Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-31
OUR WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
rae OAmPAroN IN vInenrA.
Battle OF Carrfck's FOrd..An Authentic
AccOmnf.


Battle OF Carrick's FOrd..An Authentic
Account.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
MCDOWELL Highland County, July %, 1911
have no doubt you have received various and nu-
mePous reports OF the movements of the troops of
General Garnett's command since last wrote Won
and now merely write to give true and accurate
statement OF the retreat and death of General Car
meta statement which defy ony one to question.
and to which those high in authority will willingly
subscribe. would have given you the particulars
before, but having hard and severe duty to perfsr
l was not able to do So
We had been diminishing with the enemy a week
at Laurel Hill, when, on Thursday evening 18th
| July, we received an order from General Garnet
70 prepare provisions for two days march, short
~ after which we were directed to strike our tents
and took up our line of march for Beverly, dis
lance of sixteen miles, which place we came with
IN three.meso when we found that a very formula
bic blockade had been erected, which we could not
pass, and, therefore, had to march back on the
route we had previously come, to road that led TO
tne Northeast, towards st. George, in Tucker coun-
ty, which we entered early in the morning There
would state, IN the way of parenthesis that il
was the object of General G.. to form a eonneetion
with Colonies Pegram and Heck, who were station-
ed at Rich Mountain, and move on Cheat
Mountain, via HuttonsYille; but the enemy
1t seems, cut us off, and get between the two
commands, and had our email force almost COM
pletely surroundedl Thus you will see our COM
maEd, composed of tour companies of cavalry. Can
tain Shoemaker's Danville Artillery, Col. William
b. IalIterro s Esd Regiment, Col Jackson's Regi
ment, Col Fulkerson's 37th Regiment aud the Geor-
gia Regiment, Col Ramsey, and small Battalion
under Col. HansbsrOugh, all under the immediate
charge of Gen. Garnett, forced to take the on
ly route left US. We had proceeded on the road
mentioned above for thIrty-six miles, without eating
or sleeping, except short halt about midday until
Saturday morning, when our cavalry came RAPIDLY
to the rear division and informed US of the rapid
approach of the enemy. Not being in condition
to stand an engagement, our little army moved on,
but had not gone far before hault was ordered
and the Georgia Regiment, which had hitherto been
in the advance was directed to make stand against
the advance guard of the enemy, which they did,
taking position in low meadow, just across Cheat
River, portion of the command taking to the woods
fer the purpose of ambuscade. The enemy ad
vanced on them and gave them battle without how
ever, killing any but they succeeded in cutting
of from the main body six companies who have
since made their way through the mountain and
joined their command.
The retreat was then continued anu now our suf-
ferings commenced in earnest. Col Taiaferro had
command of the rear division nearly the whole re-
treat, and had to sustain The hardest part of the
work, the balance of the force being far in ad-
vance.
We kept en- in this way until we had come to
Carrick's Ford Of the Cheat River, where we found
that our wagons had become stalled and overturned
IN the river, and where they had to be left at the
mercy Of the enemy.
Lieut. Laniers Washington. Artillery and Colonel
Taliaferrois 23l Regiment had no sooner crossed
than they were ordered to give the enemy battle
and our forces were marched in double quick time
to meet the Yankees. We soon took our position
and had hardly taken it, when the advances of the
enemy came upon US. Col Taliaferrs gave the
command orders to fire, when Lieut. Lanier and the
23t opened on them, and for an hour raked them
down like chat, and twice they were forced to re-
treat but having so many troops they we're soon
reinforced not, however, until they had lost over
800 killed, and how many wounded we are unable
to say. Our loss in this engagement was ii killed
and about 20 wounded So anxious were our troops
to keep up the fire, that Colonel T. had to give tie
command orders TO retire several times before he
could get the troops to leave the field.
After this engagement, we had TO double quick it
for four miles before we came up with the remain
der of the army. Immediately after this battle
and in half mile Of it, Gen. Gsrnett in person was
on the river bank, and halted the Regiment, and
detached the Sharp Shooters, of Richmond, and Sc.
lected 10 men from their ranks under the command
OF Lieut.. L. E De Priest, to remain with him and
IRE on the enemy as soon as they advanced. They
had only few moments to wait, when they were
seen crossing the river when Gen. G.. gave his lit
tie squad orders to fire and retreat which they did
killing several as they retreated. The enemy i'm
medately fired, when General Glrnett fell shot !
through the breast killing him instantly. He fell
on Lieutenant De Priest, az he came to the ground
and had to be left to the mercy of his foes.
Here, II seems the enemy ceased his pursuit but !
we still kept up retreat, without eating rest
ing, for two days and nights, and marching many |
weary mile, until We reached Maryland, q portion |
OF which we marched through, and continued on to |
Hardy county. where we met good friends IN the |
worthy and noble hearted farmers of,that beautiful
portion of Cd Virginia. We rested awhile in a |
little place called Petersburg, where we received
treatment fit for conquerOrs. We continued our |
march to this place. where we will remain until |
are clothed and gain some strength, many of the |
men being unfit Tor service by sickness and IA |
tigue.
cannot conclude this letter without bearing tasti-
mOny to the bravery, CoOness courage and fathPrly
kindness of Col. Taaferro towards his men, not one
Of whom but would follow him wherever he should |
lead. The same remarks will apply to Lieut. Col. !,
Crenshaw, Major Jos. H. Pendleton and Adj. VIM. |
3. PendletOn, than whom no drawer nor better souls
can be found.
To Lieut.. E. Z. De Priest and private W. C. Wane,
of the Sharp Shooters, great credit is due for their
bravery and courage III action. They have never
yet refused to obey any order, however hazardous,
nor to perform it with zeal and alacrity. Both OF
them were with Gen. G. at his death, the latter of
whom tried to get his watch and sword, but was
forced to leave them TO the Yankees.
sTATEMENT or LIEUT.. sTLTuA4, OF LEE BATTERY
From the Lynehburg Republican, July ~.
Ne account having yet been published by any
one who was in the battle of Rich Mountain Pass,
which has fallen under my eye, will give the par>
.iculars as we'll as | can from memory-beng pres
ant from tbs beginning to the end of the action.
For several days the enemy were within two
miles of US discoursing martial music and making
quite display and on the morning of the IL July,
about o'clock, the camp fires were burning bright
", and shortly after l could distinctly hear the
command of the officers to fern into line We were
then at the breastworks our men at their guns m >
mentarilv expecting an attack The two Re2i-
nents (HeCks and Pegrams) were under orders
prepared to receive them. In the morning a cour-
Ter from the enemy was shot by our troops was
wounded and kindly treated He informed US that
we would soon be attacked in the rear. About II
o'clock was ordered by Capt Anderson, who ac-
me, to place my gun in position at the
pass and await the arrival of the enemy, he conf
lenty stating at the time his belief that at that
point the main battle would be fought. He then
eft, stating we shall be reinforced if attacked At
he same time four companies of infantry were or
Tered by Col. Pegram to the same point making in
III about 2jO men, not including small company
# cavalry. Immediately the infantry rolled to-
Iether some logs for a bre2stwOrk, expecting the
nemy on our right flank or directly in the rear.
At this time Col Pegram appeared and gave Capt !
)eLanel the command Of the post, and then retired
o the main body. Before we finished our breast
york we heard the fire of our picket guard, under
apt Carter II. Irving, Immediately on our left
ank. This about half past 2 o'clock sup
Ose. Immediately the position of my gun was
hanged and the infantry ordered on the other
ide of the unfinished breaswOrk being then about
0 yards in rear of our cannon. The enemy soon
made their appearance on the brow of the hill and
commenced firing from behind rocks and trees at
ur men at the gun. They were from $50 to 225
ards from US, and out of range of our infantry