
Capt. McGroarty of Cincinnati, Capt. McMul-
len, and Lieut., Snyder of Ohio, are among the
wounded but their wounds are not dangerous.
Twenty five of Col. Tyler's men, taken by
Floyd at Cross Lane, were recaptured. F.oyd's
personal baggage, with that of his officers, was
taken.
Gen Benham's brigade, which suffered
most was commanded by him in person, and
McCook led his brigade Gems Rosencranz
and Benlam, Coils. McCook, Lytle and Lowe,
captains Hartsuf, Snyder, McMullen and
Burke of the tenth Ohio, and other officers,
displayed conspicuous personal gallantry. The
troops were exclusively Ohians, and showed
great bravery.