A cold, clear night last night; a fine morning, but a
white frost — light. Report that the steamer which left here yesterday
morning with Quartermaster Fitch, Paymaster Cowen, etc., on board was fired
into nearly opposite Buffalo. Said to be ten companies of Jenkins' men, some
crossing Kanawha, a few with horses. Lieutenant-Colonel Comly with five
companies [of the] Twenty-third went down [the] river in [a] steamboat to
Coal's Mouth to defend that point.
4 P. M. — Reported that Point Pleasant is in
possession of the Rebels,
6 P. M. — Dispatch from Captain Fitch says [that a]
company of [the] Thirteenth Virginia holds out in court-house at Point
Pleasant; with impromptu gunboats from Gallipolis drove the Rebels out of Point
Pleasant; can certainly hold it until dark.
9 P. M. —
Dispatch: Rebels driven back, twelve killed, fourteen taken prisoners. Our loss
one killed, one wounded, three officers ( ?) taken prisoners. Stores all safe.
10 P. M. — Rebels retreated up Kanawha; starving, out
of shoes, and ammunition.
Colonel Comly ordered to rig up steamboat so as to protect
men and go down the river to prevent Jenkins from recrossing the river.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 399-400
