Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-09-10
The Battle of Cross Lanes on the 2Gth OF
AuyuSt,

Wise's with the exception of the cavalry and
having taker, in addition to his owu forces, tile
regiments of Coils. Tompkins and McOausiana'
advanced On the SUNDAY" road to "Carnfax>s
Ferry" and began conveying lis troops over IN
o boat. After be had gotten the greater portion |
of his infantry over, (the artillery aud baggage
being still on this side of the rver) the boat, Dy
some mismanagelnent, as they were returning 10
this side, was carried over the Falls and four OF
his men lost. He Immediately set his forces to
building another boat which was completed by
the next Sunday evening, and the remainder OF
the troops were carried over that night. The
enemy having heard that email force hac cross
ed Gauley River, Col. Tyler advanced with his
command to surprise them; but when they ar
rived at the Gross Lanes in Nicholas Co., about
miles from the Ferry, finding our forces larger
than they expected, they encamped there for the
night. Floyd having heard of their advances
early next morning Monday, the 26th of August)
advanced on them and attacked them about sun
up The 50th Reg't (Gol. Reynolds) leading the
attack. After fighting about Is minutes the
enemy broke and retreated in great disorder
Indeed, it was perfect rout. The loss on our
side was bat 4 killed an2 ten or u wounded
On theirs upwards of 40 dead bodies have been
found and buried, and about 100 taken prisoners.
Our men also took wagons and one ambulance
a very fine one."
\ The following is an extract from letter of
Mr. R. H. Glass. Editor of LYLchburg Repnbli-
can, who was present at this battle:
/ "All of orr men and officers acted with the
greatest gallantry and courage. Col. Heth led
in front of his men and was shot through the
coat A minnie ball wounded the horse Of Ma
jor Hounslell. Col. Reynolds was also shot
through the coat and came near losing his life.
General Floyd, who is as brave as lion, fol-
bowed with his sta1f, and in his red hunting Shirt
1 upoE the very heels of the troops, (frequently in
their very nidst,) encouraging them by his ex-
ample and commanding voice.
Col. Tompkins' regiment was held in reserve,
and did not, think, get actively into the fight.
The Col and his men, however were hotly in the
chase, and took many of tie prisoners, the Colo
mel himself taking Captain Sburtlef5, and others.
Col. Tyler's command was one OF the very best
of the eneiny-he was one OF their crack officers
1t has for long time been prowling all through
tHIS country, III III cOupiete SuuJeclOu.
/ yler it was who boasted that he would march
to Lewisburg at all hazards, and would catch
{ Floyd and Wise and feed them on beans. 1t has
now been defeated, routed, and disgraced, with
all its prestige gone.
The people in this section have confidence in
. our strength again, and will rally to our stand
ard at once. | think, too, the rout will alarm
General Cox, at Gauley Bridge, and should DO,
be surprised if he beat hasty retreat to the Ohio
river.
f Skirmishing of the Army of the Potomac.
, A stirring skirmish took place Thursday last
, says the Richmond Examiner, in the advance O
. the army of the Potomac. For over ten day.
i, our forces have been gradually driving in the
: pickets of the enemy and closing up our lines
q seizing and fortifyipg strong positions. Having
ossession of Munson's, Mason's and Upton
Hills, and strengthened them by suitable en-
r trenchments, it thought advisable to push Oh
# still further in the direction of Arlington an.
3 occupy Halls Hill, mile further in the advance
where the enemy was posted in some force. Ool
~ Corses Alexandria regiment and detachment c
If the Washington Artillery were dispatched fo
q this purpose. The enemy defended the position
s at first with some spirit, but retired after
$ loss of between one andtwo hundred killed ait
wounded The Confederate loss is estimated a
.r aboLt twenty.
If The day before, Col. Jenkins, commanding on
b Of the South Carolina regiments attached to Gen
ir Bonham's brigade, was sent, with Kemper's bat
(, terry, to look after two regiments reported to b.
rs encamped on the other side of the Potomac, il
10 the vicinity of the Great Falls. Gel. Jenkn
marched eighteen miles, starting at eight in ths
e morning. and reaching his destination the mex
> morning aboat two hours before day. Waiting
for the grey of early dawn, be opened fire on til,
enemy, which were posted as reported, just al
e they were preparing for their moi ming drill
They made no resistance, but fed precipitately
leaving, it is believed, two or three hundred kill
ed and wounded. There was no pursuit, as the
Y river was too deep to ford.
e For now more than a week the glove of bat
i tie has been thrown down to Mcclellan by ths
o Confederate Generals, and as yet he has not dar
e ed to pick it up. Five thousand Confe deratt
e troops have tor ten days been in sight of Wash
y ington. The Confederate flag has been flying il
Q full view Of the Lincoln Cabinet "Dixie" has
: been discoursed morning and evening by oul
= reeimental bands 10 ear shot OF the Fedora
troops; still they keep closely in their lines, and
Care not veGture out in force. What indeed
has become of the Grand Army?
l At a meeting of Lexington Presbyt ytery, held al
Mt Horeb Church, in the County of Augusta, or
y Wednesday, the 4th of August 1861, the follow
: ing resolutions were adopted:
n 1st Resolued, That we invite our congregations
!. to unite with us in behalf Of our sick aud wound
# ed soldiers.
q / I'd Resol0ed, That every member of this Pres
: bytery be regarded and announced as an agen
= for the reception and forwarding OF hospital anG
other supplies for soldiers.
THE CONFEDERATE ELEoTIoNs.-On the Is
Wednesday in November next, an election will
be hel in all the Confederate States for Members
of Congress, and for Electors of President and
Vice President. The Electors to meet on the Isl
Wednesday in December. The Congress will
assemble on the 18th day of February next, oper
the Electoral votes on the 10Th, and the Presi-
dent and Vice President be inaugrrated on the
,l 22nd.
The United States steam frigate Minnesota,
nag officer Stlingham, from Hatteras Inlet, which