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The Battles of 1861.
Official reports.

Official report of Brigadier-General Jno. B. Floyd, of the battle of the 10th September, 1861.



Headquarters Army of Kanawha, Camp on the Road, Sept. 12, 1861.
Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War:

Sir:
Information had reached me for some number of days that a heavy force was advancing towards my position, from the direction of Clarksburg, in the North western part of the State. As these rumors became certainty, I made an effort to strengthen myself, first, by reinforcement, and secondly, by entrenchments, sufficient to with stand the very large force of the enemy. My orders to General Wise I send you copies of, and also copies of his replies. I failed in procuring reinforcements, but succeeded somewhat better in the construction of a temporary breastwork. At three o'clock in the evening of the 10th of September, the enemy, under the command of General Rosecrans, (as we learned through prisoners,) of whose advance I was fully aware, at the head of ten regiments, made his appearance before our entrenchments, when the battle instantly commenced. Our lines were necessarily very extended for the purpose of protecting our position, and when manned, left not one man for reserve. The assault was made with spirit and determination, with small arms, grape, and round shot, from howitzers and rifled cannon. There was scarcely an intermission in the conflict, until night put an end to the firing. The enemy's force is estimated certainly between eight and nine thousand men, whilst our force engaged was less than two thousand.

Upon the close of the contest for the night, I discovered that it was only a question of time when we should be compelled to yield to the superiority of numbers. I therefore determined at once to recross the Gauley River, and take position upon the left bank, which I accomplished without the loss of a gun, or any accident whatever. Our loss, strange to say, after a continued firing upon us by cannon and small arms for nearly four hours, was only 20 men wounded. The loss of the enemy we had no means of accurately estimating, but we are satisfied from report of prisoners and other sources of information, was very heavy. We repulsed them in five distinct and successive assaults, and at night-fall had crippled them to such an extent that they were in no condition whatever to molest us in our passage across the river. I will only say that our men, without distinction, behaved with the greatest coolness, determination, and presence of mind, and while it is impossible to give praise to one portion of the force engaged over another, it is but proper to say that the artillery behaved with the greatest bravery and efficiency; that under the command of Capt. Guy, who had reached me only two days before, and were for the first time under fire, behaved themselves in a manner worthy of all praise.

I am very confident that I could have beaten the enemy and have marched directly to the Valley of Kanawha, if the reinforcements from Gen. Wise's column had come up when ordered, and the regiments from North Carolina and Georgia could have reached me before the close of the second days conflict. I cannot express the regret which I feel at the necessity over which I had no control, which required that I should recross the river. I am confident that if I could have commanded the services of five thousand men, instead of eighteen hundred, which I had, I could have opened the road directly into the Valley of the Kanawha.

It would seem now as if the object so nearly accomplished can only be obtained by an advance upon the enemy, by the left bank of the Kanawha river, with a sufficient force at any time to give him battle. This force, if possible, ought to be collected from Tennessee and Kentucky. Their close correspondence shows distinctly enough the urgent necessity of so shaping the command in the Valley of the Kanawha as to insure, in the future, that unity of action upon which alone can rest any hope of success in military matters.

I have not thought proper to take any other notice of these transactions, than to bring them to the notice of the President and Secretary of the Confederate States. The reasons which have induced me to take this course, I am sure, will not be misunderstood by either.

I apprehend the course the enemy proposes to pursue is to carry out the plans indicated by General Rosecrans to Gen. Tyler, for the invasion of the interior of the State and the seizure of Lewisburg, set forth in an intercepted letter of the latter, a month ago. To prevent this I am in command of an actual force of four thousand two hundred men. This force will be required to oppose the advance of Gen. Cox and Gen. Rosecrans, with, as their forces, as they undoubtedly will, of at least 1,200 men. This disparity in numbers, is too great, although I will certainly give battle to the invading army at some strong point in the mountain passes as I may hope will equalize, to some extent, our numbers. This may occur within the next three days; but should it be deferred for any length of time, I hope the Department will find itself to strengthen us with reinforcements. In the mean time, should Gen. Lee attack and repulse the enemy at Rich Mountain, I will hold myself in position to fall upon his flank or rear, as circumstances may allow or my force authorize.

I have the honor to be, with high respect your obedient servant.

[This is signed by Adjutant Peters, because an injury prevents my holding a pen.]
Jno. B. Floyd,
Brig.-Gen. Com'g Army of Kanawha. By William E. Peters,
A. A. Gen., Floyd's Brigade.
The above is an exact copy of the original.
Edw'd S. Joynes,
War Department, Dec. 10, 1861.

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