Doc. 146. fight on the Wautauga River, November 10, 1861.
Secession reports.
in consequence of private intelligence received at
Bristol of the doings of the
Union men in
East Tennessee,
Captain Miller picked up a party of twenty-two young men, accompanied by
Mr. J. R. Howard as a volunteer, and started from
Bristol by the railroad at six o'clock. They sent lanterns ahead of the train and found the track torn up between Wautauga and the
Union Station Bridge; but the damage was soon repaired, and they passed over safely.
Arriving at
Carter's Station, they stopped and threw out pickets, and about midnight the little scouting party, under
Captain Miller, started to explore the country.
They had proceeded some three and a half miles through
Carter County, Tennessee, when they were met by a pretty heavy fire from rifles and shot-guns, which was promptly returned, and the skirmish was kept up with spirit for half a hour.
The
Lincolnites were some three hundred strong, and constituted the advance of a body of eight hundred stationed at
Elizabethtown, the mountain stronghold of the traitors.
We may state here that these men, as has been since ascertained from prisoners, expected a reinforcement of five hundred men from Wautauga County, North Carolina, a disaffected region adjoining
Johnson County, Tennessee.
In the fight the enemy were driven out of the woods, nine killed and five taken prisoners. The remainder retreated, and our scouts returned toward their camp.
Captain Miller received a charge of buckshot through his coat, and two of his men were slightly wounded in the feet.
The prisoners were taken to the cavalry camp at
Carter's Station.
Lynchburg Virginian account.
We are indebted to
Captain H. H. Miller, of the Twelfth Mississippi regiment, for the following particulars of an engagement between twenty-two
Virginians, under his command, and three hundred of the enemy, supposed to be under the command of----
Taylor, a former member of Congress from
Tennessee, which occurred at Taylor's Ford, on the Wautauga River, about two o'clock Sunday morning.
Captain Miller arrived at
Bristol on Saturday last, en route to
Mississippi, when intelligence reached there of the depredations that were being committed by the
Union men in
East Tennessee.
He was requested by
General Clark, who was in command, to make a reconnoissance with twenty-two
Virginians who had volunteered their services, and ascertain the position and numbers of the enemy on Wautauga River.
Captain Miller with his force arrived at Taylor's Ford, and had nearly succeeded in crossing the river, when they discovered the enemy on the opposite side in large numbers.
A fight ensued, when our force got within thirty yards of the enemy.
Captain Miller ordered his men to return to the shore and attack the enemy from that position.
Our men were so enthusiastic that it required his utmost exertions to restrain them from crossing the river and making a charge upon the enemy.
We sustained no loss.
Captain Miller received a slight
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wound in the hand and one in the back, the ball glancing from his sword belt.
One or two others were slightly wounded.
The enemy's loss, as reported by two prisoners captured Monday, was nine killed and seven wounded, and their force is said to have been about seven hundred.
The people are gathering in large numbers, armed with every available weapon, and express great determination to resist any invasion.
