About midnight the enemy endeavored to outflank us, but in this they were foiled; for we opened on them, throwing two or three shot, when they at once fell back to their old position, and all again became quiet.
In the morning, nothing was to be seen or heard of the enemy. They had doubtless come to the sage conclusion,
“That those who fly may fight again,
Which he can never do that’s slain,”
and so had quietly decamped. They had been badly whipped, and only wanted to be “let alone.” Their force was estimated to be about seven thousand, while ours did not exceed two thousand, and five hundred actively engaged. The Rebel loss could not have been less than two hundred and fifty killed and wounded. Our loss was four killed and twenty wounded. Twenty-eight of the enemy’s dead were left on the field, and were buried by our soldiers. Three of their wounded fell into our hands, two of whom died the next day. Owing to the wild and rugged nature of the country, immediate pursuit was impossible, otherwise we would have “gobbled” the greater part of their force. The ground on which the battle was fought is said to have been the favorite hunting ground of Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky. It was rather a romantic place for a battle.
CHAPTER III.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
We remained at Camp Wild Cat until Thursday, Oct. 24th, and then took up our line of march on the track of the fleeing Rebels. All along the road were evidences of their work of destruction, as, in their retreat, they destroyed bridges, fences, and even houses. Carcasses of horses, cattle and hogs, were strewn along the roadside. In many places they had felled large trees across the road to cover their retreat. We also saw several graves where they had buried their dead.
In the afternoon of the same day, we arrived at what is called Pittman’s X Roads. The Richmond road here intersects the Lexington and Cumberland Gap road. The place derives its name from an old settler.
We here pitched our tents upon a pretty knoll. It was quite convenient to wood and water, and was the most pleasant place we had yet occupied.