USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 6
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3-Hill on which the companies in the road attempted to rally, but were driven off to the woods 4 by the rebel artil- lery, which had come up the Ferry road (F. R.) and formed at the crossing of the roads.
4-Woods through which Chaplain Brown, Colonel Ty- ler, and Lieut .- Col. Creighton escaped, and where Major Casement collected the scattered forces, and carried them in safety across the country.
6-Rebel company which Company A cut to pieces, tak- ing their standard bearer prisoner and capturing his flag.
The position of the different companies in the roads pre- vious to the fight are marked by the company letters A, B. C, etc. Their positions after retiring and rallying are shown by the letters and figures A I, B I, C I, etc.
-
THE FIGHT AT CROSS LANES.
Summerville
w/;to Su
PDOy
2
a
A
6
11
C
to Carnifax Ferry
K
C-
to Elki, River "
D
1
H
C' A'
1
K.
G
B
3
B
1
A"G
.H.
E
XXXX
XXXX
X
to Gauley Bridge
X X Rebel Cavalry
=
" Infantry
+ + Artillery
BATTLEFIELD OF CROSS LANES, VA.
August 26th, 1861
to Gauley River
F. R.
=
81
REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CROSS LANES
COMPANY C AT CROSS LANES.
(From private Journal.)
"Monday morning, August 26th, 1861.
"While preparing breakfast, shots were heard in the direction of the Ferry road. The long roll was sounded. Every man left his untasted breakfast, and at the command 'Fall in,' took his place in the ranks-Floyd's army was upon us. Company K, which had been on the river road, was driven in. When Company C, on double quick. reached the road crossings, where the main body of the regiment was, the enemy, in line of battle, was seen by us, advancing over our old camp ground.
"Company C was ordered to take position on a hill to the right of the road leading to Carnifax Ferry. In doing this we had to go toward the enemy and climb a rail fence under their fire. A volley from the rebs splintered the rails about me as I went over the fence. Some of our boys were down. We gained the hill, and facing about in good order, began to load and fire. This we kept up for twenty minutes or so, when the enemy's advance was checked; but it soon devel- oped that Company C and parts of Companies A and K were cut off from the balance of the regiment. Cross, Orton, Jeakins, and Collins were badly wounded and fell into the hands of the Confederates.
"Captain Shurtleff. seeing that we were being flanked, gave the order to fall back into the woods. We scattered in the dense thickets between the open field and the Gauley River, at first each man for himself. There was much con- fusion for a time. I crawled through the thick laurel bushes, got behind a tree and loaded my gun. The enemy followed us to the edge of the woods, but apparently did not enter the thickets, keeping up a sharp firing on us from the fields. The company soon got into a semblance of order and the Captain led us toward the river. The first thought seemed to be to find the banks of the Gauley and follow that down. It was plain that we were cut off from the rest of 6
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SEVENTHI REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
the regiment, and that our only safety from capture was to keep away from the public road.
"We proceeded cautiously, in single file, over the very roughest places I ever saw-through dense forest, under- growth of laurel and brier, up and down rough wooded hills, down and up rough rocky banks and cliffs, overhang- ing deep ravines. At intervals of time the column halted at the silent signal passed down from the Captain while scouts were sent in advance to guard against surprise. We had proceeded in this manner, making slow progress, for per- haps two or three hours, when it was decided to reach the public road where traveling would be faster. Some ob- jections were urged to this course, but the officers believed that we were far enough away from the scene of the morn- ing's fight now to make the venture safe. About II o'clock A. M. we approached a clearing. We were ordered to lie down, while the Captain reconnoitered in front. Again the order to advance, but we had hardly gone a quarter of a mile when a ringing command to 'Halt' came from the enemy-a body of cavalry on the road we were approach- ing. Those of us who were far enough away to be out of sight each quickly prepared to fight, but the boys at the head of the column were already in the power of the rebs and fifteen, including the Captain, were captured at once. Lieutenant Baker called out, 'Skedaddle!' which command the enemy did not seem to understand, and by the time they were ready to fire on us, those of us who were not prisoners were scattered again in the thickets.
"This time we seemed to be hopelessly separated, and for some time I was alone. The enemy kept firing into the woods, and, pursuing on every road and bridle path, picked up a number of our men. I secreted myself in a dense thicket while the confusion lasted. and when, finally, all was quiet, I made my way again toward the river. During the afternoon I fell in with two others of my company, fugitives like myself, so that when, three hours later, we reached the bank of the Gauley, three miserable hungry fellows were together under a cliff of rocks overhanging the river which
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REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CROSS LANES
swept by half a mile below us. We had now been without food since the evening before, and this, with our exciting brush with the enemy and subsequent rough traveling, had nearly exhausted us. We rested awhile and discussed ways and means. We must go on, for it was clearly out of the question to travel in this rough, unknown wilderness after dark. Two others of Company C joined us, and we five determined to make the best time we could while daylight lasted. I was chosen leader and we started out, avoiding every road or mountain path. It was indeed a weary tramp and our progress was slow. We dare not get out of sight or hearing of the river.
"That night, August 26, we rested, the best we could, supperless and miserable, under a huge cliff of rock over- hanging the Gauley. The night was cold. We had no blankets but, by lying close, we managed to get some sleep. Next morning (without waiting to cook breakfast) we pushed on, foot-sore and weak with hunger. About 9 o'clock we approached an open place, and soon discovered that we were near a farm. We determined that we would try to get something to eat here. It was taking chances, for every road was patrolled by the enemy; but hunger had made us desperate. We halted in the bushes, where we could not be seen from the farm buildings, and fixed on a plan.
"One of the boys, Thresher, said he would go to the house, and if possible get some food. He soon came back. reporting that he had seen a woman and boy leave the house with baskets and go back into the woods. We concluded that they may have been taking food to the rebel pickets or perhaps to their own men-folks, who were probably hiding away from the soldiers. I decided, however, to go myself to the house. Approaching through an orchard, I was near to the back door of the dwelling before I saw any sign of life. A middle-aged woman came to the door, and, seeing me, looked quickly back into the room in a manner that led me at first to think I was about to be easily entrapped. But her first words reassured me. I asked her if Floyd's pick-
£
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
ets were near. She said they were, and at the house often. She asked me if I was one of the company that was under the cliff; said they had just sent food to a party of our boys down there, and advised me to go to them at once for fear of being seen by the patrol. She told me that they were loyal to the Union, and that they had been feeding our boys as they came that way from the battle. I found that we were only about five miles from Cross Lanes. It had seemed to us that we were much farther away, for we had certainly traveled twenty miles or more. I explained to the good lady that there were others with me and that we were nearly famished. She sent a boy with me to conduct us to the cliff, when she said she would send us food. We found at the hiding-place thirteen of the Seventh, nearly all Com- pany A men. It was a happy meeting. Soon hot coffee, bread, and apples were brought to us, and we made a hearty meal. Never food tasted more delicious. Never were hungry boys more thankful.
"We learned afterward that these good people, whose name was Ross, furnished food to nearly a hundred of our men. Thanking the woman again and again, we started out toward the river. Having found that we were still within the enemy's lines we could not trust to the public road yet. About 3 P. M., while resting in the bushes, we were joined by several more of the regiment. This gave us quite a force, large enough, we thought, to warrant us tak- ing the public road. A steady rain all the afternoon had drenched us. Our guns were in poor condition and our courage was not strong. Night compelled us to halt, and we made the best of it in the thick brush on the side of a mountain near the river. Next morning, August 28, we started at daybreak, rain still falling, and plodded on for hours, over high hills and deep ravines, finding nothing to eat but wintergreens and a few berries.
"About noon, believing that we must be beyond the ene- my's lines, we determined to find the road and some habita- tion where we could get food. Two hours more brought us out to a clearing. Before us lay a rolling farm country,
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REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CROSS LANES
with a stream and mill near, and beyond them, farm build- ings. Two comrades (of Company A, I think) volunteered to go to the house while we waited developments. We saw the boys approach the house, and soon after a company of rebel cavalry surrounded the buildings. Our fellows were prisoners. Our first thought was to attempt their rescue, but the uncertainty of the strength of the enemy, and the fact that we were in no condition to fight, compelled us to consider discretion the better part of valor in this case. So keeping in the shelter of the forest we crossed the stream and ascended the side of the mountain in order to get an- other view of the premises, hoping to see our way clear to take the road. Here we were joined by J. M. Guinn of my company, who had been alone since the battle.
"We decided to go farther up the mountain, and con- tinued on to the summit. From there we could see on one side the cultivated country and squads of rebel cavalry on the roads. In the other direction nothing could be seen but a vast forest toward the Gauley. We were completely lost, desperately hungry, and half dead with fatigue. It must have been about 4 P. M. when we decided to descend a cer- tain ravine toward the river, and soon came upon cattle paths, and easier walking. But our progress was slow, for the men were footsore and weak. Soon the trail became plainer as we proceeded, but it was nearly dark before we came out into an open country near the Gauley. Pressing on down the river,-again wet through by rain which had been falling all the afternoon,-we soon found a log cabin inhabited, and on inquiry found that we were outside the enemy's pickets, and within a few miles of our own out- posts. It was after dark when we finally reached our pickets and were heartily greeted and supplied with the best they had, plenty of hardtack; but no fires were allowed. We were glad to lie down for the night without shelter or covering.
"The next day, near noon, we reached our camp at Gau- ley Bridge, and were met by the Colonel with tears in his eyes, and a hurrah welcome from everybody.
"M. M. ANDREWS."
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
"On the morning of the 26th of August, 1861, Companies A and C were on the Summerville pike near to the cross- road that led down to Carnifax Ferry, and Company K was on the picket out on the road toward the ferry. I do not remember just how the other companies were located, ex- cept that Company F was left back on the road to Gauley as a guard to the wagon-train.
"Very early in the morning, while we were cooking our coffee, firing was heard in the direction of the picket post and we were ordered to fall in at once, and Companies A and C started down the road toward Carnifax Ferry on double quick time. We soon found that Company K was being driven in, and we were ordered by Captain Crane to take to the hill on our right. After we had gone partly up the hill we turned and gave the rebels, who were then filing across our old camp ground, a few volleys. We did not linger long, however, but made for the top of the hill and into the woods, where we soon met a rebel color-bearer, and Corporal L. R. Davis demanded of him the colors, which he took and placed under his blouse: and it is my recollection that we did not bother much with the rebel sergeant, as we had about all we could do to take care of ourselves, and I think we let him go. Captain Crane and most of the com- pany took to the hills and kept away from the road. Some of the company went to houses for something to eat and were gobbled up by the rebels. Most of us, however, avoided the road, and arrived at Gauley about 9 o'clock in the evening, and were so tired that we lay down on the ground and slept for the night. The next day quite a num- ber came in, and we went into camp again, and wondered what had become of Major Casement and the other com- panies.
"We did ordinary camp and picket duty, and every day a detail was made to go down to the landing at Kanawha Falls, a few miles from camp, to unload boats and get ra- tions. I do not remember just how long, but it was sev- eral days before we heard that Major Casement and the
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REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CROSS LANES
balance of the regiment were at Charleston, and after a while we were ordered to join them.
"W. A. HOWE."
"5539 MONTE VISTA STREET, LOS ANGELES, CAL.
"It was the third day after the fight that 'You-uns' found me in that corn-field. When Company C came up to Colonel Thompkins's cavalry in the woods, I was well to the head of the company, but not close enough to be included in the surrender. Several of us broke on the run for the laurel thicket. After running a distance we came to a halt. Rap- pleye, Magary, Cooper, and some one else besides myself took position behind a big pine, intending to fight; but when we heard the order given by the rebels, 'Fifty of you deploy to the right and surround them!' we broke away again.
"Two Johnnies took after me. One long-legged fellow was tearing after me, calling 'Halt,' etc. I kept running. until I threw myself under a large bunch of laurel, cocked my musket ready to shoot, when one rebel and then the other went by as hard as they could run, thinking me yet in their front. I lay there and went to sleep until awakened by a fox smelling around, then roused up and moved toward Gauley River. Slept in bushes and under shelving rocks. Finally starved out, and went into the corn-field where you found me.
"J. M. GUINN."
"SUNDAY MORNING, August 25, 1861.
"After breakfast the regiment advanced to the ford again, leaving one company with the wagon-train. After halting a short time we crossed the creek ( Peters Creek) and ad- vanced about two miles; here Company C was stationed in ambush to cover the retreat if it should be necessary.
"Three other companies advanced to Cross Lanes. and finding no enemy there, the rest of the regiment, with the exception of two companies, was ordered forward. Com- pany C took a position on a hill, where it remained until
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
dark, and then took up its quarters in a little house near the four corners. Company A was stationed in a little house near by. Company K was farther to the right. The other five companies were stationed along the Gauley road.
"We slept in a road, around a fire, without blankets. Monday morning. August 26, just as we were eating our breakfast of roast beef and corn, we were aroused by a brisk firing in the direction of Company K. Company C was ordered to take position on a hill about half a mile dis- tant and a little to the right of the road where the enemy were advancing. Company A was ordered to occupy a posi- tion to the right of Company C. Our company ascended the hill and formed under a heavy fire of musketry, by which several of the men were wounded before we had gained the brow of the hill. One shot struck the sole of my shoe. Our company (C) maintained its position until we had fired eight or ten rounds; when seeing that we were overpowered by the numbers of the enemy, and they having nearly gained both our flanks, the Captain gave the order to retreat ; which was done in good order, considering the cir- cumstances. Eight of our men were left wounded on the field; three more slightly wounded, retreated with the com- pany, myself among the number. I was hit by a musket ball on the head, the ball just grazing the skull. The wound bled profusely, but I suffered little inconvenience from it. We struck into the woods, and made our way as best we could over hills, across streams, through thick underbrush, crawling over rocks, etc., trying to keep out of the way of the enemy until night, when we could get into the Gauley road and make our way to Gauley Bridge.
"We had proceeded in this way until afternoon, when the company having halted, the Captain and two of the men went ahead to pick out the way. A little in advance of where the company halted was a road, and as luck would have it, about 500 of the enemy, under command of Colonel Thompkins, came up and were right upon us before we dis- covered them. The Colonel ordered the Captain to halt and demanded a surrender. The Captain stepped out into the
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REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CROSS LANES
road, and seeing the force of the enemy, immediately deliv- ered up his sword and ordered the company to surrender as prisoners. But most of the men had broken and scattered in the woods when they first saw the enemy. The rest of us were standing with our guns drawn, ready to fire if the Captain should give the order, but being surrounded we gave up our arms. Only fourteen were taken besides the Captain. We found that we were about five miles from Cross Lanes. A doctor in the regiment dressed my wounds and we marched under guard to the camp of the enemy about four miles beyond Cross Lanes.
"E. W. MOREY."
On the morning of August 25, when the Seventh left Peter's Creek, Seymour T. Gill, a fifer, and his brother, Louis C. Gill, a drummer, both in Company D, were noti- fied by Colonel Tyler that, as non-combatants, they were to remain with the wagon-train; but not wishing to be thus left in the rear, they obtained arms and accouterments from the ordnance sergeant and followed after.
That night, being without rations they decided to re- turn to the train for supplies, when they met their brother. Benjamin F. Gill, of Company E. who divided the contents of his haversack with them and advised them to remain, which they did. The next morning, when the enemy at- tacked promptly and vigorously all along the line, Seymour and Louis, while moving toward our colors, as a rallying point, were fired upon and ordered to halt. A bullet struck Seymour's gun, thus saving his life, but admonished him to respect the challenge of his enemy, who took him pris- oner and carried him "away down South in Dixie," while Louis escaped.
CHAPTER X.
MORE ABOUT CROSS LANES.
"CAMP AT CHARLESTON, VA., "Saturday, August 31, 1861.
"FRIEND MERRILL: Long ere you receive this you will have heard of the defeat of the Ohio Seventh, at Cross Lanes on Monday, August 26. I will give you, as plainly as my weary nature will permit, the particulars of the occur- rence. Previous to the 20th inst., we had been stationed at Cross Lanes for the purpose of guarding the ferry across Gauley River, about 4 miles distant. At 10 o'clock P. M. the long roll called us from our rest, and orders were given to 'pack up for marching.' At 11.30 we were on our way to Gauley Bridge. At 10 A. M. next day arrived at the mouth of Twenty Mile Creek, distant 20 miles from Cross Lanes and six from Gauley Bridge. Here we encamped and remained until Saturday morning, the 24th inst., when we received 'marching orders'; and at noon were off again, retracing our steps to Cross Lanes. When at the crossing of Peters Creek, within five miles of Cross Lanes, we were met by Captain Bagg, of the Snake Hunters, who had re- ceived information, which was credited, that a large body of the rebels had crossed the river and would make a stand. It was then sundown. We immediately countermarched and returned 3 miles to a road leading from the ferry to the Gauley road. This was to prevent their cutting off our retreat to Gauley Bridge, if it should be necessary. After taking a cup of coffee, liastily prepared, we spread our blan- kets on the grass, and all not on picket guard enjoyed a good sleep. A friendly corn-field furnished us a breakfast.
"At about six in the morning we 'fell in,' and moved on again toward Cross Lanes. The main body of the regiment halted at the creek ( from where we countermarched the night before), Company K was sent on in advance to Cross
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MORE ABOUT CROSS LANES
Lanes, and detachments from other companies were sent as pickets on roads leading north and south. At ten the pickets were called in. Soon a messenger returned with the information that Company K had come suddenly upon a body of the enemy's cavalry at the meeting-house, and fired upon them. This was perhaps one-half mile from the cor- ners, and on the same ground where we had the battle. Company A was immediately sent on to their assistance. At 33 o'clock P. M. the remainder of the regiment advanced, with the exception of Company F, who remained to guard the wagons, and by 5 o'clock were near the meeting-house. We halted in the road, and remained until dark. Compan- ies K and A were then to the right of us on the ferry road, and one-half mile distant. Perhaps as many as five shots were fired by Company K, just before dark, and then all was quiet. Most of the companies laid on the road all night, without blankets or covering. Company H occupied the meeting-house, and Company D on the opposite side of the road, under the thick foliage of the woods. Our garments were perfectly wet through with perspiration, and the night air was unusually cool. We suffered very much; many of the men shivered as in winter. At about midnight consent was given to build up fires, and the boys immediately im- proved the opportunity, and then laid down again and slept until daylight, when they visited a neighboring corn-field for ears for their breakfast. A wagon with crackers now came up, and they were distributed.
"Before the men had finished cooking their corn, shots were fired. Everything was now dropped, and guns grasped, and we formed into line instantly. The firing in- creasing, orders were given for an advance down the road. We went 'double quick.' Company H following. Imme- diately upon clearing the covering of the woods we were saluted by a volley from the rebels. We countermarched, and by order of Captain Dyer took cover under a fence- Captain Dyer and Lieutenant Weed all the time standing in the road and constantly exposed to the raking showers of bullets from the enemy, who were concealed under cover of
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
the woods on our right. Soon on our left and center were seen company after company, and I might perhaps truth- fully say, regiment after regiment, coming on and endeavor- ing to flank us on that side; they were mostly under cover and not in range of our guns. Company K was at this time retreating toward us across an open field, but as they were 'deployed as skirmishers,' and therefore not in a compact body, shots upon them were not as effective as they other- wise would have been. As soon as Company K reached the road, we commenced the retreat. Escape from annihila- tion seemed almost impossible. After getting over the fence we jumped into long grass-an unmown meadow. Com- pany H was above us at the same time, but not having as far to go to reach the woods was not so long exposed to the fire. It was in this long grass that our brave Captain fell. He was shot in the left side just above the belt, by a musket ball, and probably lived but a few moments. A part of the meadow was planted with corn; through this we passed; then up a hillside until we reached the woods. At this place by the time Company D had arrived (it being the last com- pany), was gathered that fragment of the Seventh which came safe through to Charleston under Major Casement. It was at first supposed that we would make a stand here. We were drawn up about twenty feet from the fence. In front of us in the open meadow was the provision and am- munition wagons, one each, and a small ambulance. Near these were planted our regimental colors, and by the side of it were Colonels Tyler and Creighton, and Major Casement. We all now stood watching the enemy. Fighting such odds with no artillery or cavalry was suicidal, for they were ten to our one. We then commenced our retreat, in a northerly direction, led by Major Casement.
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