Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-18
PartIeuIars Of the 2atsIe Of IvY nfsantaiu
IvY MouNTAIS, Big Sandy, Floyd con-
November 3. 1881. Al y

took up the line of march for Piketou, and
were in motion as cary as five o'clock, NOV
ing forward rapidly. Colonel MarshaPs
battalion, composed Of Companies A, B, O
and D, of his own regiment, and Captain
Be[ryhilrs company OF the Second Ohio
Volunteers, constituted his command, and
were placed in the advance of the Second,
Twenty-hrst aud Fifty ninth Regiments of
Ohio volunteers. Upon our boys devolved
the duty of climbing the mountains ss scouts
to do which, and keep at the same time in
advance of the main column, required of
them the most exhsusting toll. General Nell
son, in order to form a junction with a force
which he had moved forward 10 advance Of
us about twenty four hours, was compelled
to make forced march. As our route was
somewhat circuitOus, distance could only be
overcome by speed.
All our movements were rapid-some-
times advancing with double-quick step.
Our boys who scaled the mountains, often
making extended detours TO head the gullies,
had to bound like the deer to keep ahead of
those travelling in a straight road and on a
plain surface. l felt for them, as they came
in from the mountains, wet with perspira-
ton, faint, exhausted, yet determined.
About twelve miles from PrestonburR we
came upon about fifty of the enemy's cavalry
scouts. The guide and Colonel Marshall
opened fire upon them and put them to
flight. Suspecting that some of the foe were
still lurking in ambush, the moral effect of
shell was tried, with what effect, upon their
nerves, if any were near, l can not tell.
After this little episode we urged our way
toward Piketon, the expected field of definite
action; but when we. had proceeded between
two and three miles, and the head Of Colonel
MarshalPs battalion wero approaching the
upper point of the mountains, the guide and
Captains Gault and Reed, being considera-
bly, in advance, discovered that the foe, who
were thousand strong, were concealed be-
hind rocks, trees and bushes, reserviug their
FIRE for further advance of the column.
Captain Gault, who fortunately was armed
with five.shooter Colts revolving rife,
opened fire upon them, discharging the con-
tents Of his gun, and about the same time,
both the guide and Mr.. Reed, discharged
their muskets upon the foe, which brought
them into more precipitate action than
was laid down in their programme. The
horse of Captain Gault was shot from under
| him and the guide received two of the enc
my's balls, which brought him to the ground.
Reeds horse was also killed and such was
their perilous and exposed condition that
| both were under the necessity of taking
shelter under the cover of a shelving rock,
which induced Reed to suggest to the Cap
| tain, in his peculiar style, THAT they were
both gone up, sir !" Colonel Marshall urged
on his column, which was between a quarter
and half mile in advance of the Second
OQlO, WDe0 Jle DaJtle commenced.
Captain Gault was cut off from his COM
mand, and in order to rejoin it, with the
| least prospect of safety, had to swim the
river, encountered with his sword and carry
! ing Colonel Marshalrs revolving rifle in his
| hand, and then return, and reached this side
of the river at a point lower down. By this
time the engagement between Colonel Mar
shalls command, on the narrow road at the
| base of the mountain and Immediately on the
banks of the river, and the foe, who had in
tTenched themselves upon the top aud along
the brow of the mountain, became general,
and three of Captain Gaults men fell at the
| very commencement of the action, and q
number more of them were wounded. This
company, from their position, had to bear the
brunt OF the battle. and courageously and
persistently did they do so. .7t ..ini
Captain Berrybill company of the Sec
ond Ohio, which had been placed in Colonel
MaTshalps command, bore themselves most
gallantly, and rendered most effective SER
vice by scaling the mountains, where, under
the command of their fearless and intrepid
Captain, they accomplished deeds of noble
daring. In point of suffering the company
stands second on the list, as will be seen by
the more detailed account of the result OF
the engagement. 1t is copied from Major
Harris official report prepared to be sub
mitted to General Nelson. 1t soon became
, evident that the foe was faltering before oul
fire, when we were opened upon from the
opposite side of the liver, and thus exposed
TO both fires, our command maintained their
ground until the artillery was brought intC
action, greatly to our relief The slain Of th(
enemy left on the battle field on this side o
the river, whom we buried, is nine, and o
the three wounded prisoners who were
cared for by Us two have died, making the
Dumber Of their dead, so far as our persona
knowledge extends, to be eleven. 1t il
, stated, however, that they ack1owledgC
their loss in wounded, prisoners and slain a!
first Ohio participated in the action, doing
good service. The Fifty-ninth, who came
.. up later, by a well-directed volley, silencet
the foe, who, by their fire, were trying t
q pick off the artillerymen from the other sid
Of the river.
, In this contest our boys faced the fire, an,
! showed a spirit of determined bravery
every way worthy OF Kentuckys ancen
fame, They fought-they conquered. Among
, the incidents not detailed in Major Harris
, report, | must mention that he is among tn
slightly wounded. That he is alive is doubt
less owing to the fact that silver spectacle
case, and well filed pocket obstructed th
progress of ball, so that only the point @
the bullet was imbedded in the flesh. Colo
. mel Msrshalls Kentucky jeans is badly rid
died, both his upper and neither garment
look decidedly the worse of the contest
= Even his cap was ventilated, and his nobl
!, steed fell victim to the enemy's fire. 7
the great qualification of all his command
= he still lives unscathed and unhsrmed.
know that he will ever cherish with the mos
grateful emotions the many instances of de
s votion shown him by the gallant soldier
8 whom he led and cheered by his voice an
presence during the battle. He heard tn
i cry time and again, as he passed along th
= line among his soldiers: Colonel we al
= with you;" "Colouel, we will stand by you
IT "Colonel, get out of the way, they are shoe
ing right at you" &c.
g This engagement lasted one hour and
~ balf After our men were brought into a
Ie tion, they never yielded one inch of groun'
although they we're exposed to the enemy
:. cross fire, both from their mountain ambui
d cade and the opposite side of the river. Th
u advance, under Colonel MaTshalL includin
e Captain BerryhilPs company, was less tina
FIVE hundred, while our information is tn
/ the assault was made upon. us by a force
} one thousand, who had chosen their grour
= well. We routed them, taking four priso
eIs, beside the three who were wounde
= Among the wounded was a Captain Rus
a since dead, late Senator from Greenr
u County, Captain May was doubtless in COZ
|, pand. List OF killed and wounded, Gov
d pauy A, Captain Gsult, Colonel Marshal
d Regiment, four killed aud ten wounded, v
& Edward Hall, William Prather, Peter Ben
John McCaIty, killed. Corporal Thorn
Donaldson, Amos Stevenson, George Burto
II d Collins William Hall Martin Crime