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

1uhuoSsoos iOf sttC Ca APfSSS ethoSc y
making the attack on Guyandotte. o
the situation OF which theyth bad bee
accurately informed, but two days be
fore starting. They were commanded
as have before said. by the notoriou
John Clarkson, of Kanawhs, and III
banditti jenkins. I was aequainte,
with four of the rebels-James Here,
ford. R. Stribling. jenkins. and Jacot
Cumpson-the latter formerly of Iron
ton, Ohio. s, s. ,7s.
They arrived at BorbouFsz1le, by
forced marches. on The evening OF th'
9th day They surrounded the place
capturing all the Union men. to pre-
vent word being carried to Guyandott,
in advance of them. About dark theJ
divided their forces, seven hundred
crossing Guyan river. and passing
down the opposite side TO intercept any
advance of our men across the bridge
those that came down the upper side
of the river, about one and half miles
above the town, sent one Of their num-
Der to a Union mans house, to murder
him. He rode up to the house, called
him out, and shot him dead. When
they arrived at the upper end of town,
they again divided; four companies
charging down the outer streets, and
the balance going down the street
leading down the Guyan river; having
distributed their men, as | have stated,
and gained every desirable position.
the attack was made as l have before
observed; at the bridge. the contest
was fierce; many Of our men attempted
to force themselves across it, but were
repulsed BY the overwhelming force
stationed at its lower end. Some
jumped over the bridge into the river.
and perhaps few made their escape
by swimming ashore; some were cap
tured in the stream, and one or two
may have been shot there. As they
charged through the streets, they fred
indiscriminately on every person they
met.
The cavalrymen, SO in number,
under Lieut.. Feizel, at the first alarm,
rushed 10 the stable; but before the at
tack was made there. Feizel, with nine
teen or twenty Of his company, broke
for the hills and made their escape,
leaving thirteen brave boys, who said
they came TO fight, and not to run, and
with heroic bravery, they stood their
ground. keeping at bay three or four
hundred rebels, until their last round
of ammunition was shot away, when
they were compelled to surrender
Among those who deserve great credit
for their heroic defense at the stable,
was, William R. Mcclure, of Burling-
ton. who received wound at the ex-
ternal angle Of the right eye. and Glen
Nsntz, who was shot through the
fleshy part of the thigh. All of them
deserve the more credit, as they were
fighting without a commander. and
none yielded until the last cartridge
they had was fred. " a-t
l am sorry / cannot speak in the
same praise of Lieut.. Feizel, / don't
blame him nor his men so much for
making their escape; but he is much to
blame for disobeying orders. He may
set up as pretext that Major Whsley
had no right to command him, which
may be true in fact; but what was ask
ed Of him was no great burthen, and
would have resulted in incalculable
good to us all.
For had he obeyed the orders given
him by Maj. Whaley, in the afternoon,
the whole calamity might have been
avoided. And now / will say, mas
much as some have been disposed to
blame the commander Of the post, and
charge him with treachery and coward
ice, that both are utterly false. Major
Whaley, under all occasions in which
l saw him, manifested the truest pat
riotism and bravery; and although /
did not see him during the fight, yet
have been informed since my release,
that he was seen and heard at points OF
danger, urging his feeble and scattered
force to save themselves as best they
could; and was told by H. Clay Pate,
one of the rebel Captains who captur-
ed Major Whaley, that he tried to
make the Major show him his men, and
that he almost rammed his (Pate's
pistol down his (Whaley's) throat. to
make him help hunt his men; but no
threats could move him. l have also
heard it charged that he had no pickets
out. and that he was let of by Witch
er's company on account Of his ad
herance to. and his sympathy with the
rebel cause. The first | will answer
by steling that either DR.. Bailey or
Lieut.. Wilson, was officer OF the day,
which was sufficient evidence 10 every
person acquainted with either DR.. Bal.
ley or Lieut.. Wilson, that our pickets
were distributed and posted to the very
best advantage. The latter charge is
so utterly ridiculous. that / do moi
dream it worthy of refuiation. Il hope
Mr.. Editor, you will excuse me for
depressing from my subject; but don''
like to see mans good name injured
without cause.
stated above that had Lieut.. FeiEel
obeyed orders, the calamity in greaI
measure might have been avoided :
The command given by the Major was
this: Lieutenant, l want you TO take
four or FIVE men to night. and go five
or six miles up Guyan scouting -
Feisel replied: 81 did not come hers
to scout. but to recruit my horses ane