Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-21
[oorrespondsnee of the Cincinnati oommsrciar.l
The Fight on the Kanawha.


Lowe, of the 18th Ohio Regiment, and seven
companies of Col. Norton's regiment. Capt.
Campbell did not learn any satisfactory details,
but states that our troops exhausted all their
ammunition, and retired, after severe loss, With
their two field pieces The Federal feet was
lying below Pocatella creek, and the action took
place at "Scarey," some distance in the inte.
rior. IL appears that our troops were sent out
with orders to make reconnaissance, but not
to attack the enemy, who we're in q strongly
entrenched position, numbering l5OO strong
unless it appeared the position could be easily
carried.
Capt. Campbell reported that Col. Norton
was severely wounded, while gallantly encour-
aging his men TO charge, and he was left on the
field and captured by the enemy.
The extent of our loss is not known, but we
infer that 1t was quite serious. The enemy
also suffered severly. Col. Lowe sent back dur
ing the action for ammunition, and Gen. Cox
sent il forward with reinforcements, but our
roops were met returning from the field. 1t.
Pomeroy, Of Ottowa, o was mortally wound
ed, and he was sent to this city on the steamer
Dunleith, but he expired at Galllpolis. One
private in the cavalry company which forms
part of Gen. Cox's brigade, was killed. Col.
Woodruff and Lieut.. Col Neff, of the I'd Ken
lucky Regiment, and Major De Villiers, Of the
9th Ohio, were at the engagement as spectators,
and when Capt. Campbell left Pocatella creek,
twenty hours after the conflict, they had not re
turned. The inference Is strong that they were
taken prisoners, and we are afraid our troops
met with severe reverse. Capt. Campbell re.
ports that they fought gallanty and did not re.
tire until their ammunition was completely ex.
hausted.
REBEL STATEMENT.
Capt. w. o. ROseberry, who it will be re.
membered was arrested at Pt. Pleasant, Va,
and taken to Columbus, Ohio, but subsequently
released, being charged With a sympathy With
the rebels, was also among the passengers by
the steamer DuDlieth. The following is his
version OF the conflict:
On the l7th, Gen. Cox ordered the 18th Ohio,
Col. Lowe, two companies OF the 2lst Ohio, to-
gether With the Cleveland Artillery and Capt.
Rogers cavalry company from Ironton, Ohio, TO
cross the kanawha river at the mouth of Pokey
Creek, twenty miles below Charleston, and re-
connoitre the rebel camp five miles above, on
the south side or right hand bank of the Ka.
nswha, three miles below the mouth of Coal
river, and to cannonade and draw them out in
order to estimate their force and, if easily cap
tured, to take their batteries. the enemy being
fortified. When within three hundred yards Of
the battery, they were fired into by rebels un-
der command of Col. Tompkns, from three to
FIVE pieces of artillery, when general engage
ment ensued, lasting about two hours, when the
rebels were reinforced, and the Federal troops
compelled to retreat. Col. Norton, of the 2lst
Ohio, was wounded, shot in tho hip and taken
prisoner; Capt. Allen killed-ball In the fore.
head, Justbetween the eyes; Lieut.. Pomeroy was
shot through the hip. He died on the Dunleith,
when the boat was near Galipols. The re
mains will be forwarded to his home in Ottowa,
Putnam county, Ohio, to day. Lieutenant Pome-
roy and Captain Allen were in Company B,
2lst Ohio, Colonel Norton, During the engage
ment, Col. De Villiers, llth Ohio, Col. Wood
ruff, Lieut.. Col. Nef, and several Captains, of
the I'd Kentucky, mounted, rode up opposite the
scene of action, and had not returned to their
camp up to IL NJ, on the 18th inst. The rebelS
were reported to be 1900 strong, previous to be.
out by the federals, asking the privilege of visit.
ing the rebel camp to gather the dead and
wounded. Petitions were also sent from PS
Pleasant, signed by Capt. Roseberry, and other
prisoners, recently in charge of Capt Norton,
asking the privilege to bring the Colonel back
who was reputed wounded.
LIEUT.. PoMEROY.
Lieut.. Pomeroy, of Company B, 2lst Ohio
Regiment, who was mortally wounded in the
battle, and brought on board the steamer Dun
leith, received every attention from the officers
of the boat. He died as the boat was nearing
Gallipolis.
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
A gentleman who was in the engagement, and
whose character and rank are sufficient guar
antics of the correctness of his statement, gives
US the following version Of the affair on
Wednesday afternoon.
The 18th Ohio and parts of two companies
of the 2lst, started to capture battery at the
mouth of Scarey creek, about thirteen miles
from Charlestown. The battery was supposed
to be supported by about 700 men. When we
reached the hill where the battery was planted,
the rebels opened fire upon US from two pieces
Of artillery. We had also two pieces, and tear
ing down the fences, the guns were placed in
position, and our forces wheeled into line on the
brow of the hill in such manner as to bring
our fire to bear upon the enemy, while We had
partial protection from theirs by fence on the
top of the hill. ..-
We were seriously annoyed by fanking fire
on the river, and also from large log house on |
the bank OF the creek. Detachments of two |
companies of the 2lst and two companies of the
I2!h, charged upon the house and routed the |
rebels at the point of the bayonet. They re-
treated across the creek, covered by the fire of |
their own men-fording it, as they had previous
ly burnt the bridges.
In the meantime our artillery had silenced |
their battery, entirely destroying the carriage
Of one piece, and our boys twice silenced the |
fire OF their infantry. AT this juncture they re-
ceved reinforcements (heir force was nearer |
i 500 than 700 at the outset), and our boys |
had completely exhausted their ammunition. |
They therefore commenced retreat, 10 good |
order, go soon as they had got beyond the range
of the rebels single re.mounted piece, reseIv |
ing their last single shot in the cannon for
any emergency, should the enemy attempt
pursuit.
In this manner the retreat was kept up till
we fell In with the balance Of the 2lst Ohio,
under Col. Nibley; the boys were then so ex.
hausted, having fought for three hours, and ex,
hausted every round In their cartridge boxes,
that the attempt was given over.
Our informant puts the loss on our eide at
killed, mortally wounded, missing, and IL
instantly killed were Capt. Allen, Co. d, aud
Geo. Blue, Co, X, 2lst. Lieut.. Pomeroy has
since died of his wounds One man had bis
hip torn away by cannon ball, and must die.
Capt. Sloan Of the 18th was wounded, but not
dangerously. These we're all the names be
could recall. Col Norton was supposed to be
prisoner. He had been wounded and taken to
a house fourth Of mile from, the hospital,
but the guard placed over him had been called
of to take charge Of some prisoners taken dur
Ing the engagement. aud he was seen, or some
one supposed TO have been him, in the hands Of
the rebels, ~
The painful news that Col. Woodruff and
Lieut.. Col. Neff, Of the I'd Kentucky, and COL
Da Vlliara Of Aha IItb nhio ha A haa,. "a ptr.ad