St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-09-19
TELECRAPHlC..
The Fight in Western Virginia.

CLARKsBuRo, Va, Sept. ia bat.
tie took place about 8 o'clock on Tuesday
afternoon, near Summervillc. General
koscncrans, after making a reconnaissance
found that Floyd's army, 5000 strong,
With sixteen field pieces, was entrenched
in a powerful position on tho top of a
mountain at Carnixc's Ferry, on the west
side Of Gauley River. The rear and ex.
tremes of both TANKS were inaccessible,
and the front was masked by heavy for
ests and close jungle. Colonel Lytlc's
l0sh Ohio Regiment, Of BenhaA's brig
ade, was ia advance and drove a strong
detachment of the enemy out of camp,
this side Of the position, the site of which
was unknown. Shortly afterwards his
scouts, consisting OF four companies, sud
denly discovered themselves in the face of
a parapet battery, and long line of palli.
sades for ridamcn, when the battery opened
6ercely.
The remainder Of the 10th and the 18th
Ohio were brought into action successfully
by Gen. Benham, and the 18th afterwards
by Capt. Hartsutf, whose object was re-
connoisance. The enemy played upon our
force terri6cal'y, with muskets, rifles, can
mister aud she'll. causing some casualties.
Col. I-ytle had several companies of his
Irish to charge the battery, when he was
brought down by shot in the leg. Col.
Smith, of the 18th Ohio, then engaged
the enemy on the left and Col. Lowe, Of
the 18th Ohio, directly in front. COL
Lowe tell dead at the head Of his regiment
early in the day, in the hottest fire, by a
ball in the forehead. McMullcn's howit-
zer battery, and Snyder's two field pieces,
meantime, were got ints the best position
possible under tl,a circumstances, and soon
silcnced two Of the rebel guns. The fire
slackened at intervals, but grew more fu-
~rious as night approached, when the Ger
man brigade was led gallantly into action,
by Col. McCook, under the direction Of
Adjutant General Hartsuff, but after fu-
rious fight three hours, night compelled
the recall Of the troops, and the men laid
on their arms within short distance Of
the enemy, ready to resume the contest
next morning
Gen. Floyd, however, fled during the
night and sunk the boats in the river and
destroyed the temporary bridge which he
had made when he first occupied the po-
sition. The turbulence and depth of the
river and exhaustion of the troops made
it imp ossible to follow him. He left his
camp equipage, wagons, horses. large guam
titles Of ammunition, and fifty head Of cat
tie.
Our loss is fifteen killed, and about sew.
enty wounded, generally aesh wounds
The rebel loss is not ascertained. They
carried their dead and wounded with them
but it was certainly serious.
Capt. McGroarty Of Cincinnati, Capt.
MoMullen and Lieut.. Snyder of Ohio, are
among the wounded, but not dangerously.
Twenty-Five men Of Col. Tyler's regi.
ment who were taken by Floyd at Cross
Lanes were recaptured, AMI Floyd's per.
sonal baggags, with that Of his officers,
was taken. ."..s 80. -. .,....-
Gen. Benham's brigade, which suffered
most, was commanded by him in person,
and McCook led his brigade. Gcneralr
Rosecrans and Benham, Col McCook, Col
Lytle, Col. Lowe, Capt. Hartsutf, Majo,
Burxo Of the 10th Ohio, and other Off.
GERS displayed conspicuous personal gal.
lantry. The troops were exclusively from
Ohio, and showed great bravery.