Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-10-08
Recent Battle of BarbOursvllIe, Kentucky.
CAMP NEAR CUMBERLAND FoRD, KY.,l

september 10, 1861. !
We arrived here on the 14th instant. after
forced march of many hours-Captan Rowan,
Company B, lst Battalion Of East Tennessee Cav
airy, leading the van, and with Capt. Plu..lee's
company, forming the vanguard of the Brigade.
Our situation here is one which can be made i'm
pregnable, by the aid of little work and the
proper armament. Where our fortifc atoms are
finished, we can say to the Northern invaders,
come and fall back like the wave that would try
to roll over the pillows of Hercules.
Since our advent into Kentucky we have been
doing picket and scouting duty, capturing arms
and taking prisoners. A number of muskets,
phies.
On day before yesterday our affairs seemed to
take different turn. Coils. Rains and Branner
started on scouting picket expedition, taking
twenty-six men with them. Near BarboursviIe
they were fired on by an ambushed force of the
enemy They fired their pistols, ,put them to flight,
and returned to camp. The order ssTO horse''
went forth, and we were in the saddle pretty
quickly. Our route was down Cumberland river,
through narrow defles and pleasant fields. Capt.
Rowan's company not carrying guns, Capt. Plum
lee was on the right wing of the vanguard of cav
airy, Caps. A. Rowan's next, then eight compa-
nies of infantry, composed of two companies
each of Coils. Battles, Newman's and Rains
regiments, Capt. Simpson, Of lst Batt E. 7.
Cavalry, brought up the rear. The whole was
commanded by Col. Battle. We marched till
daylight, when the enemy was reported at Bar
boursvlle-strenth not known. One man was
taken with musket, four miles from town. From
that place lane leads to the town, over bridge,
crossing ravine the left and right of the road.
On our right was field of luxurant corn, fenced
in by strong post fence on our left stubble
| fields, with common fence. The morning was
| very foggy and0we were not able to distinguish
| a man one hundred yards off. When we had ap-
| preached to within about thirty yaruS of the
| bridge, the enemy, concealed in the ravine, be-
| hind fences, in the cOrn-feld, and under the
| bridge, commenced a brisk fire. The suddenneSs
of the attack threw the right wing of the cavalry
Capt. Plumiee's company into momentary con-
fusion. Capt. Rowan then threw his men to the
right into line of battle. A few voleys of pistol
balls soon silenced this part of the enemy. They
continued firing, however, from the ravine to the
right and the cOrn-feld Capt Rowan ordered
| his men to charge into the cOrnfeld. The charge
was made, the cOrn-ield cleared, and the enemy
| completely routed. The infantry coming up into
the place vacated by Capt. Rowan, gave them
the farewell shot. Nineteen Of the enemy were
left dead on the field, how many more we could
not ascertain, the hiding places being too many.
we captured number of arms, some ammuni-
tlon, and two prisoners.
| We mourn the loss of Lieut. Powell, Of Cum
ming's regiment, killed, and j. F. Browder bad
| ly wounded. One horse killed and nine or ten
disabled; several men and horses slightly scratch
| ed. In conclusion, must say that our men be-
haved bravely; they stood the fire like veterans,
and though the balls whistled every side
and passed through the clothing of several,
not man was seen to finch, and l think that
this little fight at Barboursville is the beginning
| OF glorious compaign in Kentucky. We have
many warm friends here, and to protect them
from the outlaw band of Lincolnites will not on
" be duty, but pleasure to every true Ten
| uoSStan.