The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-26

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oxER-rHs CAPTURE OF ooEOxEL WOOD.
RUFF AND orHERs.
From The Cincinnati Commercial. July 20.
The steamer Dunleith, Captain "A. D.
Wilson, arrived from Petersburg yester.
terday, bringing the latest intelligence from
the Kanawha river.
STATEMENT OF AN EYE WITNESS.
A gentleman who Was in the engagement,
and whose character and rank are sufficient
guarantees of the correctness of his state
ment, gives Us the following version Of the
affair on Wednesday afternoon
The 18th Ohio and parts of two compa.
MES OF the 2lst, started to capture bate.
~ at the mouth Of Scarey creek, about
thirteen miles from Charleston. The bat
terry was supposed to be supported by about
seven hundred men. When we reached the
bill where the battery was planted, the
rebels opened fire upon us from two pieces
Of artillery. We had also two pieces, and
tearing down the fences, the guns were
placed in position, and our forces wheeled
into line on the brow of the bill ia such q
mannor as to bring our fire to bear npon
the enemy.
We were seriously annoyed BY 4 hanking
fire on the river, and also from large log
house on the bank of the creek. Deiach-
ments of two companies OF the 3lst and
two companies of the 18th, charged upon
the house and routed the rebels at the point
of the bayonet. They retreated across the
creek covered by the fire of their own men
-fording it, as they had previously burnt
the bridges.
In the meantime our artillery had slepced
their battery, entirely destroying the car.
rage of the one piece, and our boys twice
silenced the fire of their infantry. at this
juncture they received reinforcements, their
force was nearer 1900 than 700 at the out.
set and our boys had completely exhausted
their ammunition. They therefore COM
menced retreat, in good order. SO soon as
they had got beyond the range of the rebels
single remounted piece, reserving their last
single shot in the cannon for any emergency
should the enemy attempt pursuit.
In this manner the retreat was kept up
till we fell in with the balance of the 2lst
Ohio, under Col. Nibley; the boys were SO
exhausted, having fought for three hours,
and exhausted every round in their cart
riege boxes, that the attempt was given
over.
Our informant puts the loss on our side
at 4 killed, mortally wounded, 3 missing,
and II or l8 more of less seriously wound
ed. Of those instantly killed were Capt.
Allen, Company D, and George Blue, Co.
K, 2lst Lieut. Pomeroy has since died Of
bis wounds. One had bis hip torn away
by cannon ball, and must die. Captain
Sloan of the 18th was wounded, but not
dangerously. These were all the names we
could recall. COL. Norton was supposed
to, be prisoner. he had been wounded
and taken to house q fourth of mile
from the hospital, but the guard placed
over him had been called off to take charge
Of some prisoners during the engagement,
and he was seen, or some one supposed to
have been him, in the hands of the rebels.
The painful news that Col. Woodruff and
Lieut.. Col. Netf, of the Second Kentucky,
and Colonel DeViIliers, of the I1th Ohio,
had been captured while accommodating,
needs confirmation. They had left General
COx's camp to ascertain what was going
on, at the time of the fight, and had not
returned when our informant left, though
just as the boat was pushing out he heard
the boys in camp give three cheers, and saw
some one that be took to be Col. w. riding
into camp. 1t is not unfrequent that off,
GERS on accommodating expeditions remain
out far q considerable time longer than they
anticipate when setting out, and the friends
of these gentlemen should not be uneasy
about them, at least till further intelligence
arrives.