The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-12-04
From Western Virginia. How
Floyd RaM Away.
CAMP HUDDLESToN,) }
Kanahwa River, Va. (

EDITOR ONO STATE JoURNAL:--An ac
count of the late expedition of the 1st Bri
gade, Ohio volunteers, Gen. Benham com.
mading, in pursuit Of Gen. Floyd, will prob.
ably interest your readers; and more-a true
account will give Eonor to whom honor is
due. Gen. Floyd is not dragged nor is like
ly to be yet, but the credit Of vigorous ef-
fort to catch the slippery rebel is due the LIST
Brigade.
On the sixth day of November the 13th
10th, and 10Th crossed the Kanawha eight
miles below Gauley Bridge, and marching to
the mouth Of Loup creek, encamped. Here
the brigade awaited orders to advance. The
37th, and parts Of the 9TH and 44th Ohio
regiments, were ordered up the Loup Creek
road to a point 4 miles from the enemy's
lines. On the 18th we received orders to adj
vance toward Fayette over Cotton Mountain;
and the column. two thousand strong inclu-
ding McMillen's Battery and Snyder's rtied
Artillery moved forward.
We marched rapidly up the river. and o.
yer the mountain road towards Fl0yd'S camp,
the 18th being in advance, closely followed
by the 10th and 12lh.
The road was steep, rough, and cut up by
the mountain streams; yet, this ty no means
impeded the march of the hardy 1st, and
the 18th, trained and hardened by the trials,
hardships, and exposures Of their late cam
paign in the mountains, with their gallant
Colonel at their head, led us q merry and
rapid march, the men marching as lightly
and cheerfully as though they were treading
the soil of friendly State, and were not in
constant danger from stealthy and treach.
erous foe. In a few hours we halted at the
foot Of the Cotton Mountain, on the edge Of
a little valley in which the Georgia and Mis-
sissipi regiments of Floyd's army had been
the day before encamped.
Here Gen. Behham and staff, and Colonel
Smith went forward to reconnoitre, ordering
in advance Company a, Capt. Beach, 18th,
and Company II, 18th Regiment, as skir-
mishers They crossed the valley, passed
through the enemy's camp, and entered O
deep ravine; the sides Of which were steep.
rocky, and thickly overgrown with pine and
cedar. The ravine was inteIsected by rap
id stream, along the banks of which the enc
my's skirmishers found coyer, sheltered by
the trees and rocks; and their position being
rendered all the more secure from the fact
~
so twisted and tangled that it was almost
impossible for our men TO advance upon
them. The enemy opened rapid and well
directed fire. Our men returned the fire
with spirit; and we could distinguish between
the sharp crack OF the enemy's Mississippi RI
fles, and the roar of the Greenwood rifle mus
kets, as our men, taking the advantage Of
such cover as they could get, advanced upon
the superior force OF the enemy, stationed in
the rear of the ravine and covered by the
woods, fired heavy voileys OF musketry to
drive back our skirinishers; but the brave .el-
lows fought on, Company A, 18th Regiment,
led by Capt. Beach, doing deadly execution
with their Enfield rifles.
The General, fearing that they might be
overpowered by the main body of the enemy,
ordered the retreat to be sounded; but the
bold boys, either mistaking or not hearing
the bugle notes, began to advance more rap
idly than ever. Gen. Benham then ordered
companies +, D, and o, OF the 18th, for
ward to their support: ..t. tf3
This torce took position upon the left bank
Of the ravine and on the right flank Of the
enemy's skirmishcrs; and under cover oil ,hcir
fire Capt. Beach retired with the skirmish.
ers Of the 18th and 18th, losing two men
killed, and three wounded, all Of whom he
brought away with him.. Night coming on
our army took up position at the foot o.
the mountain, thowing out strong guard
and waiting until mornin to renew the at
tack. Morning came, but Floyd went
leaving with his whole force at 3 O'Clock in
the morning. This day, the 18th, was con.
sumed in reconnoitering The ground between
our position and Camp Dickinson; at which
latter point the rebels had erected batteries
in true Carniiax Ferry style, (the same being
made Of mud, logs, and bnce rails, } commas.