To oppose the advance of the rebels, a single Kentucky regiment, under Colonel Garrard, was stationed at Rock-castle creek, at an encampment known by the name of “Wild Cat.” General Zollicoffer conceived the design of cutting off this isolated regiment, and for that purpose was moving rapidly forward with six regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, sacking the towns of Barboursville and Loudon in his progress. General Albin Schoepf, who commanded the Federal troops in this district, hearing of the advance of the rebel forces, dispatched the Thirty-third Indiana, Colonel J. Coburn, from the camp at Big Hill, nineteen miles south of Richmond, with instructions to occupy an eminence half a mile to the east of Camp Wild Cat, while directions were also given to the Fourteenth Ohio to proceed to the same place; and two regiments of Tennessee Federalists, then at Camp Dick Robinson, forty-four miles from the scene of action, hastened to participate in the expected fight, and marched the whole distance on the day of the 21st, arriving just after the last feint by the enemy. Colonel Woolford’s Kentucky cavalry had also arrived, and General Schoepf and staff reached the scene of action in the course of the day.
At eight o’clock on the morning of the 21st, before the arrival of Colonel Coburn’s forces at the point designated, the advance of the enemy, with wild and exultant shouts, attacked Colonel Garrard’s camp, and anticipated an easy victory over an inferior force, much reduced by sickness. But the brave Kentuckians met them with an undaunted front, and poured into their ranks a deadly fire. Having been taught to despise the little band they were now attacking, the rebels advanced again gallantly to the assault, but the cool and determined resistance they met with soon put them to flight, and they retired discomfited, to await the arrival of the main body of their forces.
Meantime Colonel Coburn, with four companies of the Thirty-third Indiana, had started at seven o’clock, to reach the hill designated. The command consisted of Company D, Captain McCrea; Company I, Captain Hauser; Company E, Captain Hendricks; and Company G, Captain Dille—in all about three hundred and fifty men. Their arrival was most opportune, as the rebel forces were on the point of seizing the same position. The companies were immediately deployed as skirmishers. In about twenty minutes, the rebels, who were concealed in the woods, commenced firing. Soon after they appeared in front, half a mile to the south, and below in the valley. They were in large numbers, and formed in line, near an open space, and then approached the Federal force under cover of a wood which concealed them from view, and opened fire. At this moment the Kentucky cavalry (Colonel Garrard,) came up, and reinforced the Thirty-third. The enemy charged, but were repulsed under a galling fire. The front of the rebels approached within a few rods of Colonel Coburn, with their caps on their bayonets, saying that they were “Union men,” and were “all right;” and having thus attempted to disarm the suspicion of the loyal troops, suddenly poured a murderous fire upon them. After an hour of severe struggle, the enemy were compelled to retreat, leaving part of their dead and wounded behind them.
At about the close of this attack, another detachment of the forces under General Schoepf came upon the ground. It consisted of four companies of the Seventeenth Ohio. Company E, Captain Fox; company C, Captain Haines; company K, Captain Rea; and company H, Captain Whisson, all of whom, under Major Ward, promptly formed in line ready for their part in the contest. But the enemy had retreated only to return with an increased force. At about two o’clock, P. M., the attack was renewed, and at the same time, company C, Fourteenth Ohio, Captain J. W. Brown, appeared on the field. The position was fiercely contested, the Federal troops rendering the most gallant and effective service in the face of the largely superior force brought against them. A few discharges of cannon, three pieces of which were in use, aided by the well-directed infantry fire, resulted in the total rout and dispersion of the enemy, who again retreated, and during the night were finally removed by General Zollicoffer. Captain Stannard’s Ohio battery earned for itself high commendations in this contest.
The Federal loss was four killed and twenty-one wounded. We have no record of Zollicoffer’s loss.
While the battle was raging, General Schoepf, who had just arrived, and had tied his horse to a tree at a short distance, desired a soldier to go and get him. The man hesitating, the General went himself, and just as he was unfastening the reins he was greeted with a storm of bullets. One of them passed through his boot-top, and several struck the tree to which the horse was tied. With the most perfect coolness the General mounted his horse, and rode off to his post, as leisurely as if he were an unconcerned spectator of the scene.
Zollicoffer subsequently had large reinforcements, which he put into a condition for the best possible service, and commenced fortifying the strong positions at Cumberland Gap.
BATTLE AT ROMNEY, VA.
October 26, 1861.
The town of Romney is located in Hampshire county, Virginia, on the south branch of the Potomac, one hundred and ninety miles north-west from Richmond. It had been the theatre of previous military adventures between the loyal troops and their enemies, who were on several occasions compelled to retire from the place, but afterwards took advantage of the absence of the Federal forces to return. Brigadier-General B. F. Kelley, who commanded a portion of the forces in the encounter at Phillipi, where he was wounded, was encamped with part of his command at New Creek. He resolved to dislodge the rebels from Romney, and ordered his forces to unite in a march on the town on the morning of the 26th of October. The Fourth and Eighth Ohio, and Seventh Virginia, were in the brigade, with the addition of the Ringgold Cavalry.