Hd Qrs Dept Western Va

                                                                                    Charleston V^a Sept 15^th 1862

 

My dear Uncle

                        I enclose you a paper which may be of service & shall endeavour in short hand to give you an idea of our operations since leaving the Rail Road. no information in regard to us except that we have beaten the enemy in three battles marched 147 miles, captured & forced the enemy to destroy an immence quantity of supplies must get into the news papers as it is very important that the enemy shall know nothing of our forces.

 

The difficulty of obtaining transportation delayed the advance of the Army of Western V^a under Major Gen^l Loring till the 6^th of Sept when all arrangements having been completed the order to advance was given & at daylight the Army was in motion (The enemy were in Rawleigh C.H. their Pickets at Shady Spring 12 miles in advance.)

 

The Brigades of Gen^l Williams & Col Wharton moved from the direction of Monroe Co. & crossed the New River at Packs Ferry, The Brigade of Gen^l Echols down on the turn Pike, the troops being ordered to rendevous at Shady Spring where the Packs Ferry road intersects the turn pike. Our Cavy drove in the pickets capturing a few prisoners from whom we / learned that the enemy would not make a stand till they had fallen back to Fayett C.H.

 

Raleigh C.H. was fortified & the brick houses loopholed but we entered the village without firing a shot on the 10^th at 12 am (on day of the battle of Carnifex Ferry) we had advanced to within 6 miles of Fayett CH when we learned from the country people that the enemy were in strong force & well fortified.

 

Col Whartons Brigade (51^st 22^d & Clarks Battalion) were ordered to make a circuit to the left through the forest and occupy a position below the town of Beckly/Fayett CH). Gen^l Williams should push up in front & take a commanding position in front. Gen^l. Echols Brigade being some distance in rear not ordered up to support Gen^l Williams. Gen^l Williams drove the enemys skirmishers from the woods & into the fortifications slowly then taking advantage of each piece of favorable ground till he had advanced within 800 yds of the lower work when they opened on him with their artilly. Gen^l Loring then ordered the atilly to take position on a slight eminence to the left about 500 yards & opened upon them from this point there was no cover for the men but our sharp Shooters picked off the gunners & riflemen when ever they shewed themselves Finding that there were four fortifications one on the lower being commanded by the regt higher & night being at hand a reconnoissance was / made, for the best point from which to storm the key fort, (Private, I went into their lines after night & found out that it could be done) by an officer of Gen^l Loring Staff who reported that from the side towards New River it was practicable to carry the work by storm. Whilst making preparations to move to that point the enemy evacuated the works & fled, meeting Whartons command he turned to the right thro a new road cut for this event some time since, leaving in our hands a large quantity of Coms^y & Q. Ms. stores, Medical supplies, one cannon, a quantity of ammunition besides leaving 250 in killed & wounded. The Yankees were commanded by Col. Seiber & their force consisted of 4 Regmts about where they fell back 1500 men Confederate loss 20 killed & 35 wounded Enemy 75 killed 200 wounded 63 prisoners. On the 11^th Sep^t we pushed on after the flying enemy meeting at nearly every turn of the road evidence of the haste in which they were moving, till we came to Cotton Hill on the Summit of which the enemy had planted two guns in position to Enfilade the road & occupied the cliff which commanded it, seemingly determined to make an determined obstinate stand. Col Whartons brigade supported by Gen^l Echols was ordered to keep by a Mountain trail around the mountain & occupy the road 2 1/2 miles in rear of the enemy’s position whilst Williams occupied their front and amused them till Wharton’s movement could be effected The Enemy unfortunately saw our men as they came opposite their position and abandoned their position it as Williams charged them, leaving several wagons & trees to blockade the road & several many dead & wounded to attest the accuracy of the Sharp shooters. The gallant men of our Army pushed on & found the enemy in position on both sides of the Kanawa River Otey’s Battery was moved to the front & soon dislodged (with the aid of our skirmishers who occupied the hill sides) the yankeys from their strong hold. Gen^l Loring ordered an advance. our men answered with a cheer and the Yankees fled again after firing an immense quantity of stores. They attempted to burn their ferry boats but a party of our men led by D^r Watkins of Charleston Ky Surgeon of the 22^d V^a Rgt swam the river under the enemys fire & saved them. In half an hour the ferry was established & the men advancing down both sides of the Kanawa River. Our list of prisoners was swelling every hour / and our army can be more than clad & subsisted from the stores saved from the fire at this point alone among the trophies were 700 blc salt & 340 wagons some few being in bad order. The Army pushed on to the mouth of Wolf Loup creek and encamped for the night. The enemy told the Country people that they would stand at camp Don Pyatt which they represented to be a strong natural position & fortified. At daylight however our Cavy moved on followed by the Army and the ascending black smoke soon discovered down the river to us, that the enemy were burning another depot. On arriving at Camp Pyatt we found it a mass of smoking ruins the enemy having failed to remove their dead & wounded several of them were burned in the cabins (Private I saw their charred & half burned remains myself) This brings us to the 13^th At about 11² AM Gen^l Williams opened on the enemy who had now crossed to this side of the River (North bank) with his Arty and our cavy drove in their rear guard till they opened on them & Williams whitle their (Yank) Arty. A running fight was kept up for some time till we came in sight of Charleston. Gen^l Loring now learned that the Gen^l Lightburn (Yankee) had ordered the Women & Children out / of town stating that if compelled to leave, that he would burn the town. He Loring ordered Col McCauslin who owing to the sickness (from a wound) of Gen^l Echols commanded on this side, to push the our skirmishers (under Lt. Col Demick) rapidly up & planting our batteries opened fire (as the infantry advanced moving on) So quickly did our men push them that they (The Yankees) fired only two store houses and a few buildings (singular but nearly all the sufferers left with the Yankees) and destroying the bridge over Elk River took position on the other side The battle now became an artilly duel & the Sharp Shooters of both sides on the river banks had fine sport popping at each other. We occupied the hights to the right of the town & our Arty did such execution that the enemy again retreated at dusk, leaving a quantity of stores on the field including clothing amn^tn &c besides a number of prisoners taken on this side Today our Cavy captured 19 wagons a number of mules & cattle which the enemy abandoned

 

I enclose a proclam^tn & Gen^l Order which may be of service to you. Brig Gen^l Jenkins / of the Cavy took a circuit via Buchanan, Upsher Co. Weston, Ripley & crossed into Ohio at Ravenswood, Remaining all night in Ohio. he passed down on that side 25 miles, recrossed into V^a, forded the Kanawa river at Buffalo, then struck the Ohio River & captured Cattletsburg passing into Kentucky he captured Ashland, destroying arms and stores of immense value. He has taken and paroled over 1200 prisoners and is now where the enemy will soon hear from him. Loring planed these movements & success has met him everywhere. The people seem to be much pleased with the idea of liveing once again under the Rule of the CS & time will prove whether they desire to rule themselves or will cling to the traitorous government of P[?]point. By the way the enemy were pushed so hard that they had time to destroy but one salt furnace on the river & 15000 Blc salt are on the bank waiting for Southerners to haul it to Dixey & break the Salt Speculators. The Yankeys have stolen nearly all of the negroe men from this part of the state forcing many off with them who exibited a desire to remain.

In short hand between the hours of despatch writing and duties incident to staff duties /

 

I have endeavoured to give you an account of the events of the past 9 days. you no doubt will see many newspaper accounts of our action which will be fuller and give more graphic descriptions of the battles & incidents of the march There are one or two correspondents of the Lynchburg Republican in the Army.

 

The Secy of War has been kind enough to appoint me Colonel of the 14^th V^a Cavy & in a few days I shall take command as senior Col of the Cavy Brigade under Jenkins. If the Yankees shall not injure my riding I hope to gain another step before very long. Give my love to Aunt Mary & the little folks with much for yourself remain

 

                                                                                    Your Affectionate

I have made arrangements to                                      C. E. Thorburn

send you some other notes                                          Col. & Inspr Genl

from Offc^l records when it shall                                 Army Western V^a

be proper to all on them to leave the

Adj^t Gen^l Office

 

I have no postage stamps here

being ahead of my train so you

must excuse my endorsing on the back of envelope

SOURCES