J: P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War to Franklin Pierce, November 19, 1861

Camp Piney, November 19, 1861.

SIR:

In execution of a general plan, of which you were fully advised in my last dispatch, I succeeded [ November 1] in placing my guns in battery on the south side of the Kanawha River, near the junction of the New and Gauley Rivers. This I accomplished after much arduous labor, by transporting by hand the guns over a very abrupt and precipitous locality for the distance of several miles. When they were gotten in position they proved a source of considerable annoyance to the enemy. They not only bore upon the ferry where formerly stood the Gauley Bridge, but commanded for some considerable distance the road by which the enemy transported his provisions. The result was that the plying of his ferry-boats across the Gauley was stopped, one of them sunk, and all transportation over the road by day cut off. The sharpshooters, too, whom I posted on the bank of the river and under cover of my large guns, harassed him very much. The range was too great for the very successful use of small arms; still at certain points on the river many of his horses were killed and not less than 50 men. This blow was inflicted without the loss of a man on our side or the sustaining of awound. In this juncture of affairs, had a vigorous advance from. the direction of Sewell Mountain and the Hawk’s Nest been made upon – the enemy it would have compelled him either to meet this attack and leave his rear open to my forces, or to cross the river in order to fight me, in the face of my guns and in open boats, pressed by the column advancing from the Hawk’s Nest, or to take position at a lower point on the Kanawha. In either of these cases we could have engaged him with many advantages to us, and itis my conviction would have achieved a victory over him. The advance of such a force 1 hoped for when 1 left my position on Sewell Mountain, and regretted that the emergency of the service at Cheat Mountain rendered it necessary, in the judgment

of General Lee, to send the force to that point, which I hoped would

. eo-operate with me.

Such was the position of the two forces for three weeks. During “

this time there was incessant skirmishing from across the river, resulting from the superiority of our position uniformly in our favor, and during this time, though employed in constant efforts to cross the river,

_ the enemy succeeded in but one instance. He threw over, under cover

of night, a force of about 100 men, led by Colonel De Villiers. They

. attacked the guard of one of the guns, who, commanded by Major Thorburn, gallantly met and repulsed them, after killing several and capturing 6. Colonel De Villiers very narrowly escaped being captured.

On the night of this skirmish the enemy received a re-enforcement of 5,000 from Ohio. They landed at the mouth of Loop Creek, with the view of intercepting my retreat should this become necessary or of falling upon my rear or upon my left flank in case of a general engagement. The better to watch the movements of this column, I fell back 3 miles from . Cotton Hill to within a short distance of the intersection of the Loop Creek

road and the turnpike upon which my force was. The enemy advanced in force from Cotton Hill. I ordered three regiments to meetthem. A warm skirmish followed, which had resulted in a general engagement between these forces had not the enemy, though much superior in numbers and in positions of their own selection, disgracefully retreated. The conduct of our men, who were engaged in this action under my own eye, was gallant and worthy of commendation. “The position which I had selected was very strong, so much so that, with my force inferior in numbers to either column of the enemy, I had been willing, in fact desired, to engage him there. I would have done so with strong confidence of success. He, however, declined attacking me, and I, deeming it prudent to have a position beyond the intersections of the many roads leading from the Kanawha River with the turnpike, fell back upon Loop Mountain. The enemy followed, but with great timidity. Near this point [McCoy’s Mill, November 14] a skirmish occurred between scouting parties, in which I am grieved to inform the Department Lieut. Col. St. George Croghan was killed. Colonel Oroghan was one of the most gallant officers in the service. His bravery and gentlemanly demeanor, which characterized him to his latest breath, rendered him dear to all who knew him. His death has cast a gloom over the spirits of the entire army. In this no one shares more sincerely than I do.

I may be allowed here to state that the column which advanced from the mouth of Loop Creek was’piloted along obscure and unused paths

by two men recently discharged from confinement in Richmond. I would respectfully but most urgently call the attention of the Department to this matter, and would suggest that under no circumstances should a traitor be let loose upon the country who has. been arrested and sent to Richmond by this army, except, upon a eareful weighing of all the testimony in his case, he proves himself innocent. Insome cases the witnesses are inaccessible at a given time. Ofone thing, however, the Department may be well assured, such a characteris never arrested by my act or authority unless his liberty is dangerous to the publie safety.

In my position on Loop Mountain the enemy declined attacking me, but retreated from that to Gauley in a very disorderly manner. It was, however, one of no strategic value. I thought it best to fall back to this position on Piney Creek. Here I have been for two days. The position is impregnable. Here I hoped to winter my forces, but I find the country so stripped of its means of subsistence, in the first place by the militia and then by the forces under my command, that I have been

*988 ^ . OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. [Omar. xm.

forced to surrender this hope. In addition to this, the road for 12 or

miles east of this point is at present almost impassable. Under these

cirenmstances I deem it best to take position on New River, where subsistence for the men and beasts may be had in abundance.

^L take occasion here to state that some two weeks since I ordered Colonel Olarkson, in command of my cavalry, to proceed in the direction of the Ohio River, and to strike the enemy a blow whenever and wherever he thought it prudent to do so. He went as far as the town of Guy– andotte, attacked a force of the enemy about 300 strong stationed there [November 10], and, to use his own language, annihilated them. He took 95 prisoners, killed or drowned the remainder, and captured about 300 Enfield rifles. The prisoners I have the honor to send to Richmond. Colonel Clarkson executed his mission in the most satisfactory and gallant manner, dnd merits the highest commendation. Hoping that the several movements above detailed of the army which: I have the honor to command may meet with the approbation of the Department,

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient —

servant, JOHN B. FLOYD, /

Brigadier- General, Commanding Army of Kanawha.

Hon. J: P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War.

OCTOBER 20, 1861.—Reconnaissance to Hunter’s Mill and Thornton Station, Virginia.

Report of Maj. Amiel W. Whipple, U. $. Corps of Engineers.

ARLINGTON, VA., October 22, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report that-on Sunday last, in compliance

with the orders of Major-General McCall, I made a reconnaissance from