Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[760] an equal willingness, even anxiety, to discharge their full duty as soldiers, even the most dangerous. Any discrimination among individuals would be invidious, and no one is slighted when it is asserted that all (with a trifling exception) may remember their actions that day with a just pride.

I am especially indebted to Colonel Heiskell, volunteer aid, Captain Flusser, acting aid, and Captain Guerrant, A. A. G., for invaluable services on the field, and throughout the expedition.

I am, most respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

General: At your request, I make the following report of the part taken by the Eighth Virginia cavalry at Rogersville, on the sixth instant. After a forced march of twenty-four hours, my regiment arrived at and crossed the Holston River, near Rogersville. At this point I was ordered across the country, on a by road, to the Carter's Valley road, at a point some eight miles above the town, and there await the arrival of Colonel Giltner. I had not waited but a few minutes, when I was informed by you that Colonel Giltner was moving on the road between me and the river. At this juncture, being informed by you that there was a company of cavalry on picket, some four miles in advance of me, I threw forward Company E, of this regiment, with instructions, when they arrived at the enemy's pickets, to charge down upon them, and not to permit any of them to reach Rogersville, to give the alarm. This order was carried out to the letter, not one of the enemy being permitted to enter the town; Company E, led by Captain H. C. Everett, having captured some forty of them, dispersed the remainder of them in the woods. Meeting with no further obstruction, my command was moved, by your direction immediately in rear of the enemy, on a road leading to a ferry below Rogersville. Whilst moving my command through the woods (the undergrowth is very dense at this point), I found myself within twenty yards of the wagon train of the enemy, which had been sent to the rear — their pickets being already driven in from the front by Colonel Giltner. Finding the enemy's wagon train about to move, I ordered my command to charge the guard, composed of about seventy-five or eighty men, which they did, capturing the whole of the wagon train and nearly all of the guard.

I then immediately moved on with my regiment, and soon found myself closely engaged with the main force of the enemy. I immediately posted my command behind a fence and on a wooded hill-side, in easy range of the enemy's camp, where we remained, under a heavy fire, about fifteen minutes. The enemy were about to charge my position when Colonel Giltner commenced the action in front, which appeared to disconcert the enemy so much that, although they made an effort, in considerable force, to dislodge me, they were quickly repulsed, and driven back on their former position. Colonel Giltner attacking vigorously about this time, the enemy threw down their arms and fled in every direction. Large numbers of them surrendered on the field, others were captured in squads through the neighborhood. A few of them, however, made their escape across the river.

My command succeeded in capturing, in this affair, upwards of three hundred prisoners, nine wagons and teams, loaded with quartermaster's stores, seven of which we succeeded in bringing with us. We also captured a large number of small arms, saddles, and about ninety horses and mules, in addition to the mules that were attached to the wagons. The command was moved, by your direction, on the Carter's Valley Road creek to Blountville, where we arrived safely, on the eighth instant, bringing with us, besides captured property above mentioned, some eight hundred prisoners. Our loss in this affair is one killed, and two or three slightly wounded.

I am, General, with the highest respect,

Your obedient servant.

General: The Major-General commanding directs me to enclose the report of Colonel Giltner for your endorsement, inasmuch as the two brigades were united in the latter part of the affair of the sixth instant. He requests that you forward your report of the same affair as soon as possible.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: In reply to yours, enclosing a report of Colonel Giltner, relative to the attack on the enemy near Rogersville, the sixth instant, I can say, if by endorsement you wish me to confirm his statements, such is not in my power. My report will show you the affair appears to me in a different light from what it does to Colonel Giltner. As the report is not addressed to me,