H. W. Benham to 136 OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. Cmam XIV.”, September 12, 1861

September 12, 1861.

: Camp Scott, September 12, 1861. «SIR: I have the honor to report as follows in relation to the operation of my brigade in the battle at the rebel intrenchments at Carnifix

. Ferry on the 10th instant. As, previously stated to you, the head of my brigade started from the camp, $ miles’ north of Summersville, at about 4 a. m., reaching that place before 8 a. m. in good order, and with the men eager for the con- . tinuance of the march toward the enemy, who we there ascertained. were well intrenched and determined to resist us near Carnifix Ferry. After a halt of nearly two hours about 1 mile short of the CrossLanes, we moved rapidly forward toward the position. of the’ enemy, until our arrival at the site of this camp, about 1 mile from their intrenehments, a little past 2 o’clock, when, after a reconnaissance by you, myself accompanying you, 1 was authorized to move forward with my brigade, using my best discretion in the case. Upon receiving this order, and. with the mass of my brigade well closed up, which had been accomplished during our reconnaissance, I moved carefully forward, with the Tenth Ohio Regiment leading, having our skirmishers well ahead and at the flanks for nearly three-fourths of a mile, when we discovered ~ through the opening of the woods on our left their intrenchments in an –

open space beyond a deep and steep valley and crowning the erest of

the opposite hill. Having no engineer officer with my brigade, and no other that I knew

-of to replace one, I kept with the head of the regiment to avoid ambuscade and to judge myself of their position and arrangements. After

advancing about one-fourth of a mile to the end of the woods I halted – the command, and could perceive that a heavy cross-fire had been prepared for us at the open space at the debouch from the woods, and Lat. once forbid the. advance of the regiment beyond this point. Within some five minutes after this time (nearly 3.30 o’clock), while carefully examining the earthworks on the road in front and their log breastworks on our left, a tremendous fire of musketry was opened on us, which in a few minutes was followed by a discharge of grape and speltercanister from a battery of some six pieces of artillery. This caused a break in the line for a few minutes, though for a few minutes only, for

. the men immediately returned to the ranks under the lead of their offi- `

cers to their former position, where I retained them, as I was certain that the fire at us through the close woods was without direct aim, and because they were needed for the protection of our artillery, which I immediately ordered-up. The two rifled guns of Captain Schneider, and ‘ Captain MeMullin, with his four mountain howitzers, immediately followed, throwing their shells well into their intrenchments on our left with excellent effect. A further examination of their position convinced me that their weak part and our true point of attack was on the right flank across the deep valley from our position, upon which orders were immediately sent to Colonel Smith, of the Thirteenth Regiment, and to Colonel Lowe, of the Twelfth Regiment, to advance and pass the valley on our left, under cover of the woods, to that attack. Neither of these regiments was to “be found in their proper position on the road in my rear as I had expected, though after a short time Colonel Smith was met with on our

“134 . . OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. – [Char XIV.

right, where he had been drawn into the woods by the belief, from the sound of the firing, that the attack was upon our right. Upon receipt of my order, however, Colonel Smith moved rapidly across the main : road down the ravine valley on our left, where he fortunately struck upon the most advantageous route, and thence he moved up tlie opposite hill, entirely past the right flank of the enemy. But as I had been — unable to find the Twelfth Regiment to send to his support (though I have since learned that three companies under Lieutenant-Colonel White had joined him), his movement became principally a reconnaissance, from which he soon after returned, reporting to me his opinion of the entire practicability of a successful attack upon the rebel intrenchments at

that point, he having entirely passed by the breastwork on the right, .

‘approaching within about one hundred yards of their lines, pouring a fire into them which it is since satisfactorily ascertained cleared that part of that breastwork of the enemy. l T ess

As I was still unable to ascertain the position of the Twelfth Regi- ment, which it has been reported to me had been ordered into the woods by the commanding general, I sent one of my staff to Colonel McCook, commanding the Second Brigade, to ask him to aid the Thirteenth in . this attack with his Ninth Regiment, to “which request a reply was returned to me that there were other orders from the commanding general, as stated to my aide by Assistant Adjutant-General Captain Hartsuff. In this state of affairs I could only hold my position in front with the Tenth Regiment protecting the artillery, which was endeavoring to silenee the cannon of the enemy, which was to a considerable

extent accomplished after the first fifteen or twenty minutes, their guns . being removed to other positions, as was then done also with one-half ofSchneider’s and MeMullin’s pieces, to enfilade the crest of the hill from – the edge of the woods on our right, which gave a fair view of their battery at some 380 yards’ distance. Los

At about this time, or one hour after the commencement of the action, Colonel Lytle, of the Tenth, though not ordered by me, and while I was – still endeavoring to obtain troops. for the attack from our left, made a very gallant attempt to approach their battery through the cleared space in front of it witha portion of his command, which of course failed from the smallness of his force in that exposed situation, he him- — self being severely wounded and compelled to retire, with the loss of . several of his men killed and wounded. s ES

Colonel Lowe, of the Twelfth, also at a subsequent period made a

similar attempt, and, as far as I can learn, without orders, in which, I regret to say, he fell, being instantly killed by a discharge of canister from the enemy. E

The above comprises the sum of the action of the portion of my brigade that was with me until you arrived on the field and assumed the direction of affairs; some time after which arrival you also arranged for and directed this attack upon their right with Colonel Smith’s regiment and a part of the Twelfth and. the Forty-seventh, Colonel Moor. This attack, as having been directed by myseif, you will recollect, I offered to lead upon the enemy, recommending at the same time a simultaneous demonstration or attack by the Ninth and Twelfth Regiments under cover of the woods from our right. The command moved forward, however, under direction of Colonel Smith, but from the lateness of the hour – it was compelled to return without attempting anything, and the lateness of the hour then seemed to forbid further operations for the day. _

There remains now but the grateful duty of acknowledging the valuable services of the different commanders and other officers as far as known to

me in this brigade, provisionally assigned tome within the past weekonly. ^ .

A uU ead a e a A E a

> A oa bate ach Él

X ENGAGEMENT AT CARNIFIX FERRY, W. VA. 135 s The personal gallantry and chivalrous daring of Colonel Lytle are _ attested by his wound and the exposed position in which he received d: — and the soldierly conduct and bravery of his lieutenant-colonel (Korff) ; and his major (Burke) I myself personally witnessed many times during _ the action. Post Ee ; ; ~ Tn Col. W. S. Smith, of the Thirteenth Ohio Regiment, I have found – ene of the most valuable and efficient officers I have ever known. His _ great intelligence, knowledge of his profession, skill and caution, cool- . ness and excellent judgment on all occasions, both previous to and — during the action, merit my highest praise. His lieutenant-colonel . (Mason), wounded during the attack upon their right flank, I saw bravely ready to guide the way to the second attack, and the major . (Hawkins), both in this action and on all other occasions since my con- ‘ < nection with this regiment, has shown himself a most courageous and _ valuable officer; and Lieutenant-Colonel White, of the Twelfth, I found . during the action earnestly seeking the opportunity to advance against — ' the lines of the enemy, which he soon found in joining Colonel Smith = with his three companies of the Thirteenth, where he rendered most = efficient service. ^ = ME x Of Captain Schneider, commanding. the two rifled pieces of the – Thirteenth Ohio Regiment, and of Captain MeMullin, commanding the -— mountain-howitzer battery, I can speak in the highest terms for their Courage and soldierly skill in the conduct of their batteries, which re- -.- peatedly silenced the artillery fire of the enemy and forced it to — . ehange positions. rie And of my staff officers, but recently connected with me on such duty, I have the most satisfactory report to make. Lieut. James O. — Stanage, Thirteenth Ohio, as acting assistant adjutant-general, has eonstantly rendered most valuable services in the performance of his proper duties, and, together with my aide, Lieut. S. B. Warren, Twenty- – . third Ohio, were constantly by my side through the hottest of the fire, ¡while not bearing orders to the different parts of the field; and Mr. W. – L. Mallory, the acting commissary and quartermaster of the brigade, – . rendered during the early part of the day most valuable service in arranging the advance of the column, and in accompanying the skir- – . mishers, a duty fully as exposed and dangerous as that upon this battle- field. In coming upon the first deserted camp of the enemy, some half

a mile short of the battlefield, I regretted to have to leave him in

charge of the property eaptured there, by which during the action I

lost his services, which from my knowledge of him I know would have

been most useful to me. ; ^* The cavalry companies of Captains West and Gilmore, being held in . reserve for emergencies, were thus prevented from having their share in the action. p :

I have the honor to inclose herewith the reports of Colonel Smith, Thirteenth Ohio; Lieutenant-Colonel Korff,* now commanding Tenth Ohio; Lieutenant-Colonel White, now commanding Twelfth Ohio Regiment, and of Captain McMullin,* of the howitzer battery, the reports of the killed and wounded in each command having been previously forwarded.t Ã

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

Brigadier- General, Commanding First Brigade O. V. M.

E Capt. GEORGE L. HARTSUFF, Assistant Adjutant- General.

E : * Not found. í tEmbodied in report No. 14, p. 146.

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No 13. 5-7 $