The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-02
From the Richmond Standard
The Battle Of Point Pleasant.
To the Editors Of the Standard:

Gentlemen,-Many years since, when making
some researches in the British Museum, / came
across the following letter without the writer's sig
naturel dated at Williamsburg, Va, November III,
1874 1t gives, obviously from hearsay, brief and
Incomplete but imagine a generally accurate &C
count of the battle OF Point Pleasant. You will
probably consider it of sufficient interest justify
publication in The Standard. Some of the names
OF the killed and wounded are Inaccurate, Captain
Bueford is doubtless intended for Buford The let.
ter appears in the Vol. XIV. of the Creatiena7a's
sMtgtztle, page 42-that is TO say In the January
number for the year IT'S.
Yours truly, j. L. PEYTON.
staunton, February 10, 1882
'sWILLIAMsBURGH, November 10
'On the 10th of October last battle fought on
the Ohio, of which the follow are the particulars:
On Monday morning, an hour before sunrise, two
OF Captain Russell's company discovered large
party OF Indians about mile from the camp, one
OF which men was shot down by the Indians, the
other made his escape and brought in the intelli-
gence In two or three minutes after of Captain
Shelyeys men came in and confirm the account.
'Colonel Andrew Lewis being informed thereof,
Immediately ordered out Colonel Charles Lewis& TO
take command Of 140 Augusta troops, and with him
went Captain Dickinson, Captain Harrison, CAPTAIN
John Lewis OF Augusta, and Captain Lockridge,
which made the First division; Colonel Fleming
was ordered 70 take the command OF $50 more OF the
Botetourt, Bedford, and Fincastle troops, which
made the Second division.
'Colonel Charles Lewiss division marched to the
right, some distance from the Ohio, and Colonel
Fleming, with his division, on the bank OF the Ohio,
to the left.
s'Coonel Charles Lewis's division had not marched
rise, vigorous attack made the front Of his
division by the united tribes of Shawanese, Della
wares, Mingoes, Tawas, of several other nations
in number not less than 800 In this heavy attack,
Colonel Charles and several of his men fell and the
Augusta division obliged to give way to the
heavy fire of the enemy. The enemy instantly en-
gagged the front OF Colonel Jennings division, and
In short time the Colonel received two balls
through his left arm and one through his breast
and after animating the officers and soldiers retired
TO the camp. ID.
sHis loss in the field was sensibly felt, but the
Augusta troops being shortly after reinforced
the camp by Colonel Field with his company, to.
gether with Captain McDowell's. &C. the enemy nc
longer able to ma ntain their ground, forced
give way. In their precipitate retreat Colonel Field
was killed. During this time, which ii IL after
II O'Clock, the action continued extremely hot The
close underwood many steep banks, and logs
greatly favored the retreat of the Indians; and the
bravest of their men made the best of them,
whilst others were throwing their dead into the
Ohio, and carrying off their wounded.
''Soon after II the action abated, but continued,
except at short intervals, sharp enough until sun
set when they found safe retreat.
sFheY had not the satisfaction of carrying off any
of our mems scalps, save one or two stragglers
whom they killed before the engagement. Many Of
their dead they scalped, rather than should
have them; but our troops scalped upwards Of
twenty men that were first killed. 1t is beyond
doubt their loss in number far exceeds ours, which
is considerable.
''rhe following is return of the killed and
wounded in the above battle: Killed, Colonel Chas
Lewis and John Field, Captains John Murray Il
PChenechan, Samuel Wilson, James Ward, Lieu
tenant Hough AlleE, Ensigns Cantif, Bracken
forty fonr privates-total killed, fty-three.
wounded, Colonel William Fleming, Captains
Joe Dickinson, Thomas Blufford, J. Skidman, Lieu
tenants Goldman, Robinson, Lard, Vance, seventy
nine privates-total wounded, eighty seven; killed
and wounded, 146
sThe account further says1hat Colonel Fleming
and several others since dead of their wounds.
*His brother.
tSon of Colonel william Lewis and afterwards
Major John, of the Sweet Springs.