Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-11-28

ebhstsntly advancing. AZ Saibstol
this time q portion 81 the 'ftirteaenfl
took up 4 position on tier. sxtferasliefl
threatening 70 get ia their fesr.l' Tn
rebels, finding TIE climate bscomi, q To-
warm for even theft Southern eonstiiu
ions, and stlie tflermometer cons tsntf
rising. fed in .disorder-dashing dow
through acorn field, our men p0ppir,
away at them IN the mosf iively An
pleasant manner. They did not Seen
to see the point Of the Joke; and from
what We. saw afterward, tits nv de
iiberate opinion that they are runnfn.
tyet-eat least We never got Within gun
shot Of them again. Il IS difficult /,
CORRECTLY estimate the loss OF the enemy
as we were too much hurried to max.
search for them. but Il could not have
been less than fifteen killed and wound
ed--proba6ly much more. We did not
lose man. This all sounds rather
ishy, but they had no artillery. and all
Of our men within reach of Their mus
kerry we're kept carefully under cover
BY their commanding officers whose
caution and skill cannot be,too highly
commended. From this point we had
abundant evidence OF the utter route
and hasty flight of the enemy. d They
were badly scared, and though in Inc
course Of our march we passed positions
which competent officers assured me
were almost impregnable, tKey did not
attempt to take advantage OF one of
them. Floyd was blind drunk the
night he came through Fsyette c. H.,
and think has been in 4 slate Of
chronic intoxiea,ion for some time, he
certainly is much better adapted for pill
fering than fighting. having NOT the least
stomach for anything in the shape of
danger. All along the road we found
-four. clothing. knapsacks. csnteens,
tents, &c. &C., scattered at short inter-
walls. .h ----a D 1sai fapds
Now commenced our hardships. We
had been much delayed BY The action;
and knowing that the Virginis chiyalry
are perfect race horses. in running from
an enemy. however dilatory they may
be when advancing on one,. We hurried
our movements. as much as possible.
hoping if prsfing else TO capture the
wagon train; Exhich was in the rear;
but We fought against insurmouEtable
difficulties. From the, General down.
there never was a more gallant body
of men. They struggled on mile after
mile, through the most wfetfhed apol-
ogy for roads that the dms sgin.s lion ever
conceived Of. Some. worn Sut by IA
Iigue, --dFoppsa Down by thlkway (alll
were picked up afterward. but those
who could by any possibility keep their
feet, struggled on. Col. Smith l no.
Iced particularly wading through the
nire nearly knee-deep, having dismoun-
ed to give his horse to sick Captain,
Is jolly as if he were on four horses.
From information received from our
guide, (Who by the way is r0ra 0vis
n this country, a true blue Virginia
Jnionist. } we thought we should over
axe the wagon train at Three Nile
Hill. seven miles from Raleigh, On
eaching the Blake farm, one mile from
he foot Of the mountain, we sent for
vard mounted scouts who returned I
With the disheartening news that the
foresaid vehiculary conYeyanees, like
he "hieland laddie" of musical noto-
iety, were ''o'er the hills and far
WA" What could we do? Our
nen were used up; we had neither
ents, provisions, ambulances, nor
eavy artillery, (having been obliged
o leave Schneider's pieces some dis
ance behind, } and were deep in an en-
my's country with chance Of our
etreat being cut off if we advanced
lrther. Gen. Benham wisely resolved
D proceed no further that night. We
ivouacked in the open fields. and il l
ad loved Western Virginia before with
II the ardent affection OF one of her
wn gallant bush whackers. that night
7ould have turned my loveete bitter
aie. / strongly advise all who read
his, and who may be afflicted with
lania for this part Of soldiers life, to
o itUn paper, for, take my word for
;, ait don't pay, sir, nor can't be made
, pay" That night at 10 o'clock the
ieneral received orders from General (
had crossed the river at {
iauley, but none of whose re-enforce- S
,ents had as yet reached us-to return.
We took up our line of march at 2 {
clock A. NJ, and reached this place I
about I p. NJ where both brigades
re now stationed. This ends The cam
aign in Western Virginia. Floyd is
riven clear out Of the country, and ,
wears he will never return. r admire !
is taste, though l cannot sag as much
VI his courage. -H iHos5s heGF5 II
sIyFG iEnU iauD 4 li.uhraynsi Ia
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