The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10

KEGS on each side of him. At night he es.
capped and joined his regiment this morning,
sustaining no injury beyond slight scratch
on the hand by a musket ball.
Taking his force to the rear, where the
ground offered better positions, Gen. Stuart
once more drew up his force and awaited
the enemy, but he had enough of it, and
was not disposed to give battle again. Thus
ended the battle OF Drainesville, which, al
though disastrous to us, was more so to the
eremy, if recent reports are true. It is be.
lieved there we're seven regiments of in
fantry, one of cavalry, and eight pieces of
light artillery against US.
The following is list of the casualties
Here follows a list of killed and wound
ed occupying nearly column, in small
type, for which we have no room1
FLOYD'S CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN vIR.
GINA.
COwARDICE OF THE THIEvING TRAITOR,
Correspondence of the Richmond Wing, Dec. IL,
RICHMOND, Dec. 10, 1861.
General Floyd's retreat from Cotton Hill
having been referred to by his friends as a
proof of bis mastery skill as tactician,
l invite your attention to the Lynchburg
Iary'mioa, giving in brief the salient inci>
dents of that retreat. On this letter the
editor of the Virgiaaian observes alt gives
we doubt not, an honest and truthful as
we'll as detailed account of the most dis
graceful rout that our armies have suffered
during the war. This unfortunate affair
eclipses all the rising fame of General Floyd,
and ends the ill fated campaign in Western
Virginia in blaze of glory for the Van.
KEGS" Yet the EGaminer desgnates Gen.
Floyd as the hero of the thirty engage
ments. We'll may General Floyd exclaim,
"No more of that, Hal, an thou lowest me-"
Corresr ondence of the Lynchburg virginian.
CAMP CANToNMENT VERINA, Nov. 20.
Perhaps you have not had correct de-
tailed account of General Floyd's retreat
from Canton Hall, although you may have
heard various accounts about it. I was at
Meadow Bluff at the time of the retreat, but
soon after left there, and Joined the brigade
here two days ago, and have carefully taken
notes from accounts of the retreat furnish.
ed me by various officers. 1t is another
dark shadow in the campaign of Western
Virginia. 1t is an event that gives en-
couragement and emboldens the enemy on
all sides. / regret that it has to be related,
but we must be honest and give correct
account of failures as we'll as triumphs;
though this is not the policy of the enemy,
who never give correct account of their
defeats, but magnify them into victories.
Our policy is truth, let the consequences be
what they may.
On the evening of November 10 the
enemy made strong demonstrations near
Cotton Hill, of an attack on the next day,
and General Floyd ordered the army to fall
back three miles, to Dickinson's encamp>
ment, where the Notifications were. Next
morning it was reported that the enemy
were advancing to Fayetteville, to cut off
our retreat and surround our brigade. This
news caused General Floyd to order re.
treat, which took place at about o'clock
at night, when the brigade retreated back
to Fayetteville, two and half miles, and
halted to guard the road which the enemy
were expected to come in to attempt to cut
off our retreat. Here the brigade remained
until just daylight, without shelter, victuals
or repose, when they were ordered to cons
tinue their retreat. This was on the morn.
ing Of the 18th, when the report that the
enemy was marching to Fayetteville to cut
off our retreat proved to be false, as the
scouts returned and reported no enemy near.
The brigade continued its retreat ten miles
on the 18th, and halted at Camp Mccoy
for the night. During the whole Of the res
treat, thus far, there was great deal
of excitement, fear, and especially loss of
baggage, property and provisions and on
the night of the 18th they burned about
three hundred tents, several bales of new
blankets and overcoats, and number of
mess chests, camp equipage of all kinds,
and flour barrels were burst, contents scat
tered on the ground, and all kinds of pro-
visions wasted and scattered, all to prevent
the enemy from getting them. Wagoners
were compelled to take the horses from the
wagons, mount them, and fly for safety,
leaving about fifteen wagons in the hands OF
the enemy.
On the morning of the l4th, the brigade
took up their march from Camp Mccoy,
and had gone but two miles when it was re-
ported that the enemy were near and rush.
ing on the brigade. At this the cavalry
under Colonel Croghan we're ordered back
to scour the country and ascertain the enc
my's distance When they had gone back
two miles they met the enemys pickets adj
vancing, when Colonel Croghan ordered his
men ali to dismount, though he did not,
when the pickets of the enemy fired upon
him and be fell mortally wounded. His
men took him up and carried him some two
hundred yards to house, when they dis
covered that the enemy-who were formed
into v, to flank our cavalry, and the sig
nal to close in with the fire of the pickets
in the road who bad killed the Colonel
were closing in, and the Colonel told them
to fly and save themselves, for be was dy.
ing. At the moment those who were with
the Colonel discovered that their horses had
been taken by the Yankee pickets. who had
rushed upon them, they turned and lied, ana
the whole cavalry came within'five minutes
of all being cut off and captured.