Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-24

An eye witness of the late engagement
upon the Kanawha river in which Colonel
Norton was mortally wounded, furnishes
the Cincinnati Commercial with the follow
ing particulars of the affair on wednesday
afternoon:
The 18th Ohio and parts OF two cOmpa-
nies of the 2lsb started to capture a battery
at the mouth OF Scsrey Greek, about l3
miles from Charleston. The battery was
supposed to be supported by about 700 men.
When we reached the bill where the battery
was planted, the rebels opened FIRE upon us
from two pieces OF artillery. We had also
two pieces, and tearing down the fences,
the guns were placed in position, and our
forces wheeled into line on the brow of tho
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. a
We were seriously annoyed by q fanking
fire on The river, and also from large log
touse on the bank of the creek. Detach-
ments OF two companies of the 2lst
charged on the house and routed the rebels
at the point Of the bayonet They rs-
treated across the creek, covered by the FIRE
Of their own men-fording It, as they had
previously burnt the bridges.
In the meantime our artillery had silenced
their battery, entirely destroying the car
riage of enc piece, and our boys twice
silencei their infantry. At this iun5ture
they received reinfOrcemenls, ftheir force
was nearer !, 300 than zoo at the outset and
our boys had completely exhausted their am
muniGOn. They therefore commenced a re-
tr,at, in good order, so soon as they had got
{. beyond the range Of the rebels single re-
mounted piece, reserving 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 2lst Ohio, under Col.
/ Nibley; the boys were then so exhausted,
having fonght jor three hours, and exhaust
ed every round in their cartridge boxes, that
the attempt was given over. q-55
Il Our informant puts the loss on our side al
4 killed, 2 mortally wounded, missing, and
II or Is more or less seriously wounded
OF those instantly killed were Capt. Allen
Co. D, and Geo. Blue, 10. K, 2lst. Lieut.
PomerOy has since died of his wounds. TINE
man had his hip torn away by a cannon ball
and must die. Capt, Sloan of the 18th wa!
wounded, but not dangerously. These wert
all the names he could recall Col NortoI
was supposed 70 be a prisoner. He had beer
wounded and taken to house fourth of
mile from tie hospital, but the guard place.
! over him had been called off to take charg
Of some prisoners taken during the engage
ment, and he was seen, or some one suppose,
to have been him, in the hands of the rebels
The painful news that Col. Woodruff an
Lieut. Col Neff Of the Second Kentucky
and Col. De Villiers, of the I1th Chic, ha
/ been captured while reconnoitering, need
. confirmation. They had left Gen. Cox
Camp to ascertain what was going on, 6
! the timsof the fight, and had not returne
o when our informant LEFT, though, Just as th
D boat was pushing out, he heard The boys !
a Camp give three. cheers, and saw some or
that he took TO be Col. W, riding int
> Camp. It is not unfrequent that officers 0
Il reconnoitering expeditions remain out for
i considerable time longer thsn they antic
pate when setting out, ard the friends
these gentlemen should not be uneasy abol
them, at least TIL further intelligence a
rives.