The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-27
Gen. Floyd's Engagement with Gen.
Rosencrantz.

nient, in Gen. Floyd's Brigade, and Adj.
jutant Otey, of the same regiment, reach.
cd the city yesterday evening from the
camp of Generals Floyd and Wise, at the
foot of 'Sc'ceN Mountain, which they left on
Friday noon. They bring dispatches TO
the Government. The former gentleman
relates to us the following particulars of
the engagement at Carnifax Ferry:
Gen. Floyd had warning of the approach
OF Rosencratz, and had thrown up a small
earth work in the centre Of his line,
which was formed acro-s b'snd in the
Gauley just at The Ferry. Some logs,
rails, and brush were also thrown up here
and there before the regiment, forming a
very perfect protection, not deserving the
name and anything in the world but the
powerful fortifcation spoken of by Rosen-
crantz. For tho centre breast-work there
were six smooth-borc guns, possibly ten
Founders, and one rihed cannon. These
had just arrived, under Capt. Gay, of
Goochland, and but for them the General
would have had none. These seven can
non are magnified in Rosencrantz's report
to sirteen! Out of five Regiments Gen.
Floyd had Scrcnteen hundred available men:
Rosencrantz estimates them at fee hou-
sand!
Rosencrantz had clcven thousand men
under his immediate command below
Summersville. Five thousand OF these
he ordered to the attack Of Floyd's line
at about o'clock on TueStIty, the 10th
inst. Six thousand were held in reserve.
The attack was received firmly, and the
fire of the enemy was vigorously retured.
Three attempts were made to flank our
little army, and each was repulsed with
severe loss. One bold charge was made
to take the battery; but such terrific
fire" was directed upon the assailants by
Capt. Gay, that they were swept back,
and did not renew the attempt. The
left by n German Regiment, which was
driven back with heavy loss; and this is
the Regiment which is,said to have been
"callcd Off" 1t was not until after dark
that firing ceased and the enemy retired.
Gen. Floyd, ascertaining the number
Of his adversary, ard moreover that four
thousand, besides the eleven thousand III
front of him, had been sent above Sum
mersvlle to cross the Gaucy at Hughes
Ferry, and to march by way of Meadow
Blnf TO got behind him, determined to
re-cross the river that night, and 1T once
proceeded to do so. His means of cross
ing consisted of one small boat, that could
hold only one wagon at time, and a
small foot bridge, very ingenously built
by Engineer Frostburg, Swede, attached
to Col. Wharton's regiment. Every sol
dier, well, sick and wounded, was safely
taken across before light; but owing to
the absence Of large number of wagons,
transporting stores from the railroad de-
pots, there were not enough to secure
the entire Of the baggage, provisions, etc.
A portion of these were unavoidably left
behind, including some tents, cartridges,
etc. a part Of General Floyd's private
baggage, and also that of some of his oili-
GERS, was with the abandoned effects. 1t
is proper to notice that to the humanity
towards the sick, of whom there were
large number, much of the loss is attribut-
able. Some five horses, and twenty or
thirty cattle also fell into the hands Of
the enemy.
General Floyd lost mol a single man. This
result is extraordinary. The battle lasted
four hours, and the enemy's loss was
heavy, while on our side there were only
sic men slightly womGed and not one seri-
ously. Gen. Floyd himself was amongst
the wounded. \ musket ball, at the first
fire of the enemy inflicted flesh wound
lust below the elbow, but it occasioned
no inconvenience to the General,
The enemy's loss was certainly heavy.
Rosencrantz's first report said l5 killed
and 90 wounded. His second raised his
figures to 90 killed and 100 wounded.-
Gen. Floyd took six of the enemy pris-
oners. By their account the killed and
wounded were from 300 to 500. One
man said that sixty were killed in his
regiment alone.
The wounded on our side were Martin
and Gross of Captain Henley's company,
Amherst; John Phipps, of Young's com
pany, Grayson; Adiutant Smith, of Tomp-
kins' regiment; and one man in McCause-
lands regiment.
Early on Wednesday morning, the
enemy appeared on the river and fred a
few shots. Gen. Floyd formed a junction
with General Wise, and the combined
force returned to Sewell Mountain. A
message from Gen. Lee met them there
about noon Friday, and they went into
camp. What that message was is not
known; but we may hope it indicates re
Inducements.
Thursday, Col. llounshell, with 70(
men, returned to the Gauley riyer tC
bring away fifteen of our sick and twenty
five wounded Yankees of the battle o
Cross Lanes. This he did; but findin;
the eremy preparing TO cross he ordered
| fire upon them, which was obeyed b,
his men from the heights with effect, m
doubt: for the soldiers of the South-wes
are good marksmcn.
Floyd's defence was most gallant an,
his crossing Of the ferry under the cir
cumstances deliberate and well directed
His men fought with signal bravery, anC
their fire was admirably directed.
Floyd and Wise together have not ST.
thousand effective men. Rosencrntz ha
eleren thousand with him, while to,T housan
are marching by the Medow Bluff T.
enter the turnpike between the Sewel
Mountain and Lewisburg, Cox has .fr
thousand fce hndrei; in all hcenty Mousan,
fve hundred men against little more thai
fve thousand! II this estimate OF enemy
forces be correct it is indispensable tina
reinforcements must be rapidly concen
tratcd beyond I.ewisburg, or our arm
there viii be compelled again to ial
back at least to that point. Wo hop
that General Lees message to Gen Floy,
indicates the intention OF that officer /