From the Kanawha Valley.
[Special Correspondence of the Dispatch.]
The fight which was imminent and expected when I wrote you on Sunday last, did not come off. The enemy advanced up the river until within range of
Major George S. Patton's Artillery at the mouth of
Coal river, when one well directed salute warned them of the probability of a warmer reception than they had anticipated, and they retired.
They landed, however, on both sides of the
Kanawha, in number estimated at about 3.000 men. In addition.
it is supposed they have a considerable force, perhaps as high as 1,500, on the
Guyandotte Road, as I informed you in my last letter.
Some brilliant skirmishing has taken place between the enemy and ourselves, and one engagement, in which our victory was decided.
On Tuesday last, the 16th inst.,
Col. Clarkson, Aid de-Camp to
Gen. Wise, made a dash as them, with a troop of cavalry, equalling in during and success the most brilliant achievements in American border warfare.
They had occupied the mountain on the
Kanawha near the mouth of Pocatalico, when
Colonel Clarkson volunteered to lead a scouting party from this camp, composed of two troops of cavalry.
Upon arriving in sight of the enemy he observed them in an advance party, coming down the slope of the mountain along whose top their main line extended.
Taking one troop he galloped full speed the distance of about a mile, and dividing his party, taking thirty with him, and leaving upwards of forty under
Capt Brock to watch the foot of the mountain he charged up the almost insurmountable mountain side, and drove them into the very main line, killing 8 as he believes 3 of whom he rode over lying dead; he himself discharged five shots with his breach attached revolver, three of which took effect though but one of those whom he shot was instantly killed.
Of his own little party one was very slightly wounded one horse killed and several wounded.
It is proper to state that the enemy only admit one killed and several wounded.
But this brilliant little dash is but incidental to the important engagement which took place on the other side of the
Kanawha, at the mouth of
Scarey Creek.
About 3 o'clock P. M., on Wednesday, the 17th inst., the
Federal troops, numbering from 900 to 1200, and consisting of the 12th Ohio Regiment, and four companies of the 21st under command of
Col. Lowe, a tacked
Major Geo. S. Patton, at the mouth of
Scarey Creek.
A deep ravine, through which the creek found its way, separated the hostile armies.
Our boys were thrown into some confusion in the early part of the action, out rallied again and fought gallantly
Maj. Patton, who distinguished himself, was wounded and unhorsed during the battle, and the command then devolved on
Colonel Frank Anderson, of the
Wise Legion, whose name, as associated with
General Walker and his Nicaraguan campaign, is historical.
Captain A. S. Jenkins with his cavalry troop, was early on the field, and greatly distinguished himself.
I mentioned him in my last; the brave fellow is still trying to
get even for the destruction of his property, which sat like a crown on the banks of the
Ohio.
The enemy had two pieces of artillery, and we the same number; but their's were much superior, and were managed with effect and precision.
Lieut Welch, in charge of one of our pieces, was killed, with one of his gunners, and several severely wounded, while the piece itself was disabled, and then spiked to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.
The other piece was taken off the field at the same time, and never worked efficiently afterwards.
Notwithstanding this loss, the infantry rallied to the brunt, charged the enemy up the ravine, and, in fine, drove them off the field and the cavalry pursued them a short distance, with a loss to them estimated at 30 killed, while 10 wounded prisoners fell into our hands, including Col
Norton himself.
He was in command of the four companies of the 21st Ohio, and was shot through both hips — and, to the honor of the western hills be it said, with an old mountain rifle.
He it was who commanded Camp Carrington, Geliopolis, Ohio, and prepared these regiments for our invasion, capturing and imprisoning many loyal citizens from
Mason county, and sending them to
Columbus.
In addition to
Col. Norton, we have as prisoners three other field officers, two captains, and one lieutenant.
It seems, after the battle was over, these field officers,
Col. Woodruff.
Lieutenant Col Neff, of the "2nd Kentucky Regiment," and
Col. De Viller, a (Frenchman) of the 12th Ohio Regiment, sauntered down to survey the battle field — the scene, as they supposed, (their regiments not being engaged,) of a recent Federal victory, " when lo!
upon saluting the victorious possessors of the field as friends, they were politely told to deliver up their swords as prisoners of war. They, and the other officers mentioned, are now held as prisoners on parole.
Maj. Patton's wound is with the
Minnie ball through the right shoulder, and is serious breaking the bone, and, it is feared, rendering amputation necessary.
Of the forces under him there were engaged thirteen companies and a fraction over, being less than the force of the enemy at its minimum estimate.
After the battle, the enemy crossed the river, and are now encamped and strongly entrenched at the mouth of Pocatalico; another attack is expected.
They also menace us from Sissonville, where they are in possession to the number of four of five hundred, and from
Walton on the Erk, supposed in an equal number.
Sad reports, clouding the sunshine of our victory, reach us from
Gen. Garnett.
The correspondents of the
Cincinnati papers up to the 16th represent a terrible Confederate defeat at
Rich Mountain, the death of
General Garnett, and surrender of
Col. Pegram with 600 men. We await calmly the truth of the matter. L.
A private letter from a member of the Richmond Blues, after detailing the circumstances of the fight on the 17th, goes on to say:
‘
Last night (17th,) at 10 o'clock we started for the enemy's camp to take them by surprise, they having from 3,000 to 4,000 men and we 1,000; but when we arrived they had slipped off to the other side of the
Kanawha River and fortified themselves.
We had not men enough to attack them, so we returned.
Their camp was 16 miles from us, but now they are over 25 miles distant. I rode with the
Colonel of our party to within about half a mile of their picket guard, and there we had a good view of their camp.
They have a splendid position, as there is only one way to get in, and that is a small place about a fourth of a mile in width, which is well fortified.
In the fight yesterday our men took the
Colonel commanding,
Lieut. Colonel, two
Captains and two
Lieutenants.
’
Our boys are all in the beat of health and spirits.
A Plucky woman.
--We know of a Northern born and Northern raised lady, who married a Southern planter, and who, with her husband, make her abode at a point just back of a certain city on the
Mississippi river, not a hundred thousand miles above New Orleans.
This lady has never let an occasion slip on which she could abuse and villify the Southern Confederacy.
A short time since she was on board a steamer, going up from New Orleans and was, as usual, wagging her tongue at a 2:40 rate against our section.
Among her auditory was a lady of the true Southern grit, who listened to the harangue, while her cheeks grew pale and red by turns, and her teeth made deep indentations in her coral lips.
At last, when she could stand it no longer, the
Southern matron rose from her seat and walked over to where the female speaker was letting off her abolition gas, and, shaking her finger in that lady's face, slowly and distinctly said:
‘
"
Madame, I have a husband, two sons and three brothers in the army of the Southern Confederacy.
They are fighting for their country, and if they are killed, they will die like gallant men, and however great the loss may be to me, I shall have the consolation of knowing they fell in a good cause.
You are a woman, and you talk as you do because you know that no Southern gentleman will force you to stop.
I am a Southern woman, and I now tell you that you shall not abuse my people in my presence.
If you say another word against the Southern Confederacy, I shall whip you in the presence of these passengers!"
’
The Southern blood was up, and there would have been an awful which of
de laine and crinoline if that Yankee woman hadn't been immediately struck dumb.
To make safety doubly sure, she also retired to her
state room, and locked the door, with the key inside.
That's the style of woman for
Louisiana to swear by.--
N O Delta.
A hard set.
--A Winchester correspondent of the Petersburg Express mentions the following incident:
When at
Martinsburg,
Mrs. Charles James Faulkner took occasion to call in person on
Patterson to acquaint him of the enormities of his vandal crew.
Patterson candidly confessed that they were a hard set, and specified the occupations and antecedents of several of his men to prove the assertion.
He said that they were an obdurate and contumacious set, and that he was unable to prevent their thieving propensities.
He had given and issued orders, but hey were of no avail, and he had to allow them the full length of their "tother" in despair, and was without hope of ever working a reformation among them for the better.--
