A Yankee's account of a visit to Gen. Floyd's Outposts.
[correspondence of the Cleveland (Ohio) Herald.]
Gaulet Bridge, Aug. 31.
--I sent you a dispatch yesterday evening, telling you of the safety of all the commissioned officers of the regiment, save Capt. Dyer, known to be killed, Capt. Shurtliff, known to be a prisoner, and Lieutenants Wilcox and Lockwood missing.
I regret exceedingly that I cannot give you the names of the privates and non-commissioned officers killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing.
But this cannot be done till we hear more fully from Major Casement concerning the men with him, over four hundred, at Charleston, thirty-eight miles below us.--The only way, even then, that we could approximate to a correct list, would be to give the names of all who have escaped, those with him and those with us. One of the objects I aimed to secure under a flag of truce, the other day, was information upon this very thing, for the sake mainly of the relatives and friends of those we have lost.
I did not succeed.
But the history of the attempt may interest them and your readers generally.
After riding 18 miles, the last seven keeping our flag constantly displayed, we came to their first picket, a strong cavalry one, seven miles this side Cross Lanes.
We were received civilly, and stated our business, showing the commission we had from Col. Tyler.
The officer in command said he had no authority to permit us to pass, but kindly offered to send for information to the next picket, two miles further on at the Ford over Peters creek, where Col. Finny was. We were two hours there, and allowed full liberty to walk about as we pleased.
There were found five of our men, who had just been taken, all from Cleveland but one, viz: Frank Williams, Andrew Scovill, (whose brother is here, wounded in the hip,) a Mr. Burt, a Mr. Bandell, and one whose name I do not remember, a German.
Poor fellows, weary and hungry, they had come in from the woods to get something to eat and were captured.
I could sympathize especially with Williams, as he has a wife and two children.
The brave fellow had but little to say, but I saw that a word would bring the tears into his eyes.
Before we left we saw them seated at a bountiful table, which their captors had kindly provided for them; and we saw that in all other respects they were kindly and respectfully treated.
After a delay of two hours, word came that we could proceed to the next encampment.
A squad of cavalry took us in charge, blindfolding us and leading our horses.
In this fashion we rode two miles. At the ford we were received by Colonel Finny in a closed room, and the bandages taken from our eyes.
We found the Colonel a courteous gentleman of Eastern Virginia, and were informed by him that our dead had already been decently buried, with the exception of Captain Dyer, who had been recognized on the battle-field before he was quite dead by Major Themburg, of their army, who had served with him in New Mexico, whose body they were intending to send down to us under a flag of truce, to be forwarded to his friends, (it has not been done, however,) and that our wounded were receiving the care of their most skillful surgeons.
I then asked for Doctor Cushing and myself the privilege of visiting our wounded and prisoners to see them, and to receive messages from them to their friends.
He replied that General Floyd's orders were that no one should pass from us beyond that point, but added that if we were willing to remain where we were till an answer could be received, he would send a messenger to the General with our request.
We told him we were.
I then addressed to General Floyd the following note, viz:
Peter Creek, Aug. 27, 1861.-- Brig. General John B. Floyd--General: I am here under a flag of truce, with Dr. Cushing, of the 7th Regiment O. V. M., to look after our dead and wounded in the late battle at Cross Lanes.--We are informed by Col. Finny, as we knew we would be, that our dead have been decently buried, and that our wounded are receiving the skillful attention of the gentlemen of your medical staff.
Here, then, our mission might end. But, General, the Seventh Regiment is mainly composed of men from and in the vicinity of Cleveland, and as we both expect to return there shortly on furloughs, for the sake of the relatives and friends of the wounded and prisoners we very much wish to see them and be bearers of any message they may wish to send.
If, therefore, under our flag of truce, you will permit us to do so, we will accept it as a very high favor, and we promise you, on our honors as gentlemen, to take no advantage of it prejudicial to your service. Resp'y, your obd't serv't,
Frederick T. Brown,
Chaplain of the Seventh,
Minister in Presbyterian Church, O. S.
Frederick T. Brown,
Chaplain of the Seventh,
Minister in Presbyterian Church, O. S.
To this note, some five hours after, I received the following reply:
Headquarters Army of Kanawha, August 27th, 1861.
Rev. Frederick T. Brown, Chaplain of Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers: Dear Sir:
--Your note requesting to be permitted to visit the prisoners and wounded at present in my charge, of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and conveying information of them, has been received.
In reply, I have to say that in this, as in all other cases, the dead shall not be neglected by me. Your dead have all been decently interred.
Your prisoners are and shall be humanely and kindly treated — shall not be the recipients of any indignity, by language or otherwise.--Your wounded are beyond Gauley river, and under the treatment of my best surgeons.--Your request to visit them I cannot concede, persuaded that to do so would be attended with some risk of detriment to the service in which I am engaged.
I regret, then, that my sense of duty prompts me to adopt a course which under other circumstances, would afford me a pleasure, and which may, I fear, seem ungracious.
Permit me to add, that one of the Captains of your regiment is here and on parole.
He will be able, as he has already done, to visit the prisoners and wounded, and give them his personal attention.
Rev. Frederick T. Brown, Chaplain of Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers: Dear Sir:
Of course, nothing further could be done. I will only add that, while waiting for this note, I — I say ‘"1,"’ for Dr. Cushing was in one of his silent moods — had long conversations with Col. Finny and Major Honnsel on a variety of topics, not ignoring the one great topic at issue, and found them both most accomplished, cultivated, and courteous gentlemen. Before the note came in it grew dark, when Col. Finny took us to his headquarters, two miles further up toward Cross Lanes, without having us blindfolded. There he gave us a sumptuous supper, and lodged us till 3 o'clock A. M., when we were sent out of the lines back, not blindfolded. I must also say that in all our intercourse with the rebel officers and men, I did not hear one abusive or taunting word. We could not have been treated with more kindness or consideration. The messenger is just leaving. Yours, truly, Frederick T. Brown.