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EX-GOVERNOR

WISE A BRIGADIER.

307

with a feeling of despondency. Behind the nition of the fact of a permanent dissolution outward show of martial spirit stood the sad of the Union. Hence, the vast importance soul which peopled the future with spectres. which hung upon the events of the first conThe blood, the suffering, the sacrifices, the test. Bull Run came from its muddy obscuruin, necessary to obtain independence, even rity to give to the rebel cause its bloody if it could be won at all, made many question blessing; and, thereafter, no hope of peace if a mere political separation were worth such lit up a hill or valley of the South. In its cost. A victory to the Federal arms on the stead burned the lurid light of commingled first great battle-field, would, in all probabil- scorn, hate and pride. The wish for peace ity, stay the tide of war, and restore peace. was gone; despondency was banished as unA victory to the Confederate arms would re-worthy; and every Southern household set store confidence in their Government, in their its goods in order as if to prepare for all the resources, in their power to compel a recog- contingencies of distress or death.

CHAPTER VIL

ROSECRANS' OPERATIONS IN THE

KANAWHA VALLEY.
COX AT GAULEY BRIDGE.

WISE'S

ROSE

FROM CLARKSBURG. BATTLE OF CARNIFAX
OPERATIONS UP TO

BRIEF MILITARY CAREER.
CRANS' ADVANCE
FERRY. BATTLE АТ CHEAT MOUNTAIN.
OCTOBER 15TH.

Rosecrans in Com. mand.

MCCLELLAN having turn- | "withdrawing" towards Lewisburg, when ed over his command to Western Virginia was pronounced by RoseBrigadier - General Rose- crans free of Confederate occupation. It crans, by orders dated Grafton, July 25th, the was not free, however, as the Federal General new commander soon announced the assign- was soon to learn. ment of his brigades, preparatory to clearing the rebels out of the Kanawha country, thus to complete the work so successfully commenced by McClellan, of relieving Western Virginia from rebel thraldom.

McClellan, in his report of July 12th, announcing his victory at Rich Mountain, said: "I trust that General Cox has by this time driven Wise out of the Kanawha Valley. In that case I shall have accomplished the object of liberating Western Virginia." General Cox had not, however, been as rapid as his commanding General seemed to expect. Governor Wise was not made to abandon his post at Charleston until the 25th, when he fell back upon Gauley river, from which place he was pushed by Cox (July 29th)-Wise

Ex-Governor Wise a Brigadier.

To ex-Governor Wise had been assigned the duty of bringing rebellious Western Virginia back to its Old Dominion loyal. ty, and to Confederate obedience. Armed with the commission of a Brigadier-General in the Confederate army, he proceeded at once to the seat of hostilities, taking the Kanawha Valley for his "line of occupation," with head-quarters at Charleston. His aid and avant courier, Evermont Ward, issued this rather unique address or command to the Western Virginians:

"Brave sons of the ancient Commonwealth! The

foot of the invading tyrant is upon her soil, and his conduct is characterized by barbarities and atroci ties disgraceful to the civilized age in which we live;

he hath seized our kind and dutiful slaves, and yoked | fear his frowns; and his first report to Rich-
them as beasts of burden; laid waste to our crops; mond was a cry for reenforcements.
ruthlessly violated female innocency (enough of it-
self to turn the blood of the patriot to currents of
fire); he can, he must, he shall be expelled or anni-

hilated! If a nation may be born in a day, an army

should be raised in an hour. I am sent forward in advance of the brave, chivalrous and indomitable General Henry A. Wise, to urge you to fly to arms without a moment's delay. Gather everything in the shape of arms that may be converted into them, and paste the name of the person upon them from whom they are taken, that they may be valuable; get the consent of the owner if possible; if not, seize them (provided the owner will not march into line and fight with them). 'Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun,' is the word. Bring all the powder, flints, percussion caps, &c.; all the lead, whether in balls, bars, shot, pipes or gutters; all heavy cotton cloth for tents, old gum shoes to make them waterproof, and everything else you think will be of service.

Let the country westward from Staunton to Charleston fly in squads to prominent points of the road, and send in munitions and stores in the same way, and there await the arrival of the General, who will be on in a few days to muster them into service. Let the people of Roane and Jackson rendezvous at Ripley, Jackson county; those of Mason, Putnam, Cabell and Wayne, move on to Charleston at once.

Men of the far West, of my own native land-friends,

acquaintances, neighbors, relatives-General Wise has always been your friend, and now in the hour of your peril he comes to place his bosom between you and danger. Come down from your mountain homes and rally around his standard.

"Come, through the heather,

Around him gather;

Come Ronald, come Donald,

Come all together.

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Arriving at Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, he was "addressed" by "numbers of citiTo this he replied, unfolding his purposes, zens," congratulating him on his arrival, &c. powers and military requisitions. In view of the rather small results which attended the ex-Governor's campaign, perhaps it were cruel to recall the words of promise and praise which the General uttered, but the demands of history leave the historian no option in the matter.

Henry A. Wise's
Manifesto,

"It has pleased the Presi
dent to place me in command
of the camp of the trans-Alle-
ghany; and it is proper that I should explain, gen-
erally, the nature and extent of that command. By
instructions of the 3d June, I am to raise a legion,
by the prompt formation of companies-the compa-

nies to be reported, with their officers, in order that
the latter may be commissioned. As soon as a regi-

ment of ten companies is raised, the field officers
will be appointed. I have the privilege of recom-
mending these appointments. When the regiments
are formed they will be arranged into a brigade,
which I am to command, with the commission of
Brigadier-General. All officers, of course, will be

The

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appointed and commissioned by the President, but
with just regard to my recommendation.
mounted men are not to exceed five hundred, equal
to six companies, or three squadrons. The artillery
is to consist of six field-pieces. All the troops of
the legion are to arm and equip themselves thor-
oughly; but the arms and equipments are to be ap-
praised and paid for after being mustered into ser-
vice; and to aid in this, I am authorized to pur-
chase private arms for the purpose. Companies
may consist of the minimum number of sixty-four or
the maximum of one hundred privates. The enlist-
ments are for the war, or for a period not less than
one year. Such is the organization of the legion
now progressing, and I am authorized to transport
all recruits, engaged for it, to Lewisburg, at public
expense, up to the 1st July next.

66

Besides this command of the legion, I am fur

This document, redundant in its adjecther commissioned as Brigadier-General, for the detives, smacked so strongly of Henry A. Wise bombast that "Ronald" and "Donald” refured to "come through the heather": and that "brave, chivalrous and indomitable General" did not find himself as strong in volunteers as his ambitious plans required. He arrived in the Valley to find the people ather disinclined to court his smiles, or to

fense of the Kanawha Valley, and an indefinite
number of the adjoining counties. To that end I
am to proceed, with the force placed at my dis-
posal, to the valley of the Kanawha, by all the
means in my control to rally the people of that val-
ley and the adjoining counties to resist and repel
the invading enemies, who are threatening the Ohio
border, or are already trampling our soil on their

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Henry A. Wise's
Manifesto.

THE FIGHT AT SCAREY TOWN.

309

march towards Lewisburg. Ivious proclamations to the "people of West-
must needs rely upon the arms ern Virginia," it would appear that those
among the people to supply the trans-Alleghany habitans held either the Gov-
requisite armament; and upon their valor and know-
ernor or his cause, or both, in poor regard.
ledge of the country as a substitute for organization
Wise held Charleston

and discipline. If there be any who have arms be- during the early part of
yond their power or will to use, I must take them,
with such arrangements as the case may indicate for
future settlement. I must rely upon the supplies of

the country. When necessary I shall take them by
properly authorized agents, and they shall be
promptly paid or receipted for, unless they belong
to traitors in our midst, whose compeers have in
other parts of the State, ruthlessly stripped our
patriot friends and made them refugees from their
homes and their own mother State, essaying by all
treasonable acts and aims to divide and conquer
the land of their own birthright-calling ruffian in-
vaders from other States, now declared enemies of
our own, who have disgraced their kind by brutal
lust, worse than the lust of dominion.

"I shall respect with the highest regard the per

sonal and property rights of all with whom my

forces may come in contact; but I shall treat as
enemies all internal as well as external foes, accord-
ing to the rules of civilized warfare. I will en-
deavor to repel the enemy, if possible, and if I can-
not, I will try to check him as near the border of
our territory as may be practicable. If able, I will
drive him out of our territory, and carry the war to
his own dwelling, as he has brought it to ours.
Such is a general and full outline of my command,
and I now appeal to Western Virginia to defend
herself."

Thus he called for volunteers in a strain of

mingled entreaty and command, exclaiming:
"Come and tarry awhile, at least, with us,
in the field of glorious strife, for inestimable
rights. Wounds are soothing there! Come
and partake of our frugal rations in camp
enter in faith and hope, and heart there, it is
sweeter than honey. Come! if you don't
come, you shall be the 'jest of women and

the scorn of men,' and coward, sluggard,
knave, traitor or trifler, shall be branded
black upon your name, for life and lives
hereafter Your mothers of the cradle, and
your mother State shall disown and dishonor
you. Come to the camp, then, or there is a
death more deadly for you, and more to be
dreaded than the death by 'fire and blood."
But, the people did not "come;" and the
ex-Governor had to proceed without them.
Considering that he had published two pre-

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June. Cox was dispatch

The Fight at Scarey
Town.

ed by McClellan to operate against him, having about four thousand men assigned to his command for that purpose. After various delays his force concentrated at Poca, July 11th. Wise was then entrenched at Charleston with his advance thrown forward fifteen miles down the river to Scarey Town, on Scarey Creek. Against that point the Federals demonstrated, July 17th. A reconnoitering force of about one thousand, consisting of the Twelfth Ohio, Colonel Lowe, two companies of the Twenty-first Ohio, Colonel Norton, the Cleveland (Ohio) Light Artillery, Captain Cotter, with two rifled six-pounders, and the Ironton Cavalry company, Captain Rogers, all under command of Colonel Lowe. These went up the river by transport, to the mouth of Scarey Creek, then marched to Scarey Town (about five miles inland), arriving in its vicinity on the afternoon of the 17th. The enemy, entrenched on a commanding hill across the creek, opened on the cavalry as soon as it came in sight, killing one man and throwing the rest of the little troop into disorder. Cotton's artillery was then ordered forward. A sharp cannon duel followed, at a distance of about five hundred yards, when the rebel guns (two rifled six-pounders) were silenced. The infantry then advanced and a musketry fire immediately opened on both sides. The rebels shot from under cover of pits, and from the log houses of the village. Cotter planted a few balls into the houses, which

soon started the troops to more secure quarters. Close fighting, it was evident, would be necessary to force the enemy out. A bayonet charge was, therefore, ordered. A section of the Twenty-first and the two companies of the Twelfth Ohio regiments, led by Colonel White, started to assault the enemy's right. The rest of the Federal troops did not promptly assail the rebel left, as arranged; White's men were, in consequence, soon in the midst of quadruple num

The Fight at Scarey
Town.

Floyd!

Rosecrans' Move

bers, exposed to a distress- | We are not sure it is diging fire which could only nified to say it, but the be partially returned. The supposition is so natural that we repeat brave fellows soon fell back, having lost what we presume was the design in sending heavily. The retreat soon followed under Floyd to supersede the elder Wise, viz.: to cover of Cotter's guns, which were most ad- steal a march on Rosecrans. Floyd's eminent mirably served. The enemy did not pursue. qualifications in performances of that nature Prior to the charge, Colonel Lowe sent word must ever be the Confederate Government's for General Cox to send forward a second best defense for placing him in command beregiment, which was done, but it failed to yond the Blue Ridge mountains. reach the field in time for the fight. It joined the retreating companies. The Federal loss was nine killed, thirty-eight wounded and nine missing. Among the casualties should be named the loss of Colonel Norton as prisoner and wounded. A whole squad of officers who, hearing of the fight, rode out from the camp to be lookers on, passed right into the rebel ranks, supposing them to be those of our victorious troops. Among them were Colonel Woodruff, Colonel De Villiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Neff, and Captains Austin and Hurd.

The March against
Charleston.

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This was Governor Wise's only conquest. The march of General Cox against Charleston direct was taken up on the 24th. Various skirmishes occurred the enemy being in position at several points along the river, but they uniformly fled after a few rounds. A rebel steamer having two boats loaded with wheat in tow, was abandoned and fired by the "legionists." On the 25th two divisions of the Federal advance reached Elk river, one-fourth of a mile below Charleston, across which was a wire suspension bridge. This fine structure the rebels had attempted to destroy, but did only small injury. The Federal army was enabled to pass over on the 25th. Wise and his "legion" fled toward the East, and Cox was soon in pursuit. Gauley River was reached by the 29th. There it was discovered that Wise had burned the heavy bridge to secure his safe retreat towards Lewisburg. This left the Kanawha Valley, for a brief period, free of the rebel forces.

To regain lost laurels as well as a lost province, the Virginia and the Confederate Governments dispatched John B. Floyd to the scene, as superior to Wise in emergencies like those surrounding Western Virginia.

ments.

Rosecrans prepared to prosecute his work vigorously. After the rebel victory, at Bull Run, the subjugation of Western Virginia became, to the Confederates, one of the fixed general orders, and thither troops soon began to centre. August 20th the Union commander issued an address to the people of his department to settle the public mind in regard to Federal purposes and wishes. The Secessionists, if they were good for anything, were prolific of falsehoods which the General soon found were worse than rebel bayonets in distempering the minds of those well inclined toward the Union cause-the class with whom it was the especial wish of the Federal Administration to make friends, In his address General Rosecrans took occa sion to disabuse the people of the idea that he came to conquer: he came to protect them and asked in return their co-operation to put down the secession fallacy, to repress violence and to assist him in ridding the country of the guerrillas, whose almost daily assassinations of soldiers and outrages upon citizens were rendering them sources of extreme annoyance. He said that he should be obliged to hold those neighborhoods, where outrages were committed and sentries were shot, responsible for the crimes committed, and thus, in a degree, compelled the citizens to look after the guerrillas and thieves. His address was at once kind but firm, and, so long as he governed in that Department was well sustained by the people.

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BATTLE OF CARNIFEX FERRY.

811

Approaching the vicinity

pickets were posted along the river, up
and down. On the 21st of August, four-of Cross Lanes and Carni-
teen men of one company were surprised by
a portion of the Richmond Blues regiment of
Wise's legion. The Unionists were cut to
picces—only four escaping. On the 26th the
Seventh Ohio was attacked in its camp, while
at breakfast, by a body of infantry and caval-
ry-supposed to be about six hundred. The
Unionists were completely surprised and
were scattered in much disorder, losing about
sixty killed and prisoners. Tyler retreated
to Cox's position above Gauley Bridge. Floyd,
at that time, was reported to have about nine
thousand men in the vicinity.

The March from
Clarksburg.

Rosecrans started from Clarksburg, early in September for the Gauley River, passing down by way of Sutton to Summerville, eight miles below which, at Cross Lanes, Floyd and Wise were in considerable strength, both of fortifications and men. The Federal army, General Benham's brigade in the advance, on the morning of Monday, Sept. 10th, crossed Powell Mountain, the loftiest summit in Western Virginia. There evidences of a fresh camp were detected, and the enemy's position was fully determined by information obtained from the half-civilized women inhabiting the cabins of that wild and romantic region. Pressing on towards Summerville, a second camp was discovered in Muddlethy bottoms, from which, as one present remarked in the unique language of that region, "the whackers skedaddled beautifully." Early Tuesday morning the march was resumed with extreme caution, as the rebels were discovered flitting in all directions. The innumerable mountain paths and by-lanes, which only those familiar with that magnificent region could use, gave the enemy ample covert for their scouts; and it required the utmost vigilance to avoid their decoys as well as to provide against any ambuscade or masked batteries. General Benham showed great prudence and sagacity on the advance and proved himself an able officer.*

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Battle of

Carnifex Ferry.

fex Ferry over the Gauley
River, extended reconnoissances revealed the
enemy's exact location to be on the cliff's
overlooking the Carnifex Ferry road and
ford. Benham was locating these positions,
with his advance (Lytle's Irish regiment,
the Ohio Tenth), with no design to bring on a
battle, as the men were very weary with their
long day's tramp over the hills. But, the
rebel pickets were stumbled upon and unwit-
tingly pressed back upon their lines, when
the long line of a blazing parapet revealed
the whole extent of the rebel stronghold.

The fight now became sharp. Benham found it necessary either to press his advance, or to sound the retreat-an order which his regiments were too much disinclined to hear at that moment, and he resolved to hold all to await the coming up of Rosecrans, to whom he had dispatched the news of his operations.

Not a man was hurt by the first volley poured in upon the advancing Federal troops from the enemy's elevated works. "The Tenth was deployed"—we quote from a good account of the affair by one present—“ up the hill to the right, and the Ohio Thirteenth, Colonel Smith, down the hill into the ravine to the left-each regiment led by its Colonel in person. Our batteries were still behind, and Howe's Twelfth Ohio was some distance in the rear coming up slowly, so that the Tenth and Thirteenth had to support the enemy's fire a long time without assistance. But they did it gallantly, and continued to advance until they got to the edge of the abattis in front of the enemy, where they stood near the verge of the forest. In consequence of the rugged and impracticable nature of the ground, the line of the Tenth was broken, and the right wing was separated from the centre. Colonel Lytle could not see this on account of the jungle, and General Benham was directing a movement to the extreme left, when Lytle ordered the colors * We particularly remark this, because the Gene- forward, and shouting 'Follow, Tenth,' he ral was, afterwards, suspended from command, made a dash up the road, intending to charge owing, it is charged, to his indiscretions and rash-battery, and succeeded in getting within litness on the advance against Charleston, S. C., in tle more than a hundred yards of the rebel May, 1862. parapet before he was discovered. A terrific

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