Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-11
GENERAL aARFIELD,s VICTORY OVER
MARSHALL.


mission, contains a graphic and interesting ac-
count of the rout Of Marshall's forces, and gives
more minute description Of the fight than we
have heretofore seen
Correspondence of the Louisville Journal
Camp at Paintsvtkis, Ky. Jan. I3.
Gen. Garfield, yhe has been making Marshall
retire rapidly before him to this part of the
country, was brought toa stand still a few days
after Christmas by finding that the fat rebel
had 30 snugly entrenched himself within few
miles Of here that il would require as large q
force as he could muster to drive him from it,
80 he Immediately summoned all who were un-
der bis comm and to join him at this place, and
among others he called on Col. Lindsey, whe,
Of course, although not yet mustered into the
L. 5. service, or brigaded under Garfield, re-
sponded eheerfully to the call, and our regi-
ment by necessarily slow and tedious routes
made its way as far as Louisa, Lawrence coun-
ty, where the news reached Us that Marshall
had burned his baggage and retreated under
cover Of darkness, leaving a clear field, and
showing but the smallest sign of fight.
We were compelled to travel in detach-
ments, as there are few boats on Big Sandy
and they are all small, and as the order call
Ing Us TO aid him had not been countermsnd-
ed by Gen. Garfield we continued our march
up Lieut.. Col. Monroe was first sent forward
with detachment Of four companies and the
remainder Of the regiment was to 20 by land
Monroe and his command reached this place
Ou 6uneSUdys inc ON JdnuaTy, ana were
Immediately ordered to draw rations for three
days, and hold themselves in readiness to
march. Early on the morning Of the 9th,
with detachments from the AID Ohio, 18th and
22a Kentucky regiments of infantry, and
S1aaron Of WOlfOrd's cavalry, amounting in
all b about 1 100 men, Gen. Garfield started
on the march to Prestonsburg in pursuit of
the feking Marshall.
=, They marched cautiously but rapidly during
yLste hole Of the first day, passing on the rsute
by MarshslPs intrenchments, which certainly
offered the best defence for him that could well
be planned. For mile before you reached
the place by the principal road there were
breastBorks thrown up in the style Of abettis,
behind which hundred men could conceal
themselves and fire on an unsuspecting foe,
making a safe retreat through narrow rayines
In the rear. The principal fortifcation was a
fort built on the side Of a hill, where cannon
and i've thousand men could be sheltered, and
which commanded three roads forking there,
besides a considerable stream called Jenny's
creek Tremendous hills lowered above and
all round ii, where the rebels could have posted
fankers to harass the attacking party, and,
taken all in all, it is said by military men to
be the most complete natural fortifcation and
most impregnable they ever saw.
After passing this place for a mile or two
every thing gave indication that they were fast
coming into what might be called an enemy's
country. An advance guard Of cavalry was
AcpN duedO occurring Ile country
to prevent surprise, and the days march was
ended about o'clock with nothing Of stirring
interest to relate. The mon were tired and as
soon as they fell upon the earth with their
blankets around them they were fast locked
In the arms Of " sweet natures bIest restorer"
An alarm from the pickets early in the morn
ing, before daybreak, hardly suficed to rouse
them from their slumbers and they returned
again 70 sleep whom they found it had only
been skirmish between q scouting party of
the enemy and our pickets, which left the
rebels the necessity ofearrying of one Of their
number severely woended. On the march
again they passed through Prsstonburg, and
here were informed that the enemy was about
i've miles ahead. Tired and jaded as they
were, the expectation Of having fight rein
Vigorated them, and they moved on with re-
neWed alacrity.
About one o'clock p. m in the vicinity of a
stream called Middle Greek, they heard the
sharp rattle Of musketry in the direction of
their advanced scouts They halted, and the
Adj1tant of the AID Ohio was sent with a squad
Of men over the creek to the point Of hill to
discover the cause Of the firing. As he reached
the hill, our men heard the loud boom Of can
non, and then they knew that there was no
ordinary skirmishing to be done there. The
Adjatant returned and reported the enemy in
force on the opposite side Of the hill and they
soon began to appear on the peaks of the tall
hills, and commenced firing on our men. Gen.
UdIu6lQ lumS0lAE6lJ QlVlQeQ DIS IOrCe Into
three detachments, leaving one as y reserve,
giving one in command Of Lieut.. Colonel Mon
roe, and the other to Col. Oraner, Of the 40th
= Ohio Volunteers, and ordered the latter to-
attempt the ascent Of one Of the peaks to the
right. In his detachment was portion of the
Washington Rifles, commanded by Louis
Schweltzer, of your city, and they behaved to
man most gallantly.
Craner's detachment won their way inch by
inch up the steep hill without the loss Of man,
and killing several Of the enemy, and drove
them gradually down the other side. and from
the top Of the hill obtained full view Of the
eannen. Opposite them, and on q hill 20 the
left of cannon, which was planted In the raw
Inc, the rebels were intreached behind large
rock which seemed impregnabls from below
Crsner detachment divided their FIRE between
the artilierists below and the infsntry above
For some time they were in a most dangerous
position, being exposed to the entire are Of the
enemy from the two peaks which they vet oc-
cupied, and from the Ere Of the cannon in ths
rayins. Gen. Garfield, seeing the state of tbs
case, ordered Lieut.. Colonel Monroe, of the
I'D Kentucky, 70 storm the rock on the hill
with his command. And here corumsnced on.
of the most desperate and determined hshts
that this war has yet given birth To- -Thev
crossed the creek which was up TO their waists.
amid hot FIRE from the enemy, who doubtless
OWNED their intention.
When on dry land again, they started up the
Win oAOaeoBAoA W W @nOhAOo anu IcdCQ90
fat on the side of the hill, where they were
assaiIed by three fires from different points, as
another force was discovered on hill to the
left who poured q warm fire int them. Here,
too, an unfortunate mistake occurred, which
came near losing the battle to us. Craner's
men on the hill to the right, mistaking Mon
roe's men for rebels, poured a FIRE into them
from their side, 80 that he was now exposed to
four fires from four different points The
blundsr was soon rectifed, however, by Col.
Garfield, from the stand where he was observ-
ing the fight, calling out to Craner that he was
firing into our own men, and Monroe's detseh-
ment raising shout Of "Hurrah for the
Union" which was instantly understood by
Craner's men, and responded TO by them with
q will.
The rebels raised q loud shout Of 'eHurrah for
JEFF Davis" and sent q thicker volley of balls
than ever, wounding one Of our men badly In
the arm. Our men now bushwacked il; that is,
sheltered themselves behind trees and shot