Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-03-04
HaADQUARrEas 18th REoInrnr
W. Va, Feb. 10, 1864.

BARsoURsvELLH, W. Va, Feb. 10, 1864.
MY DSAR CAprAiN Since I wrote to
you last we have had a ayshadow to cross
our little circle. send you the enclosed
report which explains 1t all with the ex.
ception that Lieutenant GriswoId was an.
exemplary mau and an excellent officer :;
he was captured on the Tin inst, in Wayne
county, and was Killed on the 10th inst
Captain Pinckard too was superior officer,
be was captured on board the b. c. Levi,
with General Scammon I do not know
why the rebels separated their prisoners
and kept Captain Piuokard back aud sent
the General on to Richmond.
Dol. M. j. FurgusOn was taken prisoner
with about twenty-five others. under
stand that when they were fired upon they
all had blankets upon their shoulders, and
our men thought they were all rebel
soldiers.
regret that the Legislature has seen
cause to create bone of contention about
the command of this Department and ven.
ttlate their opioions publicly in regard to
the ability of general officers. If General
Kelly has been negligent of his duties, it
is very probable the Government at Wash.
ington would know it and correct them,
or if the Legislature thought grave ,errors
were committed, u gniet representation iu
becoming way % 49, SGeueral-iu-chief
would, in my ,opia surer way to
have the errors cor \ at all events 1t
would not give cause Of rejoicing TO our
enemies. The capture of General Scam.
mon i do not think can be attributed TO
the fault of General Kelly, or TO any pos
sible negligence OF his part. II any is in
fault, think itwould be General Scamnon
hImselt / believe the latter General is a
fNt Ne hnR
Iunguaried moment be was captured, and
l feel it q disgrace upon our Division that
the rebels succeeded ia eludtng porsuit l
do not think from all Information I.couid
gather here at camp, or whilst ] was out ON
his trail, that 1t was designed upon the
part Of the enemy, but mere accident that
they captured him.
There was in corral near Buffalo about
two huudred Government horses ON the
upper side of the Kanawha the rebels were
after. The horses were sent up TO Charles.
ton the day before the General was cap.
tured. The rebel Captain Spurlock was
teaPtured In this vicinity aud sent to Char.
Ieston; the rebels guarded the road between
thta place aud Coalsmouth with the view
lof srecapturing him, but fopnd he was sent
up via the river. 1 have no doubt the rebel.
lthoughtlwhile the boat was tied up theJ
INSaA0 AI9 ne Wal
on board and instead of Spurlock tool
General Scammon.
The followinf is the report alluded TO ii
the foregoingletter.
HEAD9uARFERs 18th REG'T v. v. I.,l
BARRpuRsyILLE, W. Va, Feb. ls.
E. W. CLARK, A. a. a. O.: -.
SIR-Ih hHTe the honor TO make the fol.
lowing reports: ! was ordered by Colone
William B. Brown 10 bear flag of truct
and Communication from Brig. Gen. DOM
to Col. J. n, Ferguson commandtnR thI
18th Virginia rebel se&valfy near Wayne O
a.. wa. Myself aud Capt A. r. MeG6wi
with an escort of four men started on thj
18th inst. Upon arriving near the rebe
camp ascertained that some Fedora
troops under command of Col. G6llop Wer
ont In search of the rebels, and that the,
were between me aud therebeEcamPF Fear
ing that might be fred on by mistake Ii
the darkness stopped for the night, earl
on the morning Of the 18th, proceeded a
the left hand fork of Twelve Pole creek /
the mouth of Laurel creek, I then Aseef
tanned that Col. Gallop had attacked lb
rebel camp on. the previous evening at
o'clock. The particulars of the affair 1
4 far as was able 70 ascertain were aS fol
II oNs: