Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-05-15
sr DR.. J. MORRIS.


many friends. I propose to give you
fall, and, as think, correct history o
che Rebel raid on Guyandotte, which
occurred on the evening of the 10th o.
November last. | have seen. since my
reurn from captivity 10 Richmond
several accounts of the fight, all slight
ty differing, and none entirely correct
It will be remembered, that Major
XIV. WhaIey was there, recruiting the
9th Virginia Regiment, and bad at the
time. about $50 men. go Of whom were
on furIough, and eighteen sick in the
hospital, leaving an effective force o.
about go men.
The day was pleasant and fair. but
about 4 O'Clock it became quite cloudy
Mai. Whaley had, a few days previous
issued an order, recommending all to
be faithful in attending public worship
The 10th, being Sabbath, and in ac-
cordance with the above named order
and the desire Of our own hearts, many
of us repaired to the usual place OF
worship, where services were conduct
ed by our Chaplain. the Rev. Mr
Wheeler After services were over,
which was about o'clock. we started
home. some one way, and some anoth-
er. I was walking very leisurely down
Second street, and had just turned the
corner of the street that runs down the
Guvandotte river, when several shots
were fred up Second street from below
the bridge, the balls whistling past me-
some striking Hite's house by my side.
Nv first impression was, that our pick
cts had become alarmed, and fired at
something, they knew not what. Pay
ing no attention TO it. walked on, and
as / passed Capt. Payne's quarters. l
observed the men rushing out Of their
quarters, and the Capt ordering them
10 fall in ranks. l asked what was The
mater, but received no reply. | then
thought they were all getting fright
eued, and nothing to be alarmed al,
and l very leisurely walked on; but
had proceeded but few steps. when a
heavy fire came raking down street to-
ward the Ohio river. the balls whizzing
and buzzing over my head and to my
left, l then began to feel indignant at
our pickets, still supposing it was them
fling, and turned around TO 60 up and
nut a stop to it. As turned round,
saw a man l took to be DR., Bailey,
coming out Of the Quartermsster's De-
partment with a gun in his hand, and
started up the opposite side OF the
street, walked on until l came near
the corner of Hite's house, probably
within two feet of where | was when
the first shots were fred from the di-
rection of the bridge, and then anoth-
err heavy FIRE came raking up street
from the same direction. / then knew
it was not our pickets, and supposed
the secessiouists of Guyandotte and the
surrounding country, with perhaps a
small squad of Jenkins Cavalry, had
collected fer the purpose Of surprising
and numbering Us. I then turned and
walked pretty rapidly toward the tav-
ern, for the purpose of getting my pis-
tol, and taking hand, rather exulting
in the idea that they had made the at
tack little too soon, and that we would
"w;pe them out" I observed as
went 10 the tavern, that in the secession
houses not light sOas to be seen. l had
proceeded bat few steps from the COR
ner, when Capt. Payne ordered his men
to shelter themselves in the alley and
behind their quarters. and fire up street
The order was quickly obeyed, and
heavy FIRE belched forth from behind
the building, which sent the deadly
missiles whiEzing and raking the street
to nv left. At the same instant heard
up street tumbiing, sDorting and falling
OF horses, and knew the FIRE had done
execution. Hurrying on, passed
through the bar-rcom OF the tavern
into the hall, and up stairs, in all o
which not living soul was to be seen
The firing around town had by thn
time become pretty general. AS
passed through the Bsr-room, | hear'
the heavy and rapid tramp Of horses
anil Just as had arrived within TIVE
steps of the top Of the stairs. the
rushed to the hall door, and fred !
heavy vollev in through the hall, tn
balls of which must have riddled th,
stairs, forit made them tremble beneatl
me. At the same time, there was {
rush in at the bar-room door, firms
away in every direction. As stepped
in the hall up stairs. I found two mel
there. proceeded IN the dark to N.
room. opened the door, and stepped in
and Just as l entered, a volley came i
through the windows. / raised the Ii
of my trunk and get my pistol. A
the firing was rapidly going on below
heard the heavy fall Of men upon tb
floor, and one hollow and grosn.
observed to the man 10 the roor
with me, that some person was huri
and l was going down stairs. II
caught hold Of my arm, and said
should not 90 down, for 1 would eel
tainly be killed. and de no good. Ar
other volley was fred below, the glas
shattered, and a women screamed as
hurt. ] then started TO go down stair
and as was about to descend. anothel
heavy volley was fred in the hall. an
voices from below called out, "If thel
IL any G--d Yankees up stairs, con
down or We will burn the house down.