Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-17
CAMP 18TH o. V. C,
PREsFoNBURG, Ky.
Oct. 10th, 1864


attempt an account of General Bur
bridges raid to the aSalt Works"
This enterprise was first attempted in
May last, but was frustrated by John
Morgan's pillaging advent into Kentucky,
when we pursued him and drove him from
the State.
Again, on September 10th, General Bur
bridge with about four thousand men,
started from Mt. Sterling, KY, on raid
into Virginia, for the purpose of destroy
ing the extensive Salt Works near Abing-
don.
Our course lay through Piketon, over the
Cumberland Mountains by Levisa Fork
and Card Pass, and through Buchanan
county, Virginia.
We were harrassed by guerillas all the
way from McCormick's Gap, by being fired
upon from. unattainable positions, and by
having our way blockaded with fallen
timber, which somewhat retarded our jour
ney. This occasioned, in some instances,
what we dreaded most, travelling noun
tains in dark nights. Crossing "Sandy
Ridge mountain on very dark and
stormy night, eight men were instantly
killed by running off precipices, horses and
all One man who was but slightly in
jured, fell forty feet and was pulled up with
halters and ropes. None could see their
file leaders, but every voice along the en-
tire line acted as pilot by singing out "this
way"
About noon of Sunday, October ID, we
arrived at Saltville, slirmishing having
been hot all the morning as we steadily
drove them within their entTenchments-
As soon AS the proper line could be
formed the attack commenced throughout.
The fourth brigade, consisting of the
18th Ohio cavalry, 18th Michigan cavalry,
and 5th U. 5. ColOred cavalry, Colonel B.
W. Ratlitf, commanding, was dismounted
and posted on the left with orders TO take
hill in their front, from which battery
was playing upon us with effect The
order was rot two hours old before it was
fully executed. The line was formed and
steadily advanced in the face of superior
numbers, and of screaming shells from two
batteries No officer or man was seen TO
finch Captain Sells, 18th Ohio cavalry,
fell at the start, mortally wounded. Cap
tain De senfeld, of same regiment, fell
soon after, pierced by two balls, though 1t
is hoped he will recover.
We advanced down g declivity before
the hill, every man plain mark for the
enemy, while the latter were under
cover, rested a moment in the raVine,
and then charged up the hill,
3 H., 4I,roo L,,-1 1,,J foot Eirb or, afaaT, that
it could hardly be climbed without holding
to the roots and bushes aud covered with
so dense an underbrush that no regular
line could be maintained.
Frequently Rebel and Yankee would
confront each other no more than ten feet
apart and then the quickest shot was the
most fortunate man.
Sergeant i.Davis Guiden, bearer Of
Company Il, 18th Ohio volunteers colors,
in ascending, had his colors suddenly seized
and madly torn before he could gain
good footing. The Sergeant dropped his
gun as the rebel had done, and in the
struggle thrust his flagstaff through his
adversary the spear protruding on the 9TH
er side
The crest of the hill was gained and the
rebels driven from their entertainments
without any bsyonetts-it may be borne
in mind-and without visible charging
line
The conduct of the troops on this occa-
SION was unexceptionable-a attes-
tation oftheir efficiency. The rebels dis
PLAYED their usual barb6rism by shooting
every black prisoner they took. One of
our Sergeants who was taken prisoner but
afterwards escaped-saw six negroes shot
in cold blood.
During this the other brigades were
lighting also. Bot as the 4th brigrde did
the principal fighting of the day, and as
you readers and we are mostly interested
in the history OF Ohio regiments, I limit
my description.
We were soon ordered to fall back to our
horses and mount This done and our
wounded carried as far as best we could,
we began about dark our retreat 1t had
become manifest that the rebels had been
strongly e-enforced-prisoners taken said
BY five thousand-and that our small force
with no artillery, but small mountain how
etzers and with nearly exhausted smmu-
milton could never succeed.
We returned in good order but bad spir-
It's, having the one hope that possibly by
calling reenforcements, we hsd weakened
the enemy elsewhere to one advantage.
We were pursued of course and bush
whackei. In crossing sandy bridge, the
entire llth Michigan (being near guard)
became engaged, in which Lieutenant
Colonel Mason was killed, but the enemy
los heavily in the encounter.
We overheard soldier of the Post here
asking, when we came in, if we got the
salt works. "Wel" replied the one ad-
dressed, 'we did not get any salt, but we
got plenty of the works and a little pep
per"
Our loss does not exceed four hundred.
The rebel loss is thought to exceed that. It
cannot be less. We drove them. every
where. We were not defeated. Our line
never gave way bat always advanced. The
day was ours but the next might not have
been. Colonel Hansen commanding the
Bird brigade (Union) was mortally wound
ed.
A company hospital was arrsyed there
for the wounded, and two competent sur
geons left with them-Dr. Hoodman, 18th
Michigan cavalry in charge.
Our retreat was c immanded solely by
General Hobson, who is exceedingly pop
ular with the entire division.
1 subjoin list of casualties of the 18th
Ohio cavalry.
CAcHEr.
Some will be found in another column.
------------ s-------
Enyv Z