In this engagement, Capt. Rankin received orders from Col. Sanders to send 50 of his men out on our right to skirmish, and to support the artillery with the remainder of his command, which was one section of Battery D, First Ohio.
We fought until 9 o’clock, A. M., capturing 40 prisoners and killed 9 rebels, among them a Capt. McClung.
Our loss was two killed and a few wounded.
Then falling back, we struck the railroad east of the place where we again commenced tearing up the track.
We were saluted with the enemy’s artillery until noon, shelling the woods we had left.
Moving on to Strawberry Plains, we destroyed everything as we went and reaching that place late in the evening, where considerable fighting took place, which resulted in our occupying the town, capturing six pieces of artillery and over 100 prisoners, with slight loss to us.
Here we burned the bridge that spans the Holston river, 1600 feet in length, including trestle work, besides the depot and store houses well filled with Q. M. and C. S. stores.
After resting a few hours, we moved out on the road toward New Market and on to Mossy Creek, where we destroyed a confederate machine shop and a large amount of grain, and burnt the bridge over Mossy Creek; in all, we destroyed over 3000 feet of bridges and trestle work.
This being done and having destroyed 60 miles of railroad, the head of our column was turned northward, crossing the Clinch river and moving toward Cumberland Gap.
Skirmishing now commenced in our rear, the detachments of the Second and Seventh being the rear guard.