possible to communicate with Col. J. W. Lowe, the left wing was pushed forward to the enemy's right and the attack there made-the Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, under Col. W. S. Smith, to our left, and the artillery to our right. Finding but little effect could be made on the enemy from this position, Adjutant Pauly was sent to you to notify you of our position and subject to your order. Afterwards I reported to you in person for orders, in the mean time keeping up a fire on the enemy when he discovered himself above the breastworks. Still later Adjutant Pauly reported to you for orders, when we were attached to the Thirteenth and Twenty-eighth Regiments, under Colonels Smith and Moor, to attack the enemy on his extreme right, of which movement Colonel Smith will report. The movements and operations of the right wing will be reported to you by senior Capt. J. D. Wallace, who assumed command after Col. J. W. Lowe was killed.

Respectfully submitted.

C. B. WHITE,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Twelfth Regiment Ohio Vols.

Brigadier-General BENHAM.

No. 5.

Report of Capt. James D. Wallace, Twelfth Ohio Infantry.

CAMP SCOTT, September 13, 1861.

SIR: On the 10th instant the Twelfth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Col. J. W. Lowe, advanced through an old encampment on its way to the battle-field at this point. An order was given by Captain Hartsuff, of General Rosecrans' staff, to advance through the woods towards the enemy's fire. The right wing of the regiment, viz, Companies A, F, K, and E, advanced through the woods, under the command of Colonel Lowe, towards the enemy's fire, and in front of one of his batteries we crossed the fence of a corn field, entered the field, and were ordered by Colonel Lowe to deploy to the right, and advance through the field towards some houses. The order was obeyed. Colonel Lowe had advanced but a few steps when he was killed.

Up to this time I received all orders from Colonel Lowe. After his death I took command of the right wing, and advanced towards the enemy's breast works. I sheltered the men in the best manner I could. I sent Lieutenant Fisher, of Company A, to General Rosecrans for orders. I was directed through the general's order to advance to the right and front of the enemy's breastworks. I obeyed the order, crossed a by-road, and halted within easy musket-shot of their works at the edge of the woods. I directed the fire of the rifles at the enemy wherever he exposed himself. Discovering our fire was ineffectual, as the enemy sheltered behind their works, I ordered the fire to cease, and sheltered the men in the woods from the enemy's fire. I again sent for orders, and received through our adjutant, Lieutenant Pauly, an order from the commanding general to advance farther to the right My command passed through the woods, crossed a hollow, and ascended to the right of the enemy's flag-staff, passing through a thick growth of underbrush until we arrived near the top of the hill, and distant about 50 feet from their breast works, when the enemy delivered a severe fire, at the same time screening themselves behind the breastworks. The

men lay flat on the ground. Being unsupported, and finding I could effect nothing there (the enemy having fired a second volley at us), I withdrew the men, and formed them under the hill, at which place I received an order from Lieutenant-Colonel White to join the left wing of the regiment under his command. I obeyed the order, and advanced to the main road below our batteries, where I was ordered by one of your staff to halt my command on the side of the road to await further orders, which I did. I did not see the left wing of the regiment until evening, nor do I personally know how or why the regiment was separated.

Respectfully submitted.

J. D. WALLACE, Captain, Commanding Company A, Twelfth Regiment.

Brigadier-General BENHAM.

No. 6.

Report of Col. William S. Smith, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH REG'T O. V. INFANTRY,
Camp Scott, Va., September 11, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following statement of the part taken by my regiment in the action near Carnifix Ferry yesterday: At about 11 o'clock a. m. on the 10th instant, a general halt of the whole column having been ordered at a point about 2 miles distant from the enemy's intrenchments, my regiment was ordered by General Benham to form in line of battle behind the crest of a hill on the right flank of the position then being occupied by the Second and Third Brigades, it having appeared that they were about to be attacked. My line was just deployed when I received an order from General Rosecrans to move forward, which I did, taking my place in line according to our previous order of march, the Tenth Ohio, McMullin's battery, my own section of two rifled cannon, and yourself, with Gilmore's and West's cavalry, leading in their order. We closed upon the head of the column, and marched thus until we had reached a point within twothirds of a mile of the enemy's position, when I was again halted by an order from the rear.

We remained halted in this position for about ten minutes, and until the enemy opened fire upon the head of our column. I was then ordered to move forward, which I did, until I was induced by the heavy firing apparently on our right to move in that direction with my regiment until my line was fairly deployed, when I received an order from General Benham to move forward to the left. My regiment was then moved forward by the left flank down the ravine to our left running nearly parallel with the enemy's front, then up the right-hand slope until I saw the works of the enemy from my position at the head of my regiment.

I then moved to the left along the skirt of the woods in front of the enemy's line, and about 200 yards from it, until I reached his extreme right flank, moving all the while behind the summit of the hill which sheltered it from his fire. The enemy's line from his battery at the center to the right flank was completely revealed to us during this

flank movement under cover. When we reached the enemy's extreme right we received his fire from behind the breastwork of logs and rails, distant now about 100 yards. The order was immediately given to my regiment to fall down and creep up to the crest of the hill, where we opened fire and maintained it briskly, driving the enemy in upon his center. Having been ordered to make a reconnaissance, not an attack, we ceased firing, and lay in our position to await further orders, sending Lieutenant-Colonel Mason to report the result of our reconnaissance to Generals Benham and Rosecrans. I have since learned through a prisoner taken by us that our fire cleared the enemy from his works on the right and drove him in on his center.

After waiting as I supposed a sufficient length of time, and fearing that Colonel Mason had lost his way in the thick underbrush, I drew down my eight companies into the ravine and back into the main road, and then went in person to report to Generals Benham and Rosecrans. This I did, and requested that a brigadier might lead us to an attack upon the enemy's extreme right. A brigade, consisting of the Twentyeighth Ohio, eight companies of the Thirteenth Ohio, three of the Twenty-third Ohio, and two of the Twelfth Ohio Regiments, was extemporized by General Rosecrans, and I was placed in command and ordered to carry the works on the right by assault. I formed the command as above constituted in the ravine, and was then ordered by General Rosecrans to halt and await further orders. We remained in this position for about one hour, when General Rosecrans ordered me to move forward to the attack. I reached the head of my column and started just at dusk. Before we could march down the ravine through which we had passed before and countermarched up the right-hand slope, so as to draw out my line on the flank and in front of a portion of the enemy's line, it became so dark and the men so weary, having marched from 3 o'clock in the morning, that it was found impossible to ascend to their line. The ground was covered with rocks and a dense undergrowth of laurel, and Colonel Moor reported that it would take until 2 o'clock in the morning to get two companies of his regiment up.

I then ordered the whole column to face about, and march out just as it had marched in, and crossed the ravine to the rear of the column to lead it out, when a shot or two from the enemy's skirmishers, or an accidental shot from one of our own pieces, caused the whole column, doubled as it was into a "U" shape, to open fire, killing two and wounding about thirty of our own men. The melancholy mistake was at once discovered, and the column extricated and marched back by the left into the main road, and so on back to the grounds selected for our encampment.

At the beginning of the action my section of two rifled cannon, under command of Captain Schneider, and supported by his company (E, Thirteenth Regiment), was ordered by General Benham to take position in the road by which our columns approached, and at a point about 400 yards distant from the enemy's works. Several shots were fired from this position with good effect. Captain Schneider then found a better position for his guns about 100 paces to the right, and cut a road to it with his sword and one hatchet, and from this new position, in full view of the enemy's battery, he fired 75 rounds of solid shot and 15 of shells. His shot plowed through the parapet of the enemy's battery, spreading consternation among those who served the pieces. Captain Schneider and his men behaved with great gallantry, delivering their fire with coolness and accuracy, although exposed to a brisk fire from the enemy's battery and from his musketry. The same may be

said of my whole regiment, which was kept in perfect order throughout

Report of Col. Robert L. McCook, Ninth Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE A. O. W. V.,

Camp Cox, September 21, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following as the report of the Second Brigade, in relation to the action at Carnifix Ferry on the 10th instant:

In the afternoon of that day, whilst the Second and Third Brigades were halted east of the forks of the Summersville and Cross-Lanes roads, firing was heard in the direction of the supposed fortifications of the enemy. By order of the general commanding, I formed the Second Brigade in line of battle east of the forks of the road, covering the hills on either side of the Summersville road with the Ninth and Twentyeighth Regiments, holding the Forty-seventh and Schambeck's cavalry as a reserve, and there awaited orders. Subsequently I was ordered to advance with the brigade to the top of the hill near the woods, which extended to the enemy's fortifications. This I did, and again formed it in line of battle in the same order as before, with the exception that it fronted the noise of the battle. I remained with the brigade thus formed awaiting orders until 3.30 p. m., when Captain Hartsuff appeared and ordered the brigade to proceed to the intrenchments of the enemy for the purpose of storming them. I put in motion the Ninth Ohio in advance, followed by the Twenty-eighth and Forty-seventh, Captain Hartsuff leading the way for the purpose of showing the road and the point at which the works were to be stormed.

After three of the companies of the Ninth had passed the corn field in front of the enemy's works and had deployed into the bush, Captain Hartsuff informed me that the order to charge the works had been countermanded. I immediately placed the brigade in such position as to be most available and under cover from the enemy's fire. This was done as follows: Seven companies of the Ninth Ohio on the path back of the crest of the hill occupied by McMullin's battery, the Twentyeighth in their rear, and the Forty-seventh on the main road leading to the enemy's works.

At the time this was being done the three companies of the Ninth, which had deployed before the order to storm the works had been countermanded, were engaging the enemy at that portion of the left flank west of the corn field. They were ordered to retire as soon as the sound of a bugle could be heard above the roar of the cannon and musketry,

In separate reports Colonel Smith specially notices the gallant conduct of Maj. Joseph G. Hawkins, Lieuts. James B. Doney and Joseph T. Snider, Corp. James H. Scott, and Privates Henry Conover and Jefferson Gongwer, of same regiment.

which they did, and joined the regiment at the point where it was stationed. As to the extent and particulars of their engagement, I refer to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Sondershoff, of the Ninth Ohio, herewith forwarded.

After the brigade had occupied the above positions for some time the enemy seemed to change the range of his cannon, so that it covered the position occupied by the Ninth Ohio. I ordered it to retire to the clear place west of the last field on the right of the road leading to the enemy's works, and then awaited orders. About 7 in the evening it was again determined by the general commanding to storm, the enemy's works. The Ninth Ohio was ordered to the junction of the path with the main road near the east side of the corn field, in front of the enemy's works, and then halted. The Twenty-eighth was detached with portions of the Twelfth, Twenty-third, and Thirteenth Ohio. The Fortyseventh was formed in the main road leading to the works. Of the unfortunate casualty which occurred by the Thirteenth Regiment firing into the Twenty-eighth I desire to say nothing, but refer to the detailed report thereof by Colonel Moor, of the Twenty-eighth Ohio.

Darkness soon set in, so that it became impossible with any degree of safety to our troops to make an attack in the night. I was ordered with my brigade to cover the return of the artillery and ambulances from the field. This, too, I did with the Ninth Ohio, and at 9 p. m. in the night all the artillery and ambulances were brought from the field of battle to camp, and I marched the Second Brigade to the point where we had left at 3.30 p. m. to charge the enemy's works.

Yours, respectfully,

ROBERT L. McCOOK,

Colonel Ninth Ohio Volunteers, Commanding Second Brigade. Capt. GEORGE L. HARTSUFF, Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 8.

Report of Lieut. Col. Charles Sondershoff, Ninth Ohio Infantry.

The regiment was led into action by Lieut. Col. Charles Sondershoff, by direction of Adjutant-General Hartsuff, at 3.30 p. m., under orders to charge the enemy's works. It was ordered to advance to that point of the enemy's works lying to the left of the corn field. After Companies A, B, and C had passed the corn field and deployed to the enemy's left the order to charge the fortifications was countermanded by the general commanding, and the balance of the regiment was ordered to occupy the crest of the hill immediately in the rear of McMullin's battery. Before the order countermanding that to charge the works could be transmitted to Companies A, B, and C, they had advanced through the thick brush some 300 or 400 feet, when they came to the point where the enemy had cut the brush in front of their main works, which were about 300 yards distant, from which the enemy opened a strong fire of musketry, grape, and canister. After the companies had advanced a short distance towards the main works, sheltering themselves by trees and brush as best they could, all the men returning fire when anything was visible to shoot at, it was soon discovered by Companies A and B that immediately to their right, and about 50 yards distant, there was a wing of the enemy's works extending to the woods at almost right angles with the main works, when