Year: 1862

HUMPHREY AARsHALL's VICTORY ~ m KENTUCKY


CLEAR STATEMENT or FACrs-INTEREsTrNG DE-


TAILS, WRITTEN BIZ AN EYE WITNESS AND PAR


TICIPANT IN TIE CONFLICT, ETC.


from the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 20.1


The following brief and clear narrative OF this impor
tant conflict is furnished by participant in the affair.
particular interest to Virginia reader lies In the honor
able mention made Of one OF our own regiments
Kentucky hailed with great interest by your
readers have thought proper to give short account
of the movements Of General Marshall from the 9Th to


General Marshall had taken . position and fortified
himself three miles above Paintyle, the river
Thought best to M back so as to the
cutting o6 his supplies and getting in his rear Hence
slowly began retrograde movement noticing the
enemy until the night Of the 9th rested at the foot
OF the mountain some four miles west OF Prestonburg.
During the night OF The 9th learned that the enemy
in large numbers, was moving towards as from the d


On the morning Of the 10th We took our line Of march
In the direction o the Cross Roads, three miles west of
Prestonburg learning that the position would be


On arriving atshe Cross Roads, ws learned that the
enemy, 5000 strong had taken bis position about
three quarters Of . milo below the Cross Roads, Two
regiments and some cavalry. as reserve had taken
their position the foot Of the hill to front and the
line battle the foot Of the hill to front and right
awaiting our approach.


Marshall placed his artillery. four pieces in
number, to the right Of the Cross Roads and Colonel
Triggs Fifty fourth Virginia regiment in the to pro-
tect g. Our cavalry placed 10 left ACROSS the
creek in the wood Colonel A. C. Moors's Twenty ninth
Virginia regiment posted the front and right OF the
artillery the brow Of the hill At whose base the
my had his line Of battle. Colonel williams Kentucky
regiment was placed on the same hill protecting the right
Of Colonel Moors's regiment.


Thus posted the two armies for Q moment, in silence,
cazed Zach other. What contrast they presented
The enemy looked grand and imposing complsiely equip
ped and neatly dressed. Our line SMALL and seem
ingy OF little frmnsss, when compared with the enemy.
Badly equipped and uniformed, and well nigh exhausted
by long heavy marches through the mud and RAIN living
on less than for the last few weeks But We


But the time to view the enemy was Of short duration
for the boom Of artillery announced TO that
the battle had began and then the kissing o the ball and
cracking Of the brush heads told that the
hottest Of the conct would fall Colonel Moores TWEEN
yniuth Virginia regiment; but our boys were calm and
ready.


For two long hours the enemy poured upon Colonies
Moore and williams regiments perfect storm Of bal,
which boys received with codness and responded TO
with such terrible ores that the enemy began 20 stagger
from the effects. Just at this point Colonel Moore
dered his regimen. TO charge, leading in person. With
such rnness was charge made that the enemy broke
approach. But just the foe dsodgsd from
his position. were crossnrsd from the right and left
with deadly effect supposed partly 70 have been
own through mistake. Al the same tune
knows whogave command TO fall back TO old
position. Thus instant, lost ali had gained


two long hours Of hard fighting In the charge We lost


On reaching the bfew OF the hill We gave a shout for
JEFF. Davis resolving 20 have the field die Again
opened Ores with double energy. Now the battle ragged
along the whole brow Of the hill Colonel Williams fought
like tiger Twice the enemy tried TO fank him; twice
they repulsed.


The cavalry having dismounted poured dreadful and
destructive re into the right Gsnk OF the nsoent foe
The artillery likewise in better position throwing
shot and shell with fatal eject Colonel Triggs regiment
was called forward 70 reinforce Colonel Moore but be-
they could reach their position victory pro
claimed in favor OF Jef. Davis The enemy's guns
silsnced and the Yankees could get OF the
field We were left its possessors


Had not night been tho rout would have been
conplete; but the day was gone, we tired and hungry,
eight miles from camp thought best TO gather up
dead and wounded and seek rest for botiies.


Much might be said Of individual acts Of bravery but
time viii not permit. All did their duty. Most OF
troops had before seen battle field yet they
fought with the courage and boness which chsracerzes
the people which they represent. With united effort
they completely whipped foe numerically Eve times
stronger than themselves.


Colonel A. G. Moore's Twenty ninth Virginia regiment
bore the heat Of thday He under the most terrific


fire for than four consecutive hours yet his ranks
never staggered Our Coonels, Moore and Leigh, were
constantly the head OF their column, cheering their
men and directing their nrs


The gloomest part Of the day was after the enemy hsd
left the field The shreks or the wounded and dying
were truly hsartrcndsrng.


our loss s nvs killed and four wounded In Colonel
Moors's regiment and -four killed and hvs wounded u
Colonel williams regiment The enemy's ID from -four
hundred to i've hundred killed. and about the same
Der wounded.