In the latter part of October, a detachment of some ninety men from the army of
Gen. Floyd, under
Col. Peters and
Major Backley, started from
Camp Logan, in
Wythe county, to recover some Confederate prisoners that had been captured as the mouth of
Mate creek by some companies of Leemok, Home Guards, and carried off to
Peters's creek in
Kentucky.
After traveling two days they reached the enemy, and at once charged his camp, when a bush fight occurred, which lasted from 11 o'clock in the morning until dark, resulting in the recapture of the prisoners, the killing of some six or eight of the
Union men, and the capture of a few prisoners and several horses.
On our side as one was injured, and the party crossed into
Virginia and encamped for the night.
Next morning four independent companies volunteered in the service of the
State line, and the expedition returned to
Camp Logan stronger by 200 men than when it left.
Another expedition was organized a few days subsequent to the return of the first and started under commend of
Col. Peters and
Lt.-Col. Houndshell, with 275 men, composed of cavalry and one mountain howitzer.
Their destination was
Wolf creek where it runs into the
Tug fork of
Sandy river.
On the second day they reached
Warfield, where they surprised a party of Union men who were about to enjoy a horse race, and captured 18 or 20 horses.
The expedition remained at
Warfield that night and the next day. The next morning the party took up the line of march for the
Forks of the
Sandy.
They had not proceeded far, however, until they were fired upon from the brush on a hill side which flanked the whole command.
Captain Demmas was shot from his horse, and two privates wounded, one dangerously and the other through the shoulder.
The fight was then commenced, and the enemy driven back ever a mile and a half.
Col. Peters was wounded in the leg. That night the expedition started on its return march, and brought with it about 25 fine horses, as many beef cattle, and all of our wounded.
The Union force is said to have numbered four hundred.
