Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-09-25
THE NORTH CAROLINA Standard:

4 hurt. None other OF TINS company was hurt ana
only one in Capt Snead's company, Bryant
! At the close Of the fight, council Of war was
held, and upon our knowledge of the enemy's
strength together with the information we received
from our prisoners, it was determined to retire all
our forces to the south side of Gauley, and not
hazard an attack the next morning. -
We learn from the prisoners that tho enemy was
nine regiments strong, with six pieces of artillery
and that they would be reinforced by General Cox
| in the morning, with two more regiments and two
pieces of artillery. They also informed us that
General Rosencranz commanded in person.
Our force was only 100 men, and while we had
strong reason to believe that could maintain our
position even against such terrible Odds we did not
think it prudent to hazard so much.
We had dispatched to Gen. Wise, in the morning.
for renorcements, and he had declined to send them
for fear of an attack upon ,,im by Gen. Cox. We
had also sent cOuriers for the North Carolina and
Georgia regiments to come up, but it was impossible
for them 20 reach us in time to support us.
At 10 o'clock last night, therefore, forces pro-
ceeded to retire from the position they had so hero
ically defended during the day, ana by light this
morning. they were all safely and in order across the
river with all their baggage &C., except some few
things, which were lost from neglect and want Of
tranSporta i'm.
We now pitching our tents at this place, on
the main Charleston road, about Is miles from
Gauley Bridge, and 81 miles west Of Lewisburg.
Gen. Wise is encamped at Dogwood Gap, few
miles above us, while portion of his force holds
the Hawks Nest below us.
think the public and all military men will agree
that both our fight and fall back to this side of
the river, are among the most remarkable incidents
in the history of war. Seventeen hundred men,
with six inferior pieces of artillery fought back four
times their number, with much superior artillery,
fer more than four long hours repulsng them three
times. and remained masters of the ground. They
then retired their numbers, baggage stores and
more than two hundred sick and wounded across
the river, from 10 P. NJ to A. NJ, along one of the
steepest and worst single.track roads that ever
horses hoof trod or man ever saw. Four o'clock
found these men three miles from the enemy with
our newly constructed bridge destroyed and our
boats sunk behind us. think these facts show
generalship seldom exhibited anywhere.
Since the above was written Gems Wise and Floyd
had fallen back to Big Sewell and afterwards to
Meadow Bluff, about ten miles west of Lewisburg
At the last account Rosencrantz and Cox with su-
perior force were advancing to attack them. Our
forces have thus been compelled several times to
rerace their steps owing to the superior force of the
enemy.
The following brilliant movements were made by
Col. Davis cavalry of Gen. WiSe's Legion:
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL j. I.UCIUS DAVIS
BNOUAcK on BIG Coal RyFR
September 18th, 1861.
General Wise:
SIR: In obedience to your orders, proceeded to
Fayctte c. H., with five companies of my regiment
of cavalry, and left that place with six Caskies b.
ing added. On the l It'll crossed the Cotton Noun
tains and marched to this place, thirty-fve miles
having forded the tortuous Coal river nnety-two
times.
Finding that two companies of the enemy were in
our vicinity on a ma. auing excursion rapid chase
was given by our whole force under the immediate
command of Col. Clarkson.
The enemy was overtaken and the sharp skirmish
Of Toney's creek ensued. In it the enemy were to-
tally routed with the loss of about fifty killed and
wounded, and the same number prisoners
The latter are route for your camp, under
charge of Lieut. Tucker and thirty men
Sixty fat cattle were captured; also six saddles,
lot of boots and Shoes seven horses, several car
rages and wagons-the latter OF little account, be.
ing broken and injured by rough roads. Fifty or
sixty stand Of valuable arms and lot of ammuni
ton was the most valuable part of our capture.
No one was wounded on our side.
The action lasted three hours, the enemy having
been pursued to within twelve miles OF Charleston,
and in sight of the kanawha river. The whole dis
lance traversed by in less than twenty -four
hours being seventyfve to eighty miles, steep
mountainous trails, bride paths and rocky fords.
Time is insufficient to discuss individual merit,
farther than Col Clarkson exhibited his dashing en-
ergy in remarkable degree, and was the real COM
mander in this brilliant skirmish.
The enemy had been acting the part of brgands
in this valley, stealing every species of property in
sultng women, taking men and little boys prisoners
Among the property taken by them ought to be
mentioned cattle, horses, negroes &c.
Your obed't serv't, j. LUCIUS DAVIS,
Col. 1st Cavalry, Wise Legion.