The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-02-11
KELLEYS STORE.
A Spirited Account o.: How Roger A. Pryor Left
the Vicinity Of Suffolk.

lhc Vicinity CT Suiloih
To THE EDITOR: see SO many interesting
letters from different departments, and not
much from the Eighteenth Corps or a part of
il, that would write few lines IN regard to
our scouting and fighting near Suffolk, Va.
Roger A. Pryor in command Of cavalry,
artillery and infantry, amounting III al to
about ten or twelve thousand Confederate
troops, came across Blackwater to attack Suf-
folk. SO on the night OF Jan. -, 1865, about
j o'clock, Cos. q, X, and f, 18th Ia. Cav,
under Lieut.-Co Stetzel, was sent TO ascertain
if the report was correct, Co q being III ad-
vance. There were eight men put out ahead
as an extreme advance guard, to be on the
lookout for an am5uscadc Or surprise. After
going some seven or eight miles we ran against
two mounted pickets, who fired and ran.
Giving yell We dashed after them, expecting
to be supported by the three companies; but
We soon came to the reserve picket, who had
q fire in the edge of the woods. On we went,
receiving a volley from them, strange to say,
only killing one horse, belonging TO 5. J. Breth.
When we got past the cavalry picket we came
in sight of the infantry picket and camplres
of the whole force. We were in tight place.
Go farther we could not, and to 20 back must
run the gantlct past 20 men, who now had
time 10 prepare. We waited minutes seemed
hours but no relief came and back we started
and Joined our command, with the loss OF two
more horses and one man wounded We fell
back TO camp, knowing for certain that Gen.
Pryor was Oil the move. So on the night OF
Jan. 80, the 11th Pa. Cav, Fosters Brigade,
Corccrans Irish Legion, and some Ii pieces of
artillery, started on the Cassyille road,
the nth Pa Cav. in advance. When some
six or seven miles from Suffolk the advance
guard was fired on, and charged, this time sup
ported by the whole regiment We were soon
fired on b. the cavalry reserve. One we went,
next receiving a vOiley from the infantry
picket. Next a regiment of rebel infantry III
ambuscade fired into, or rather over, the reGl-
mcnt when boom boom went two cannon, and
then a line of infantry was in view supporting
the rebel battery. The 1lth Pa. Cav. fell back
a few hundred yards and was soon joined
by the 13ih Ind, an old veteran regiment.
Battery ID, 4th Regular Art, soon got i'll posi-
ton, and also Battery &. 7th Mass Art, and
Col. Gibbs ll2th \. y, l30th \. y, and a brI-
gaae of Pennsy lvania militia came up. Inc
fighting became fierce. Gen. Pryor had Colts
South Carolina battery, Is guns in all, and the
distance was snort between their guns and ours
for some three hours. Our troops were new.
Corcorans Legion never heard a rebel gun be-
fore, except a few old soldiers out of the Goth
that had seen service, and the Pennsylvania
militia were new troops; and coming under
such a terrible artillery fire i'll the light would
try veteran nerves. About 3 o'clock a. M
Pryor began to retreat. The 11th Pa. Cav.
charged his rear, but a swamp on both sides OF
the road made it so that we had to charge by
head of column in tours. The rebels posted
two guns in the road, supported by infantry in
the swamp, and by the time we would dismount
they would Timber up and get out of our way.
So We followed them up some four miles. Our
loss was $50 killed and wounded and over 100
horses killed and crippled so badly that they
had to be shot. We lost only few prisoners,
but captured over 300 prisoners and one can
non. The rebel loss was more in killed and
wounded than ours. Gen. Peck was in COM
maud of Suffolk, but was hurt by the fall of his
horse at this time, so it put the command of
this fight at kelley's Store, or Deserted House,
under the immediate command of Gen. Michael
Corcoran. We had no more fighting at Suffolk
until April II, when Longstreet and A. p. Hill
paid visit, but found the same luck as
Pryor.-WM. J. SHIRLEY, Co. g, 18th Pa. Cav,
Altoona, Pa.