Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-09-20
Battle of Carnifex Ferry.
Recovery of Prisoners Taken at Cross
Lanes.
CLARksBURG, Va, Sept. II.

CLARKsBURG, Va, Sept. II.
A battle took place about three o'clock
on Thursday afternoon, near Summer
Vile.
Gen. Rosecrans, after making a re-
connoisance, found Floyds army, 5000
strong, with sixteen field pieces, en-
trenched in powerful position on the
top of mountain, at Carrix Ferry, on
the west side Of Gauley River. The
rear and extreme of both tanks was in
accessible, and the front was masked by
heavy forests and close jungle.
Col Lytle, Tenth Ohio Regiment, of
Benhams s Brigade, was in the advance,
and drove a strong detachment of the
enemy out of the camp this side of the
position, the site Of which was unknown.
Shortly afterwards his scouts, consisting
of four companies, suddenly discovered
themselves in the face of a parapct
battery and long line of palisades for
rifemen, when the battle opened fercely.
The remainder of the 10th and 18th
Ohio were brought into action success
lively by General Benham, and the 18th
of Ohio afterwards by Capt. Hortsuffi,
whose object was an armed reconnois-
ance.
The enemy played upon our force
terrifcally with musketry, rifles, cannis-
ter and shell, causing some casualties
Col Lytle led several companies of
his Irish to charge the battery, when he
was brought down by a shot in the leg
Col. Smiths 18th Ohio engaged the
enemy on the left, and Col. loves 18th
Ohio directly in front. Col. Lowe fell
dead at the head of his regiment early
in the hottest fire, by a ball in the fore
head.
McMullen's howitzer battery and
Snyder's two field pieces in the mean
time were got into the best position pos
sible under the circumstances, and soon
silenced two of the rebel guns.
The fire slackened at intervals, but
grew more furious as night approached,
when the German brigade was led gal
lantly into action by Col. McCook, un-
der the direction of Adjutant Genei al
Hartsuff, but after furious fight of
three hours, night compelled the recall
of the troops, and the men lay on their
arms within a short distance of the
enemy, ready to resume the contest next
morning.
Floyd fed during the night, sunk the
boats in the river, and destroyed the
temporary bridge which he made when
he first occupied the position.
The turbulence and depth Of the
| river, and the exhaustion of our troops,
made it impossible to follow him. lie
left his camp equipage, wagons, horses,
large quantities of ammunition, and fifty
head Of cattle.
Our loss is fifteen killed and about
seventy wounded = generally flesh
wounds. The rebel loss was not ascer-
tanned, as they carried their dead and
wounded away; but it is certainly serious.
Captain Stephen McGroarty, of Gin
cinnati, Captain MeMullen and Lieuten-
ant Snyder, of Ohio, are among the
wounded, but not dangerously.
Twenty five of Col. Tyler men who
were taken by Floyd at Cross Lanes,
were recaptured, and Floyd's personal
baggage, with that of his officers, was
taken.
Gen. Benham's brigade, which suf
fered most, was commanded by him in
person, and Col McCook led his brigade
| Generals Rosecrans and Benham
Colonel McCook, Colonel Lytle. Colone-
Lowe, Capt. Hartstuf, Capt. Snyder
Capt. McMullen, Major Burke, of the
10th Ohio, and other officers, displayed
conspicuous personal gallantry.
The troops were mostly from Ohio
and showed great bravery.