far as the Blake farm, which we reached at 4 o'clock p. m. Here a halt was ordered, as our men were exceedingly weary, and it was ascertained that the enemy were so far ahead of us as to render it impossible to overtake him again before nightfall. We were moreover with short rations, and were informed that none could come forward for us that night. At about 2 o'clock a. m. (15th) we started on our return, and reached Fayette at 3 o'clock p. m. The following day (16th) we returned to this camp, having been exposed to ten days of such hardships as men are rarely called upon to endure, but exultant that it had been our privilege to give the last chase from the valley of the Kanawha to the very troops which first fled before us from Ripley before the advance of our troops up the valley, and having driven General Floyd and his forces nearly 40 miles from his position in sight of the headquarters of this department of our army. Very respectfully submitted. WM. S. SMITH, Colonel, Commanding Thirteenth Regiment O. V. I. Capt. JAMES O. STANAGE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 7. Reports of Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, C. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KANAWHA, SIR: I asked instructions from the War Department nearly two weeks since as to the best point to be occupied by this command as winter quarters. In my previous dispatches I attempted to present such facts and reasons as would possess the Department of my views upon the general policy which might be considered in determining the point. Since that time I have marched to this point, and have driven the enemy entirely across the Kanawha, where, except the very hurried predatoryparties, he is now strictly confined. I send you herewith a sketch of the country immediately around here, which will enable you to see at a glance our position, that of the enemy, and to understand what has been accomplished by the movement to the Kanawha. When I crossed New River the enemy were in possession of all the country on the south side of Kanawha River as far as Raleigh CourtHouse. They had laid waste the village of Fayetteville and the country upon their lines of march. They had penetrated within 70 miles of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and had produced the greatest alarm amongst the people of Mercer, Giles, and Monroe, who felt that whilst the enemy could with impunity occupy this region (Fayette and Raleigh Counties), there could be no safety for them even in their homes. The feeling of confidence and security is now fully realized by all the country in the rear of us, and it becomes a question of great importance to select a proper point for winter quarters, that the advantage we have gained may not be lost, and that the people may remain at their homes following their regular pursuits. This point itself presents many advantages. The position is strong. Our right flank is completely protected by the cliffs of New River and the Gorge of Piney for the disSee Benjamin to Floyd, November 15, in "Correspondence, etc.," post. + Not found. tance of 40 miles. Our front can be easily rendered impregnable to five times our number. It is in the immediate vicinity of the enemy, where we annoy him constantly, and holding it, he is unable to advance upon us except with an overwhelming force, or to advance upon Lewisburg, or to leave his position without abandoning the great connecting link between the northwest proper, the railroad at Clarksburg, and the Kanawha Valley, and I think it would be impossible for the enemy to hold his position if we had guns of large caliber. Fuel here is extremely abundant and the exposure a good one for the mountains. The chief obstacle to this point is the difficulty of transportation. The line is 100 miles long from the railroad, over a mountain road (not macadamized) which becomes very deep and muddy in the winter. Probably most of the advantages pertaining to this position could be realized by falling back to the point at or near Raleigh Court-House, 35 miles nearer the railroad, but to fall back beyond that point, I am very clearly convinced, would prove extremely disastrous to the country and to our cause in this region. Colonel Russell, of Mississippi, takes this communication, and is fully possessed of my views, which he can, if you choose, explain more in detail. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN B. FLOYD, Commanding Army of Kanawha. Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KANAWHA, Camp Piney, November 19, 1861. SIR: In execution of a general plan, of which you were fully advised in my last dispatch, I succeeded [November 1] in placing my guns in battery on the south side of the Kanawha River, near the junction of the New and Gauley Rivers. This I accomplished after much arduous labor, by transporting by hand the guns over a very abrupt and precipitous locality for the distance of several miles. When they were gotten in position they proved a source of considerable annoyance to the enemy. They not only bore upon the ferry where formerly stood the Gauley Bridge, but commanded for some considerable distance the road by which the enemy transported his provisions. The result was that the plying of his ferry-boats across the Gauley was stopped, one of them sunk, and all transportation over the road by day cut off. The sharpshooters, too, whom I posted on the bank of the river and under cover of my large guns, harassed him very much. The range was too great for the very successful use of small arms; still at certain points on the river many of his horses were killed and not less than 50 men. This blow was inflicted without the loss of a man on our side or the sustaining of a wound. In this juncture of affairs, had a vigorous advance from the direction of Sewell Mountain and the Hawk's Nest been made upon the enemy it would have compelled him either to meet this attack and leave his rear open to my forces, or to cross the river in order to fight me, in the face of my guns and in open boats, pressed by the column advancing from the Hawk's Nest, or to take position at a lower point. on the Kanawha. In either of these cases we could have engaged him with many advantages to us, and it is my conviction would have achieved a victory over him. The advance of such a force I hoped for when I left my position on Sewell Mountain, and regretted that the emergency of the service at Cheat Mountain rendered it necessary, in the judgment of General Lee, to send the force to that point which I hoped would Co-operate with me. Such was the position of the two forces for three weeks. During this time there was incessant skirmishing from across the river, resulting from the superiority of our position uniformly in our favor, and during this time, though employed in constant efforts to cross the river, the enemy succeeded in but one instance. He threw over, under cover of night, a force of about 100 men, led by Colonel De Villiers. They attacked the guard of one of the guns, who, commanded by Major Thorburn, gallantly met and repulsed them, after killing several and capturing 6. Colonel De Villiers very narrowly escaped being captured. On the night of this skirmish the enemy received a re-enforcement of 5,000 from Ohio. They landed at the mouth of Loop Creek, with the view of intercepting my retreat should this become necessary or of falling upon my rear or upon my left flank in case of a general engagement. The better to watch the movements of this column, I fell back 3 miles from Cotton Hill to within a short distance of the intersection of the Loop Creek road and the turnpike upon which my force was. The enemy advanced in force from Cotton Hill. I ordered three regiments to meet them. A warm skirmish followed, which had resulted in a general engagement between these forces had not the enemy, though much superior in numbers and in positions of their own selection, disgracefully retreated. The conduct of our men, who were engaged in this action under my own eye, was gallant and worthy of commendation. The position which I had selected was very strong, so much so that, with my force inferior in numbers to either column of the enemy, I had been willing, in fact desired, to engage him there. I would have done so with strong confidence of success. He, however, declined attacking me, and I, deeming it prudent to have a position beyond the intersections of the many roads leading from the Kanawha River with the turnpike, fell back upon Loop Mountain. The enemy followed, but with great timidity. Near this point [McCoy's Mill, November 14] a skirmish occurred between scouting parties, in which I am grieved to inform the Department Lieut. Col. St. George Croghan was killed. Colonel Croghan was one of the most gallant officers in the service. His bravery and gentlemanly demeanor, which characterized him to his latest breath, rendered him dear to all who knew him. His death has cast a gloom over the spirits of the entire army. In this no one shares more sincerely than I do. I may be allowed here to state that the column which advanced from the mouth of Loop Creek was piloted along obscure and unused paths by two men recently discharged from confinement in Richmond. I would respectfully but most urgently call the attention of the Department to this matter, and would suggest that under no circumstances should a traitor be let loose upon the country who has been arrested and sent to Richmond by this army, except, upon a careful weighing of all the testimony in his case, he proves himself innocent. In some cases the witnesses are inaccessible at a given time. Of one thing, however, the Department may be well assured, such a character is never arrested by my act or authority unless his liberty is dangerous to the public safety. In my position on Loop Mountain the enemy declined attacking me, but retreated from that to Gauley in a very disorderly manner. It was, however, one of no strategic value. I thought it best to fall back to this position on Piney Creek. Here I have been for two days. The position is impregnable. Here I hoped to winter my forces, but I find the country so stripped of its means of subsistence, in the first place by the militia and then by the forces under my command, that I have been forced to surrender this hope. In addition to this, the road for 12 or 15 miles east of this point is at present almost impassable. Under these circumstances I deem it best to take position on New River, where subsistence for the men and beasts may be had in abundance. I take occasion here to state that some two weeks since I ordered Colonel Clarkson, in command of my cavalry, to proceed in the direction of the Ohio River, and to strike the enemy a blow whenever and wherever he thought it prudent to do so. He went as far as the town of Guyandotte, attacked a force of the enemy about 300 strong stationed there [November 10], and, to use his own language, annihilated them. He took 95 prisoners, killed or drowned the remainder, and captured about 300 Enfield rifles. The prisoners I have the honor to send to Richmond. Colonel Clarkson executed his mission in the most satisfactory and gallant manner, and merits the highest commendation. Hoping that the several movements above detailed of the army which I have the honor to command may meet with the approbation of the Department, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN B. FLOYD, Brigadier-General, Commanding Army of Kanawha. Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. OCTOBER 20, 1861.-Reconnaissance to Hunter's Mill and Thornton Station, Virginia. Report of Maj. Amiel W. Whipple, U. S. Corps of Engineers. ARLINGTON, VA., October 22, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that on Sunday last, in compliance with the orders of Major-General McCall, I made a reconnaissance from Dranesville to Hunter's Mill and Thornton Station, on the Loudoun and Hampshire Railway. I left Dranesville with 10 mounted men under the command of a lieutenant, and near Hunter's Mill met Lieutenant-Colonel Kane with a battalion of the Tiger-tail Rangers, who had a skirmish with a detachment of secessionists at that place, and routed them. This position is one of some military importance, and can be defended by us against a superior force approaching by the Fairfax road. Thence we ascended by a road upon the north side of the railway. Entered the road leading from Lewinsville to Fryingpan. Left it at the crossing of the railroad, and took a less traveled road through woods north of railway. Crossed headwaters of Colville Run, and came to Thornton's Station. Here were a few secession cavalry, who, after showing a disposition to make a stand, fled. Thence, by a road which seemed at night pretty level and smooth, we returned in a direction nearly north to Dranesville. The road by Hunter's Mill is the main road from that region to Fairfax Court-House, and is moderately good. Colonel Kane afforded every facility for the reconnaissance in his power, and kindly gave me the odometer distances taken under his direction. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. W. WHIPPLE, Major of Engineers. Lieut. Col. J. N. MACOMB, A. D. C., Corps of Engineers. OCTOBER 21-24, 1861.-Operations on the Potomac near Leesburg, Va., including engagement at Ball's Bluff (21st) and action (22d) near Edwards Ferry. REPORTS, ETC.t No. 1.-Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, with orders. No. 3.-Return of casualties in the Union forces. No. 4.-Col. Charles Devens, Fifteenth Massachusetts Infantry. No. 5.-Col. Edward W. Hinks, Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry. No. 9.-Lieut. Col. James J. Mooney, Forty-second New York Infantry. No. 12.-Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, U. S. Army, of operations opposite Edwards No. 13.-Brig. Gen. Willis A. Gorman, U. S. Army, of operations opposite Edwards Ferry, October 21-24. No. 14.-Maj. John Mix, Third New York Cavalry, of reconnaissance and skirmish, October 21, on Leesburg road. No. 15.-Brig. Gen. John J. Abercrombie, U. S. Army, of operations opposite Edwards Ferry, October 22-24. No. 16.-Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, U. S. Army, of march to re-enforce BrigadierGeneral Stone. No. 17.-Francis L. Buxton, U. S. Secret Service, of Confederate strength at Leesburg, Va. No. 18.-Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, U. S. Army, (letter) to chairman of Joint Committee on Conduct of the War. No. 19.-Secretary of War (letter) to Speaker of the House of Representatives. No. 21.-Brig. Gen. N. G. Evans, C. S. Army, including action October 22, with correspondence. No. 22.-Return of casualties in the Confederate forces, October 21-22. No. 23.-Col. William Barksdale, Thirteenth Mississippi Infantry, of operations Octo ber 21, 22. No. 24.-Capt. W. J. Eckford, Thirteenth Mississippi Infantry, of action near Edwards Ferry. No. 25.-Capt. L. D. Fletcher, Thirteenth Mississippi Infantry. No. 26. Col. W. S. Featherston, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry. No. 27.-Lieut. Col. John McGuirk, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry, of events October 20-23. No. 28.-Capt. W. L. Duff, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry. No. 29.-Lieut. Col. Thomas M. Griffin, Eighteenth Mississippi Infantry. No. 30.-Col. Eppa Hunton, Eighth Virginia Infantry. No. 31.-Col. Walter H. Jenifer, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry. This engagement is also known as the battle of Leesburg, Harrison's Island, or Conrad's Ferry. + Of engagement at Ball's Bluff, when not otherwise indicated. 19 R R-VOL V |