Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-04


Gen. FIoyd's last Daring Adventure
and Retreat.
A Georgia volunteer, In Gen. FLoYD's
command, furishes the Augusta (Ga.) C,asti.
tutionaliat with the following account Of Gen.
FLoYp's last expedition: --4 = '1T -
Ny last. If you remember, was dated at
Cotton Hill, the 18th inst. then stated it
as my conviction. that nothing had been ao-
complished by our toilsome march to Cotton
Hill. did not, for good reasons, state how
perilous our condition was. This would have
caused uneasiness among our friends at home,
and if percharce. it had reached our enemy,
might have given him that aid and comfort
which fain withhold. 60 --.5~
1t is now, however, legitimate for me to
give yoa all the facts as they were. and as
they are. When they are stated, think
you will agree with me that nothing but the
Providence of God, and the cowardice of the
Yankees, saved Gen. Floy's army from the
most unequal, aud perhaps the bloodest en-
gagement of the war. Take your map again.
You see now that the Kanawha makes q
curve Immediately at its beginning. The
New River and Gauley, one from the South
east, the other from the Northeast, uniting,
form it, and Immediately 1t bends towards
the West, and then flows Eastward. forming
almost a complete curve. We were in this
curve. There was but one way to get to our
position from the South, and that was by the
turnpike leading from Newbern TO Charles
ton. This turnpike, consequently, afforded
us our only means egress. Let an enemy
get upon this turnpike anySbere between
Raleigh and Cotton Hill, and ouf escape was
probably cut off; let them get behind Us be-
tween Fayette C.. II. and Cotton Hill, and it
was certainly done; and this they could do.
Their forces were upon our right, upon our
left, Immediately in front, aud they needed
but to be in rour rear, in order to have US
completely surrounded. The manner in
which they could get in our rear was, by
crossing the Kanawba river at Loop Creek.
and coming up road which afforded good
travelling 10 infantry or cavalry, uuencum-
bered by baggage trains, which comes into
the turnpike half mile from Fayette c. Fl {.
The artillery might have crossed and come
up still another road, leading from the same
point and coming in to our turnpike seven
miles below Fayette @. 81. And here we lay.
exposed to force of not less than 600 and
probably IL; they in easy reach of supplies,
we l09 miles away; they in possession OF ev-
cry ferry, and armed with a number of noun
tain hOwitzers, and We with not men enough
TO guard the ferries, and no cannon but
heavy six FOUNDERS. We were here three
weather for part Of the time. admirably
adapted movement, and with fne moonlight
nights to aid them in any movement they
might make but, thank Godi they
made none uutiloT Tuesday, the 18th OF
November. We had event1 ally seen the i'm
possibility of accomplishing anything by our
bombarding their camps, and the utter folly
of attempting to cut off supplies from men
who were within ten miles of their depot, and
L L l. =
Rill. was riding the morning of the IL b
towards the camp of Col. Wharton. of the
5lst Virginia. when a picket riding in gave
me news of the advance of body OF Yankees
towards our camps; putting spurs galloped
to Col. Heth, acting Biigadier. and gave him
the Information. 5000 s
Conscious OF our peril, be bad been in from
the beginning; but now, calm May morn
ing, he ord red out the Brigade. A running
skirmish ensued. Col. Ector's 18th Georgia
Col. Wharton. Col. Heth, were all engaged
Col. Ector had one man severely, and an an
other slightly wounded. The Colonel himself
Gen. Floyd came riding up in sight, show.
er of balls came flying at him. The enemJ
did not come as we at first anticipated, up
Loop Greek, and we were feeling more secure
when tidings came to Gen. Floyd that they
were coming up Loop Greek. In an hour al
the troops were on the march to hold the road
against them. Night had by this time fallen
and the enemy bad eneamped two miles from
the road, until morning. The sick were NOV.
ed from their beds, the wagons loaded witt
| all the baggage they could carry, What they
could not carry was burned, and, ere twelve
o'clock, We, like the King of France, who
with twenty thousand men, marched up the
hill and then marched down again." soe-
| marching do,vn again. By the day dawn W,
| had passed the point OF danger and were
safe. t}rsy,l.1 r-i-e-yf-5-sT rs 1sri1EEU-
Braver men than your peace loving CORES
pendent may ever hope IL, be, breathed freel
and felt happier when we were there. An
other days delay, I am confident, would have
forced twenty-five hundred weary. worr
| troops TOP meet ten thousand, attacking
upon front aud rear. Whatever credit Gen
Floyd may be entitled to for marching OF
there, he certainly deserves much for march
| ing Us so successfully away. There were dis
asters in this as in all retreats, but they wert
| few when our difficulties are considered. Tht
loss was confined to tents and camp equip
age. No cannon, but few, if any, small arms
no clothing, was left to the enemy. No sicl
| fell into their hands, and no prisoners wer
taken. Df HeA tgTrE f1rf-GsrE -t.s-+.-Er--.t'-gg