The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-19
TWELFTH ONO CAVALRY AT SALT.
VILE, VIRGINIA.

Their Expedition into Southwestern Viz
Rinia-siogulRr Crossing Mountains by
Ms iehI--Iharge of Col BHtlIfT's IIrigads-
Hand to iEand Fight-Rebeis shoot
Negro prisoueTS-W itldrRwAI or the
FOIces-IUsses IOur HUNDRED.
CANT TWELFTH ONO VOLUNTEER CAvAtRy,
PRrs1oNBUHG, Ky, October l0-Dccming il
worthy Of a concise record. attempt m account
OF General Burbli ge's raid to the "Salt Works"
This enterprise was tirst attempted in NJ " last,
but was frustrated by John Morgan's piliaging
advent into kenlucly, when We pursued him and
drove him from the State.
Again, on September 20. General Burbridge
with atOut iOur thOus nd men, ,ttrrcd from
Mount Sterling, Kentucky on n rid into Vr-
Riuil, d the purpose # stroyiug the extensive
salt WORKS near Abingdon. Our course lay
through Gikrtor. over the Cumberland Noun
tail S by Leyisa Fork and Card Pass, and through
buchanan county, Virginia.
We were haIa, cd by gueriilas all the way from
McCurmcA's Gap, by being fred upon from un-
atairanle q positions, and by having our way
blockaded with fallen timber, which somewhat
retarded our journey. Thi, occasioned, in some
instances, what We dreaded most trlve ng
mountains in dark n'ghs. Crossing "Slnuy
Ridge mountain On II very dark aud stormy
night, eight men were Instantly killed by run.
ring oil precipicCs, horses and AL. Ono man wno
wa but slightly injured tell forty feet, and was
pulled up with haItors and ropes. None could see
their to leaders, but every voice along the entire
liuG acted rs pi Ot by singing out this way"
About noon of Sunday, October 2 We arrived
at Saltvile, shirmshing having been hot all tie
morning as we steadily drove them within their
intCnChmenis.
As soon as the proper line could be formed the
attack commenced throughout. The Ith Big de,
consisting Of the 10Th Ohio Cavalry, llth Mchi-
gan Cavalry, and 9th United $ utes CulOred
dismounted and posted ON The left with orders 10
take "a bill in their front, from which battery
was paying upon Us with effect. The order w1S
not two hours Old b fore IL was fully oXecu.ed.
The line was formed and steadily advance in the
face Of superior numbers, aud Of screaming shells
from two batteries. No officer or mln was seen
to finch. Captain Sells, 18th Ohio Cavalry, fell
st the stalt, mOrtally wounded. Captain Dsgen-
field of the same regiment, fell soon after,
pierced by two balls, though it is hoped lie will
recover.
We advanced down a decIivity before the hill,
every man plain mark for The enemy, while the
latter were under cover, rested q moment in the
ravine, and then charged up the hill fully ihree
hunCrcd feet nigh, so steep that It could hardly
be climbed without holding TO the roofs and
bushes, and covered with so dense au under
brush that no regular line could be maintained
Frequently Rebel and Yankee would confront
each OthCr no more tOsn ten feet apart, and then
the quickest shot was the most fortunate man.
Sergeant DAVIS. guiGou- bearer OF COMPANY ii,
l2lh Ohio Volunteers COlOrs, in ascending, had
his cOlors suddenly seized and madly tom before
he cOuld gain q 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 other
side.
The crest of tho hill was gained, and the Rebels
driver from their inirenchments wi hOut any
bay OnCtS-it may be BONE in midland without
q visible charging line.
The conduct OF the troops on this occasion was
UTeyceptiOnabC--3uOthCT atesat on OF their effi-
cheney. The Rebels displayed their usual bar
ba'isin by shooting every black prisoner they
took. One OF our sgrgcHnts, who was taken pri-
sCntr, but afterwards escaped, saw six negroes
e. OJ u cold blood
n. "a slaa ErsI,f
also; but rs the i b Brigade did the principal
tghtng ot the day, anu rs your readers and we
a!t mOsr iuteTest, in the history of OHIO regi-
ueut-, limiG my descrip ion.
We we're soon ordered tO fall back to our
horses and mount. This done, and our wounded
carried as far rs best we could, we begun ABOUT
tuIk Orr retreat. IL had become manifest that
the Rebels had been strongly reinforced
prisoners taken said by five thOusaud-and that
our small force, with no artillery, but small
mountain howetzers and with nearly exhausted
| ammunition, could never succeed.
We returned in good order but bad spirits,
having the one hope that possibly by calling roin-
tUcemtu hts, We had weakened the enemy else
| where to our advantage.
We were pursued aud, Of course, bushwlcRed
Ia cr, ssiug Sandy Lr1ge thecntire lth Mich gan
| (beiug rsarguard) became eagIg3d, la which
| Lieutenant Colonel Mason was killed, but the
| eneu los heavily in the encounter.
We overheard a soldier OF the Post here asking
| whom We came in, if we got the salt works
| "Wtl," replied The one addressed, 1--WE did not
get any alt, but we got plenty OF the works and
| little pepper"
Our i0ts does not exceed four hundred The
| Rebel loss is thought 10 exceed that. II cannot
| BE- less We drove them everywhere. We were
| not defeated. Our inc never gave way, hut Away
| advanced. The day was ours but the next nigh
not have been. Colonel Hanson, Commanding
the 30 Brigade (Uuon), was mortally wounded
A company hospital was arrlyed there for tht
wounded, and two competent surgeons left viii
| them-Dr. Hoodman, lllb Michigan Cavalry, il
, IuHrGe.
| Our retreat was commanded solely by Genera
! Hobgon who is exceedingly popular with IN
| e.tire dlNisinn. - CiarelanA LenIar.