Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-25

Omclal report IF Brigadier General JnO. II.
Fioyd, OF the Battle OF the 10th Septem.

s. ~ ~ ~ II B3@
Official Report IF Brigadier General Jno. B.
Fioyds OF the Battle OF the 10th Septem-
@@9 HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KANAwHA,i 4e
CAMP ON THE Road, Sept. II, 1861.
Hon. L. L. Watker, Secretary of War: ~
SIR: n:-lnformation had reached me Tor some
number of days that heavy force was advanc-
lrg towards my position, frof.. the direction of
Clarksbnrg, IN tie Northwestern part Of the
State. As these runors became te tainly, /
made an effort to strengthen lnj self, first, by re
iniorce'f ent, and secondly. by cntrencl.n ents
suinclent TO withstand the very large 10 ce of the
enemy. My orde 8 to General Wise send ynu
copies OF, and also copies of his replies failed
IN procuring reinforcements out succeeded some
w at better IN the constructor OF temporary
breastwors. At three o'clock in the evening Of
the 10th OF Septemi er, the enemy .nder the
Command OF General Roseucrans, (as We lear ned
through prisoners,) of WI ose advance was fully
| aware, at the head Of ten regiments, made his
| sppeafaLce before cur eLtrenchnents, " hen the
| battle instantly commenced. Our lines Were
| necessarily very extended tor the purpose OF
protecting our position, and when manned, left
| not one man tor reserve. The assault was made
with spirit and determination, with 81, all arms,
grape and round shot, from howitzers and iified
cannon. There was scarcely an iEterlnissinn in
the conflict, until u'ght put an end to the firing.
The enemy, force Is estimated certainly betwt en
eight and nine thousand men, whilst eur tol ce
engaged was less tha two thousand.
| Ui,on the close OF the Contest for the night, |
discovered that it was only a question of time
when should be compelled 70 yield to tie
superiority Of numbers. | therefore determined
at once to recross the Galley River and take
| position upon the left bank which acconpiis.:-
ed without the loss OF a gun, or aty accident
Whatever. Our loss, strange TO say, after con
| tinued hrlng upon US By cannon ana snail arms
! for nearly four hours, was only 20 0inen wounded.
The los OF the enemy We had no means OF accu-
ately e.timaln but we are satisfied from ie-
port of prisoners and othe. sources ,t intorina-
ton, Was very heavy. We Iefulsed th IN in five
distinct and successive assaults, and ut nghttali
| had crippled them to such an extent that they
We 10 no condition whatever to molest US in
our passage across the river. | will only say
that our men, without distinction, behaved with
the greatest GOODNESS, determination, aud presence
of mind, and while it is irn ossible 10 give praise
to one portion of tn force engaged ever aDo her,
tits but proper to say that the artillery behaved
| with the greatest bravery and efficiency hat
under the command Of Captain Guy, who had
reached me only two days before, oand Were fer
| the brst time under fire, behaved themselves il
| a manner worthy of all praise st4 -
| l am very confident that could have beaten
the enemy aud have marched directly to tile
Valley OF kanawha, if the reinforcements f ON
Gen. "ise's columr had come up wlieu ordered,
and the regiments froT. North Carolina and
Georgia could have reached lne before tie close
OF the secobd days conflict. can.ot express
the regret hch / feel at the recessity over
which had no control, which required that |
should recross the river. am cyniident that it
| could have commanded the services of five
thousand mer. instead of eighteen hundred,
which had, | could have opeLed the road di-
rectly into the Valley of the Kanawha.
1t woula seem now as il the o ct so nearly
accomplished can only be obt,iie ed by an ad-
vance upon the enemy, by the left bauk Of the
kanawha river, with sufficient torce at any
| time to give him battle. This force, il possible,
ough' to pe collected from Tennessee and Ken
lucky. Their close oorrespon ence shows dis
tinctly enough the urgent necessity OF sia. ing
the command in the VALLEY of the Kama wila as
to insure, IN the future, that unity CT action upon
which alone can res. any hope OF SUCCESS in mil
have potthought proper to take any other
notice of these transactions, than to bring them
to the notice of the President aud Sec, etary of
| the Confederate States. Tie reasons wfich
| have induct d me to take this course, | am sure,
will not be misunderstood By ei her.
! | apprehend the course the enemy proposes to
pursue is TO carry out the plans Indicated by
General Rosencrans to Gen. Tyler, for the nva
sion OF the interior Of the Stale aud the seizure
of Lewisburg, set forth in an intercepted letter
Of the latter, a month ago. To prevent ti.,s
am in command OF an actual fotce of tour tnous-
and two hundred men. This force will be re
lquired to oppose the advance OF GeT. Cox and
Gen. Rosencrans, with their forces, as they
undoubtedly will, of ct least 1900 men. This
disparity of numbers, is too great, although |
will certainly give battle to the lnvacng amy
at some strong point in the mountaia passes as
may hope Will equalize, TO some exteDt, cui
numbers. This may occur within The next three
days; bat should it be defer, ed for any length OF
time, | hope the Department W Il find itssl. to
| strengthen US with rentorcetnents. ln tile mean
time, should Gen. Lee attack and Iepulse>she Ell
emy at Rich Mountain, will hold myself IN po
sltlcn 10 fall upon his flank or rear, as circun-
stances may allow CT my force autLorizs.
] have the honor t. be, with high respect,
your obedent servant.
fhis is signel by AGjutant Peters, because
an injury prevents my holding pen.
JNO B. FLOYD.
Brig. Gen. Cong Army OF Kaaawha
By Nm E. Peters, 4a
A. A. G<p., F!oyd's Brigade q
The above is an exact copy OF tie sisiDsl.
Edward S. JoyDes, af-
Var Department. Dec TO- 1861.
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