HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE KANAWHA,
Mouth of Pocotaligo, July 16, 1861.
Maj. Gen. G. B. McCLELLAN,
Commanding Department of the Ohio:
Sir: At Red House I was joined by half the First Kentucky Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Enyart. I ordered him to join me, for two reasons: First, because my advance beyond Ripley was such that I felt assured that there was no danger of its being attacked by any considerable force, and second, because our wagon train was not sufficient to allow to Colonel Guthrie transportation enough for a whole regiment. I am now waiting at this point, which I reached last night, for the advance of the Second Kentucky from Guyandotte to Coalsmouth, and the half of the First Kentucky (if Colonel Guthrie finds it safe to do so) from Ripley to Sissonville. I shall then have my whole force, except part of the Eleventh (three companies), which is guarding stores at Point Pleasant, concentrated at three points upon a line of twenty miles long, commanding all the roads converging at Charleston from Parkersburg to Guyandotte. I have not yet received the remainder of my artillery, and the necessity of sending a strong detachment to communicate with the Second Kentucky has used all the horsemen who are equipped, except half a dozen. I look for both artillery and cavalry daily. The progress thus far has been steady, but for the last day it has been in the face of constant skirmishing. Small bodies of riflemen occupy the hills, and do not leave them till driven out by our skirmishers, who, being armed with altered muskets, are at a disadvantage as to the range of their pieces. We have, however, had but one man seriously hurt, and he, I think, will recover. The best information I can now get puts the force at Charleston superior to my own in numbers and in artillery. It is said they have so weakened the suspension bridge that it can be let fall at a moment’s warning; that their battery of some eight cannon is strongly intrenched, and that Wise is determined to make a strong stand there. If so, he certainly has a position it will be difficult to take or turn from this side. The Elk is not fordable for some distance up, and the ford neither good nor easily held by the advancing party. These reports have had an appearance of truth, which has made it seem necessary to be cautious, and I shall remain here a day or two till I can get my force well together, and by means of cavalry scout and reconnoiter to better advantage. Meanwhile I would suggest such a demonstration in the direction of the Gauley from your side, if possible, as would cut off retreat. I have made a respectable advance every day but one since leaving Camp Dennison, and think we have gone as fast as is prudent. I am sorry to have to report an accident by which two men were killed and another badly wounded. The half of the Kentucky regiment were marching on Sunday evening last to join Colonel Norton, who had moved in advance from Red House. They were out after night-fall, not starting till about 9 o’clock. As they marched, the captain of the rear guard, to correct some irregularity in marching, commanded “steady,” which the men mistook for “ready,” when one of the guns in the rear going off by reason of the nervousness or carelessness of the man holding it, a portion of the company imagined they were attacked, and without waiting for orders fired in the direction of the shot. The above is the account given by the officers of the regiment. I should have said that I had sent Colonel Norton in advance to reconnoiter for our next day’s march, and learning that he was in the vicinity of a considerable force with a small battery of artillery, I sent the re-enforcement after receiving the news. The difficulty of taking our artillery across the river has prevented me since last evening from making an attack, as the position is reported by Colonel Norton to be a very strong one naturally, being on a narrow hill difficult of access. I expect Colonel Woodruff to be in their rear before to-morrow, and will by that time have examined the ground and made arrangements for driving the enemy out.
Meanwhile, I remain, general, your obedient servant,
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
P. S.—I inclose a ticket torn from a musket-box found in the store-house of a secessionist named Barber, who lived a little above this point. It may seem to prove where the arms of some of Wise’s troops were got and how issued.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I, Vol. LI, Part I. With additions and corrections. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1902.
Spirit of '61 