The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-12-04

ding the road. The iOrtihcatlOnS were de
serted, and our advance guard took posses
sion unmclesled.
At sundown the army took up the line o.
march in pursuit Of the fleeing enemy, march.
ing II miles, passing the fortiicationS and
camp Of Floyd, where quantities Of amn,u.
milton, arms, &C., were captured, and We dis
covered, by the remains, that Floyd had deS-
troyed stores of all kinds.
| By this time the men were weary and way
worn, even the 18th began to flag, and the
lumn halted until daylight. The lain be.
gan TO fall heavily, and the roads were almos
impossible; but be eIore sunrise the army push
I'd on. distinctly remember that as The
dawn first began to tince the ovcthanging
clouds with faint rays OF light. hearing the
clear voice of the energetic Colonel of the
18th, calling on his Regmen mt 10 ''tal in" and
away they went. Company F, 18th Regi.
ment, took the advance; and amid drench'
| ing rain we pushed on five mills, when ouT
advance came upon the pickets OF the enemy,
who were enca,nped some three miles dis
tant. A brisk fgh: followed be wcon the
pickets, supported by Floyd's cavalry under
Col Crogi an. Col. Cloghon, grandson oi
the hero OF Fort Stephenson, and yet rcb-
ell % fell, with four of his men, at the first
fire. The Col. was shot through the body
by Robert Silg, private Of Company L, and
died in a few hours. The cavalry fled and
we continued the pursuit A heavy thick
fog settled over US; and under cover Of this
we approached the enemy's position.
The advance company passed into another
deep wooded ravine, The log proved of ad
vantage to the enemy, rather than to US; and
as the skirmishers came within range, pour.
ed in sharp, raking fire Of rifles and mus
kerry. 1t was impossible, amid the mist, to
discover the position Of the enemy; and the
skirmishers fell back. upon the main body
Simultaneously with the report of the ene-
my's guns, Col. Smith gave the command,
"by the left flank, march," and the 18th en-.
tered the woods and deployed as skirmish-
ers. Here a brisk fire was kept up for some
time, but failed to dislodge the enemy, who
were we'll supported by both cavalry and in.
fantry. Seeing this, Col. Smith ordered
Capt. Snyder to open upon them with his ri
fled canon, and the shot went scieeehing o.
YER, and fell smash among the enemy's cav
airy. The shots were followed by yelIs,
groans, and mprecations; and in ten minutes
their whole force was in full flight. We fol
lowed them five miles, when our column was
ordered back.
have marched some hundreds OF miles
in Western Virginia, but never before over
such terrible road. The rain fell in tor
rents, we were without tents, and without
weary and worn out; and at II
O'Clock, midnight OF Nov. H. we began our
march back to Gauley. At Fayetteville we
met Gen. Schencks brigade, marching to
our support.
Floyd was not captured, but many claim
that he might have been. For instaLce-
had the 1st Brigade marched up the Loup
Creek road and came in the rear of the enc
my's 'sintrenchments, while another force eros
sed the river at Gauley and at acked the en-
emy in front, their escape would have been
impossible. In fact Col. Smith saw thi,;
and advised and, indeed urged the move; but
the orders were to march over Cotton Noun
tain read, and Of course we marched.
Great credit is due Gen Benham for the
mastery manner in which he conducted the
attack and pursuit. The General is i'm
popular with the officers and men
Of his Brigade. In fact they "swear by him."
and no man can doubt but that he is man
of great energy and ability-an officer in
every way qualified for the position he now
holds.
Col. Smith, of the 18th, cannot be too
highly commended for his energy and endu-
rance upon the march, and his cool, prompt,
and efficient action during the different con-
dicts in which his regiment engaged the EN-
emv.
What will come next is yet to conjecture.
IBEX.