straw. I left what rations, hospital stores, and medicines could be spared, with 2 badly wounded of our men and 9 rebel wounded, in charge of Assistant Surgeon Blair, Tenth Regiment [West] Virgina Volunteer Infantry. Four Federal and 4 rebel wounded have died since the battle, and 14-wounded rebels were left at the Mountain House, of whom 3 died since. Our surgeons are of the opinion that only 2 out of the 11 left will possibly recover.

I left Hillsborough on the 10th, at 10 a. m. On Elk Mountain I encountered some 60 bushwhackers under a McCoy, wounding some of the cattle and firing on the pioneer party, causing a dead stop of nearly one hour. One company from each regiment climbing up in front and rear, drove them headlong down the other side, and without further molestation, accident, or even straggling, we arrived at Beverly at 4 p. m. on the 12th instant, colors flying and drums. beating in the most perfect order, having marched 222 miles in a little over eleven days, besides fighting a battle, which deprived us of nine hours' marching time.

I beg leave to mention that during the action of Droop Mountain, I was most cheerfully and ably assisted by Colonel Harris, commanding Tenth Regiment [West] Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and Lieutenant-Colonel Becker, commanding Twenty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in guiding and maneuvering the regiment in unbroken lines over the most difficult ground, through ravines, rocks, thick undergrowth, and fallen trees. Also Capt. Edwin Frey, Twenty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Lieut. J. Mork, the former commanding the line of skirmishers in a most creditable manner, enabling me to find the exact position of the enemy; the latter, acting assistant adjutant-general, by carrying orders and even executing some in most exposed places with coolness and judgment. Regimental commanders assure me that all behaved well.

Accompanying please find reports of killed and wounded, of captured arms, prisoners, horses, cattle, &c.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. MOOR,

Colonel 28th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Lieut. L. MARKBREIT,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 6.

Report of Lieut. Col. Alexander Scott, Second West Virginia Mounted Infantry.

HDQRS. SECOND [WEST] VIRGINIA MOUNTED INFANTRY,

In Camp near New Creek, W. Va., November 21, 1863. LIEUTENANT: Pursuant to orders issued from headquarters First Separate Brigade, Department of West Virginia, I marched, on the 1st instant, from Beverly, W. Va., in command of a portion of the Second [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry, numbering in the aggregate 395 men, composing part of General Averell's command, which moved at the same time.

*Embodied in revised statement, p. 503,

We encamped on the night of the 1st instant near Huttonsville; on the 2d, we crossed Cheat Mountain, and encamped at night at Greenbrier River, on Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike. On the morning of the 3d, we left the Staunton pike and marched in the direction of Huntersville, Pocahontas County. My command being in the advance of the column of mounted troops, one squadron was detached as advance guard, under command of Lieut. A. J. Weaver. Two prisoners were captured by them during the day. We encamped for the night about 15 miles from Huntersville.

On the morning of the 4th, took up the line of march for Huntersville, where we arrived about 1 p. m. After resting some time, I received orders to report with my command to Colonel Oley, of the Eighth [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry, who notified me that the Eighth, Second, and one section of Ewing's battery were ordered to march at once to Marling's Bottom, 6 miles north of Huntersville, on Greenbrier River, where Col. William L. Jackson's forces were supposed to be encamped.

Arriving about dusk we found Jackson had received intelligence of our approach and availed himself of the privilege of leaving before our arrival, taking the road to Lewisburg, which he partially blockaded. We encamped here for the night. The obstructions having been removed during the night, we were again in the saddle on the morning of the 5th instant at daylight.

Lieutenant Russell, who was on picket during the night at the camp just vacated by the enemy, destroyed a considerable quantity of small-arms and accouterments, and also burned their quarters, consisting of very comfortable log-houses.

Pursuing the course the enemy had taken, cannonading was soon heard on our front, which started us into a brisk trot, which was kept up until we reached Mill Point, some 10 miles from where we had encamped the night previous. At this place we found the Third [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry in line of battle with Jackson's force confronting them. Soon after our whole force arrived on the ground. I was then ordered to take a position in support of Keeper's battery. The enemy then fell back and took a strong position on Droop Mountain. We then encamped for the night near Hillsborough.

On the morning of the 6th, we were again in motion. About 12 o'clock (after having moved to the front), I was ordered to dismount my command (to fight on foot), with instructions to detach one company and post them on an elevated position as a guard for the horses of the dismounted troops. I was then ordered to take a position between the Third and Eighth, and to act in support of those two regiments.

On arriving at the foot of the hill where the rebels were posted, I passed the Eighth [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry, leaving them on my left. Moving on for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the Third [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry, I was here ordered to commence my advance up the hill toward the enemy's works, which I did through briers, tree-tops, and obstacles of various kinds.

After gaining an open piece of ground, I reformed my command and moved farther up the hill, where I formed in line on the left of Third [West] Virginia Mounted Infantry. After resting a few minutes, Colonel Thompson, of the Third, and myself agreed to advance at once on the enemy's works on the crest of the hill. The whole 33 R R-VOL XXIX, PT I

line moved steadily up. When within about 10 or 15 yards of the crest, the enemy opened on my right and center. The line was then pushed forward vigorously until we gained the crest, at which time the fighting was quite spirited for a few minutes.

Lieut. J. B. Smith, of the Second, with some of his men, was the first to get inside of the enemy's breastworks. At this juncture, through some misunderstanding, our whole line fell back a short distance. I soon, however, succeeded in rallying them again, and advanced inside, the enemy falling back as we continued to advance. We moved steadily on until the enemy was completely routed.

With but few exceptions, the men and officers acted nobly. I regret to have to report among the killed Lieut. A. J. Weaver, of Company K. He fell outside the breastworks when gallantly leading his company forward.

I went into the action with about 200 men, having a good many detached for other purposes. Out of that number there were 9 killed and 14 wounded, 2 mortally (1 of whom has since died), 7 severely, and 5 slightly. Among the wounded is Lieut. Charles H. Day, of Company I, [who received a] severe flesh wound in the

arm.

After pursuing the enemy that evening for some distance, the whole command went into camp. On the 7th, we marched to Lewisburg, Greenbrier County. On the 8th, marched to Callaghan's, 5 miles from Covington, Va. On the 9th, was in the advance, and captured 6 or 8 prisoners, and encamped at Gatewood's, on Back Creek, Bath County. Crossed the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike, on the 10th, near Hightown, Highland County, and intersected about sundown the road leading from Monterey to Franklin, where we encamped for the night. Encamped on the night of the 11th near Franklin, W. Va.

On the morning of the 12th, arrived at Petersburg, Hardy County. Marched again on the 14th, and arrived at New Creek, W. Va., on the 15th.

I take pleasure in making special mention of the gallantry and daring exhibited by Lieut. J. B. Smith, of Company E. He is the youngest officer in the regiment, and deserving of great credit. Adjt. J. Combs and Lieutenant Penticost (regimental quartermaster) exhibited great coolness and daring, and rendered important services throughout the entire fight on the 6th. I also mention the names of Captain Barclay, Lieutenants Frisbee, Salterbach, Russell, Day, and Hughes, as being actively engaged during the entire engagement.

Most of our casualties occurred near the breast-works on the crest of the hill. The following is a list of the names of the killed and wounded.*

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. L. MARKBREIT,

A. SCOTT, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Separate Brigade.

*Nominal list (omitted) shows 1 officer and 8 men killed, and 1 officer and 13 men wounded.

No. 7.

Report of Col. John H. Oley, Eighth West Virginia Mounted

Infantry.

NEW CREEK, W. Va.,
November 21, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the movements of my regiment during the late expedition:

at

We moved from Beverly November 1, at noon, with the rest of the brigade and camped for the night at Huttonsville. November 2, one of my squadrons was sent in advance of the infantry, the remainder of the regiment moving with the mounted portion of the brigade. November 3, the same squadron proceeded to the summit of the Alleghany Mountains and joined the brigade in the afternoon at Green Bank, meeting the pickets of McNeel's company near that place, wounding 1, taking 5 prisoners, and burning and destroying his camp. We arrived at Huntersville November 4 at 4 p. m., which time I was ordered and proceeded to Marling's Bottom, with the Second and Eighth [West] Virginia and a section of Ewing's battery, with instructions to attack any force I found there. I arrived there about dark; but one or two pickets were in the place and I soon ascertained that Colonel Arnett, with the Twentieth Virginia rebel cavalry and Marshall's and Hutton's companies, all of Jackson's command, had retreated from the place three or four hours before in the direction of Hillsborough and had extensively blockaded the road. After cutting out the blockade by previous orders, I camped for the night near the bridge.

On the 5th, about 6 a. m., I received orders to march on the Hillsborough road and join Colonel Schoonmaker with all possible speed. We were not fairly out of camp before the sound of distant cannon was heard. Knowing that Colonel Schoonmaker had no artillery, and that these reports were from the enemy's guns, we started on a trot. On reporting to Colonel Schoonmaker near Mill Point, I found that General Jackson had attacked him, and was pressing him quite boldly. By his order I immediately dismounted both regiments and deployed them (Colonel Schoonmaker taking the left with the Second and Third [West] Virginia, and I the right with the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and Eighth [West] Virginia), and received instructions to advance rapidly and drive the enemy. My men started with enthusiasm, but the rebels made no stand, and precipitately retreated. I followed them up for 4 or 5 miles with no success, until I received the general orders to stop farther pursuit and go into camp.

Soon after taking my place in the column on the morning of the 6th, I received orders to advance my regiment beyond Hillsborough and relieve the skirmishers of the Twenty-eighth Ohio. I sent forward three companies under command of Major Slack, supporting him with five companies, and cleared the hills up to the foot of Droop Mountain of the rebel skirmishers and pickets. About 1 p. m. I was notified that the Second and Third [West] Virginia would take position on my right, and was ordered to assault the enemy's works in conjunction with them. My position was an exceedingly difficult one. The side of the mountain in our front was bare of trees, fences, or any protection from fire. The ascent was very steep.

The artillery of the enemy commanded every inch of the ground, and their sharpshooters were on the summit behind a breast-work of logs, consequently there was a slight hesitation of my men at the start and a disposition to get too far to the right, in the line of the Second [West] Virginia, where the trees and brush offered some protection. I thought it best to keep well to the left, for the purpose of engaging the attention of the rebels in that direction and to prevent our men massing too much. After this my men pressed up the mountain boldly and bravely, although exposed to a murderous fire of shot and shell, and after an hour's hard fighting gained the summit, immediately in front of the battery. We reached within 50 yards of it, but the heavy fire of it and its supports, together with its sudden withdrawal, prevented its capture. At this time the retreat of the enemy became universal, and as the men had become much exhausted in ascending the mountain, I ordered them to halt and rest until our horses arrived, which were momentarily expected, but squads pressed on to pursue the enemy with much effect. My squadron, which had not been in the battle, was ordered forward as soon as possible, and I followed with the rest of the regiment until dark, when I received orders to go into camp.

November 7, reached Lewisburg with the rest of the brigade. November 8, was in advance with my regiment, when, near Callaghan's, was ordered to send two squadrons to and beyond that place to look after some reported rebels. They were sent under command of Major Slack, whose report of his operations on the 8th and 9th I forward.

On the 10th, I sent a company to destroy some saltpeter-works near Gatewood's, in the Back Creek Valley. They were found to have been in operation the day before, and were quite extensive. On the 12th, my advance guard again destroyed the saltpeter-works near Franklin, which we had burned before in August. They were being repaired for immediate operations. A smaller work near by was also destroyed.

On the 13th, I sent two squadrons under Captain Rife by the Seneca route, via Circleville, from Franklin. They found no enemy, and joined the regiment on the 14th at Petersburg. After resting two days at the latter place, I moved with the brigade to New Creek, arriving there on the 17th, in better condition than when we left Beverly, seventeen days before.

I am glad to say my casualties were small during the trip. I inclose the list. Second Lieut. Joseph F. Hagar, who was severely wounded in the leg, had to be left behind at Hillsborough. He was in the thickest of the fight, and did nobly, bearing his wound like a true soldier.

To the best of my knowledge, all of my officers and men behaved well, and did their duty in the battle and on the whole expedition, and good discipline was maintained.

I am indebted to Major Slack for his earnest and constant assistance. Lieutenant-Colonel Polsley was not present with the regiment, being left behind in command of the post at Beverly. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN H. OLEY, Colonel, Commanding.

Lieut. L. MARKBREIT,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Separate Brigade.