The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-24
THE BATTLE NEAR PIKETON.

THE BATTLE NEAR PIKETON.
THE oHIANs CALL 1T THE BATTLE or IVY CREEK.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.]
PKEroN, Pike Co., KY, Nov Il, 1861:
In my letter Of last Thursday stated that the Thirty
Major Hart had started for this place. and that we were
10 follow in the Afternoon The difficulty 10 getting the
wagons containing provisions over the river detained
much that did not got of until the next morning
The division composed of the Second, Twentynrst,
Fifty ninth and Colonel Marshas incomplete regiment
General Nelson took command In person.
We had marched about ten miles when few shots were
fred at our advance We halted and were formed into
line, but as only few Of the rebels discovered and
Again we took up the line Of march, and had advanced
probably three miles, when a volley from unseen
enemy lot us know that "bushwacking had commenced
In earnest
Few positions could have been selected better adapted
for surprising and entrappng army The road lies at
the foot Of almost perpendicular hill mountain side
with the river close by There just enough TO
expose whole line to their fre Tho greater part Of
their force was stationed ridge at tho further end Of
the pass The remainder secreted In c0rnAed on
the opposite side Of the river We afterwards learned
that they numbered 740dlo infantry and 125 cavalry
for the last three miles the march had boon rapid that
they had only time TO keep In advance Of the division
Maa more ' n been axsn soe :smsnsrs could nave
the pass Asit was the advance companies aim
directly under the rebels whom they opened their nrs
ORDERS were Immediately given for TO ascend tho
hill and by advancing around the ridge 70 get above
and posable in their Before this could DO DONE
however the vigorous fire OF our troops and well
directed shells thrown by Captain Conkns battery had
entirely dispersed them with loss Of thirty killed
and about the same number wounded.
Our loss four killed and twenty-fou wounded
Two Of the latter have since died. Colonel Aarshas
men suffered the most severely. He himself had his
Captain Beryhi Of Company A. Second Ohio was wound
cd In the wrist intended sending you list Of the
Killed and wounded, but as yet have been unable 10 OBJ
tain one.
matter Of wonder that they did no greater execu.
ion as the Airing continued an hour and twenty minutes
curing the wnoe OF which time part Of our force was
We left the place after the retreat
Of the enemy; but as great caution necessary
forward movements We only advanced couple " miles
and encampSd for the night. heavy rain commenced
about three In the morning and continued almost
early In the morning. but slippery condition OF tho
roads and the obstrucons thrown our way by the re-
treating rebels made our progress exceedingly SLOW.
The pioneers were almost constantly employed in rc-
moving trees and repairing bridges We again encamped
when some Ave miles from the town. Starting again in
the morning. we had Only gone about'haf the distance
bringing US the intelligence that Colonel Ss' d.
vision had taken possession Of the the evening
force Of several hundred but tho booming of the six
Founders seem to have had their usual effect.
We crossed the rivor raft their hasty fight had
not left them time to destroy and thus ended the expo
don against Piketon.
We stl quartcrcd here with some talk Of advanc
Ing further; but do not think It is seriously contem-
plated as to move army such roads this
Of the year would be almost an impossibility.
wouia nave oeen gad 70 have scnt you fuller &C
and fatigues of the march has left In condition
In which feel but littls like writing fact doing
anything REMAIN your very tired correspondent.
q. L. NJ.
From the Cincinnati Gazette, Nov. 1871
The steamer Boston, from MaysviIo, arrived at our
wharf yesterday having board Brigade Surgeon Brad
ford Of General Nelson's command; Lieutenant Nugent
and Rev. Mr. Bayess chaplain OF Colonel Marsfals Ken
lucky regiment and Captain Bcrryhi and nine priv
Of the Second Ohio, wounded thu recent skirmsh near
Ptketon. From Surgeon Bradford gather some into
resting particulars relative 70 recent events in
Kentucky in addition to those already mado public
The doctor and his companions were course greatly
surprised on learning the ssy exaggerated
OF the light 1T Ivy Mountain sent from Paris and licking
ton and wonder the Representations werc not tho
other way, frightened soldier threw down his mus
ket and ran back several miles, reporting that Colonel
Marshals regiment cut to pieces and that General
Nelson himself had been killed.
The actual loss OF the enemy 10 not known certainly
Eleven dead bodies buried by onr troops and two
wounded died after the light Tho Inhabitants OF Piketon
said tho rcbcls acknowledged loss of sixty killed and
one hundred wounded and missing. Colonel Marshall
made several very narrow escapes. HIS clothes woro
cut by bullets in four five places and horse was shot
under him, and yet he did not sustain scratch Tho po-
sion Of the enemy such that they might have easily
killed two or three hundred Of mcn but they could
not Withstand the searching 1rc OF the loyal Kentucky
and Ohio troops, and soon fled in all directions.
We understand from Surgeon Bradford that all our
troops In Eastern Kentucky have been ordered Licking
ton and are now on their way TO that point Colonel
calfcs Kentucky regiment down the Big Sandy on
RATS One Of the RATS was wrecked in the Rapids about
sixty miles above the mouth Of the stream, and one man
drowned. About sixty muskets also lost The
Second Twenty first and Thirty third Ohio and Colonel
country to Maysve, and may be expected wharf
Thursday Friday, on the way to Lexington