Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-05-27
For the Viindicator.
OAKLAND, Bath Co. Va,
May 23rd 1868.

MR. EDITOR -
Believing thai il might
be interesting to your readers, I have de-
termined to pen for you hasty sketch o.
the doings Of Col Jackson's command in
the late movements in our department.
Our force was scattered from Highland
to Allegheny counties, protecting the ap-
proaches 70 the Central Railfoad. when the
troops Of this Department we're taken to
the Valley. We we're then ordered to
Monroe county to protect other more vital
points and whilst en- route for the purpose
Of concentrating our Brigade we received
information that the enemy, in very large
force, were marching on the Va. & Tenn.
Railroad and we were directed to proceed
to the N arrows. We did 80 by forced
marches. the 10th Va. Cavalry and 10th
and 47th Battalions reaching the Narrows
on the 10th inst. In the meantime Gen.
Crook advanced to Cloyd Mountain, where
he met and defeated Gen. Jenkins who dis
puted his advance with one Brigade. Gen.
jenkins being wounded and the enemy's
force being largely superior, Col. McCaus-
land foil back to New River Bridge, where
Crook again attacked them and burned
the bridge, pursuing McCausland to Chris
tiansburg. Al that point Crook DETECTED
commenced his retreat by Newport and
Salt Pond Mountain: IN the meantime
Col. French (who was at the Narrows
With his regiment, the I7th) and Col jack
son received orders to Join McCausland at
once, which order they proceeded to exc
cute on the morning Of the 18th. Capt.
Mcneil Of the 10th reported that Crook
was coming IN that way. We moved our
troops with great rapidly for the purpose
OF obtaining an advantageous position, but
the enemy obtained possession Of the point
first and as they had about 1000 and we
but 1900, the 10Th was advanced as Skin.
miahers and held the enemy in check until
our trains were moved back and position
selected, when We being heavily outaanked
fell back about two miles.
The enemy threw out several regiments
in our front and passed their trains on the
Salt Pond road aud then followed with their
rear guard. We detached about three
hundred Of our sharp shooters who attacked
them vigorously and We with the residue of
our force pushed on to Gap Mountain,
which we reached just as Averill with four
Thousand men reached the foot of the moun>
tain. he attacked our left flank with vigor
but was speedily repulsod, our men behind
their Notifications and the artillery playing
upon them with spirit and effect. We
having speedily repulsed them scattered
them in the woods. Although our men
were broken down we commenced a yisor-
GUS pursuit and that night fell on Averill's
rear, which We closely pursued until they
reached Monroe County and formed q con-
nection with Crook. We compelled the
enemy to abapaon about $50 wagons, q
large number Of guns, many thousand
pounds Of bacon, one howitzer, large
quantity Of Ordnance Stores and some ne.
groes. We killed number and captured
fifteen or twenty Of their men. We an.
! noyed them around the whole Of their lines
from Union to Lewisburg and kept then
closely confined to their cnmps.
We met with one misfortune. We had
left train Of nine wagons and twelve
pound howitzor at Jsckson's River to fol
low US up. When they we're in fifteen O
twenty miles Of us, they, in some unac
countable manner, became stampeded
and shamefully abandoned their train
which the Yankees (who came along sew
eral hours afterwards) destroyed. Th'
officers were promptly placed under arres
by Col. jackson and will be properly punish
1 Cd for The shameful abandonment Of the tair
] In the meantime 225 Yankees advances
to Greenbrier Bridge to protect that aven
tie for Averill's escape. When Capt. Mar
shall of tho 10Th, who had been loft in Pc
oahontas, heard of their whereabouts. h
attacked and routed them and sent then
back bowling to Beverly. The conduct 9
| the officers and men Of this Brigade. i
their severe marching and continuous Skin
mishing xnd fighting, was worthy of tn
| highest praise. They wero highly oompli
/ mented by Coils French and McCausland
They are now at Oakland, anxious TO d
something more for the cause they have es