Camp At Adair's, Near Narrows Of New
River,
May 11, 1862.
Sir: — Yesterday
morning, 10th inst, at dawn, our mounted pickets three miles south of Parisburg
[Pearisburg] gave notice that the enemy was approaching in order of battle. It
was soon discovered that his force was from twenty-five hundred to three
thousand, and that he had a battery of five pieces. In pursuance of your order
and according to a plan previously arranged, the following disposition of my
command was made. All our teams and all the teams we could press were loaded
and started for the Narrows of New River. The cavalry under Captain Gilmore,
numbering thirty-five, and detachments of two companies of the Second Virginia
V. C. [Volunteer Cavalry] under Captains Emmons and Scott respectively were
dispatched to the front with instructions to harrass and delay the enemy.
Company H, Captain Drake, and Company B, Captain Sperry of the Twenty-third
Regiment O. V. I. were assigned a similar duty. The remaining seven companies
(Company C not having joined the regiment) of the Twenty-third Regiment were
drawn up in line of battle on a ridge in the rear of the village and about a
half a mile in rear of our skirmishers. My whole force did not exceed six
hundred men.
The enemy on
approaching the first line of skirmishers halted and opened upon it with their
artillery. The enemy, soon after the firing commenced, sent detachments right
and left to flank our skirmishers. The skirmishers slowly and in good order
withdrew keeping up a constant and galling fire upon the advancing lines. The
enemy continued to press forward slowly and occasionally halting until they
reached the seven companies of the Twenty-third Regiment in line of battle. Our
whole force was gradually pushed back, the enemy following with his whole
force, halting frequently to place his guns in position. In this way the fight
was kept up four or five hours when we reached the Narrows of New River five
and a half miles north of Parisburg [Pearisburg]. Here we were able to take
advantage of the narrow pass and brought the enemy to a stand. He made no
serious effort to enter the Narrows in the face of the force I had posted at
the extreme southern entrance of the Narrows at Wolf Creek Bridge.
Respectfully,
R. B. HAYES
Lieutenant-colonel 23D'regiment O. V. I.,
Commanding.
Copy [of] report to Colonel Scammon of retreat from Giles
C. H. May 10, submitted May 11.
_______________
* [This paragraph]
erased before signing on request of Colonel Scammon — not because I did not deem
it true, but because he wished it, and I did not want to embarrass him.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 2, p. 263-5
No comments:
Post a Comment