The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23
CHARLESTON, Kanawha co.. Vaol
November l8. 1851. {

1
our Regiment, as you well know, has suffered
many hardships, dangers and losses, and per-
haps brief account of our joumeyings and
adventures may be interesting to some of the
readers of the 'gay and Incompatible" PoR-
TAGE SENTINEL:
We left our camp at Birch earlyon the 9Th
of August, and encampcd at Nicholas c. H.,
in the afternoon of the 7th, where we were
until the 18th. While on their way to Wes-
ton, our mail carrier was killed, the mail cap
tured, and Capt. Sprague, of Co. E, who had
left Nicholas C. H., with the carrier, on fur
Tough home, was taken prisoner by COM
pany of rebel cavalry.
Early on the morning of the 18th of Au-
gust, orders were given to prepare for march
to Gauley Bridge, as Geo. Cox expected an
attack. When We had proceeded as far as
Cross Lanes, orders were received by a courier
from Gen. Cox that we need come no further,
when we encamped on the fine grounds, where,
eleven days later, war, with all its sad reali-
ties" was enacted. While here, our reinforce
ment, consisting of five companies of the 23d
and five of the 18th Regiments, with Capt.
Mack's Battery of Howitzers and Capt. Sny-
ders two brass field pieces, left us, at the Or
ders of Col. Smith, and returned to Sutton,
leaving us alone. We were, until the even
ing of the Goth encamped here, companies
each day scouting the country around. Capt.
Shuttle, Of Co. K. while on one of these scouts
with part of his company, was killed |; some
of his men were wounded and taken prison.
ers.
Late on the evering of the Goth, a courier
from Gen. Cox arrived with orders to Col.
Tyler to hasten to Gauley Bridge with his
men, as he expected an attack. When we
had gone as far as Twenty-mile Creek, FIVE
miles from Gauley Bridge, another order was
received, and we again halted pitched our
tents and awaited further orders"
On the morning of the oath, orders were
received from Gen. Cox, to go back to Cross
Lanes and engage the rebels, who were, it was
reported, moving across Gauley river and ia
king possession. When; within five miles Of
the Lanes our advance guard drove in the
cnemy's pickets. After going back three
miles, to suitable camp ground, eating oul
suppers and putting out a strong picket guard
we lay, without tents, close to our arms du-
ring the night. The next morning, after re-
ceiving full supply of ammunition, and "fur-
ther orders' from Gen. Cox to attack them,
we started off and spent the whole day in re-
conoitering the enemy's position, and at night
we lay upon our arms, near the Lanes, expect
ing to attack the rebels early the next NOR
ming.
But uice versa instead of attacking them,
we were attacked and nearly surrounded, but
finally escaped with only few killed, (7I
think, } forty wounded and 102 taken prisoners.
The rebels, however, suffered severely as
nearly tco hundred of their men were killed
on the field, as we have since been reliably in
formed. The baggage train, through the
thoughtfulness of Col. Tyler, who hastened
to it, after ordering us to the woods, was got
safely into Gauley. .r. ...
Of the terrible march over high mountains,
down through deep and dark ravines and
through rivers, hungry wet and cold, of three
and half days, when we reached this place,
we have since seen the effects, as the Hospi-
al records show. Without blankets and a
'egular diet of roast corn, sometimes without
alt, we made this unparalleled march
About noon of the Goth of August, we en-
entered this place. four hundred and fifty
strong, under command of Major Easement,
md were kindly received by the men of the
First Kentucky regiment, Col. Guthrie. For
he next few days, the news from Gaulcy was
good; Col. Tyler, Lieut. Col. Creighton,
Chaplain Brown, Capt. Crane with sixty of
his, and Lieut.. Baker with several men, were
safe into Gauley; our baggage train was safe
also. In the mean time the camp equippage
For FIVE companies-B. D. G. H. and /. came
down from Gauley the rest remaining there,
md the boys of f. and X. that were with us
oined their comrades at Ganlcy Thus our
egiment was divided "'alf-'nd-'alf," and re-
NAMED so until the third week in October,
when the "other halr' joined us here, in
Charleston. The companies, meanwhile at
10Th places, were out, every few days, scout
ng through the mountains
One of the scouts, the last one, in which the
subscriber participated, when detachment
rom three companies-G. H. and I. under
of Capt. Sterling and the late Lieut.
Robinson, went up Loop Creek and were
nearly drowned out, will always be remem-
oered by those who participated. We left
Charleston on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22d,
and turned up'' in Gauley the Sunday fol-
lowing, being in the mountains during that
terrible storm which so flooded this part Of
the country. Houses, barns, mills. &c, were
swept away. Embankments at Gauley Bridge.
Notifications against the enemy, were loosened
and washed away. The "oldest inhabitants''
said the river was seventeen feet higher than
it was ever known to be before. Charleston
was fairly under water! The food swept
through the third story Of some Of the dwell
ngs. Canoes and skiffs were the only means
of conveyance, then, in the streets Of Charles
ton. 1t was the exposure on this scout which