Probably Camp Elkwater, Virginia (now West Virginia)

October 5, 1861

I have been in a regular battle and had command of our Regiment. On the 3rd of October, at midnight, seven regiments under General Reynolds marched from Cheat Mountain summit down into Greenbrier Valley, to make a reconnaissance of the enemy’s camp. I had been sick for nearly two weeks and did not know whether I could ride a horse or not; but I was bound to be in the fight if I had to be carried. So I started and the nearer we came to the enemy the stronger I got. Our regiment was ordered to open the fight by covering Loomis’ Battery of six ten-pound cannon. I took the Regiment into the field within five-eighths of a mile of the enemy’s batteries planted on an entrenched hill. I formed the men in line of battle across an open field, while the battery took position immediately in our rear. When the battery was ready to open I deployed the Regi­ment around and covered the battery on its right; and then such a roar of cannon! The first gun fired by the enemy threw a twelve pound ball directly over my head; the wind it made taking my cap off, but I caught it. The ball struck the earth within ten feet of General Reynolds who was in the rear. After lying in the open field for an hour, we were ordered to go around the hill directly in front of and only four hundred yards from the enemy’s works to support Colonel Dumont. I formed the Regiment and told them that any man who was not willing to storm the enemy’s batteries with me, and follow wherever I led the way, could fall out of ranks. But not a man stirred or spoke. I could see them clutch their muskets tighter and straighten up a little taller; and when I gave the order to advance double-quick every man started off with a promptness and will that convinced me that they would follow to Mobile if I led the way.

We moved in under a perfect rain of canister, shot and shell, until we passed the Ohio Regiments who were halting and wavering, and until we passed the 7th (Indiana) whose men had scattered through the woods, recoiling from the iron hail. Here I was ordered to halt and held the men for half an hour as steady as mile-posts, awaiting further orders, when I was ordered back. I immediately put the men back in perfect order and we were the only regiment of six that turned the point of the hill and came back in order. General Reynolds rode up to me as I came out into the open field and said, “Yours is the only regiment in order. Can you cover those batteries and bring them off the field?” I said, “certainly, sir.” I then deployed the Regiment across the open bottom between the batteries and the enemy, formed them in line and stood ready to repel any force that might attempt to cut off the batteries. The batteries then limbered up and retired. I followed and brought them safely into camp, having lost but one man. Our whole loss was ten killed and fifteen wounded. We killed thirty-eight of the enemy in driving them into their entrenchments and captured fourteen. With our glasses we could see them hauling away their dead and wounded. They were re­-enforced with four thousand men and six pieces of artillery. Their shells would burst in the midst of our men, knocking down a dozen men, but only scratching them; not more than one of their shells in ten burst, they forgetting to cut the fuses. One six-pound ball came between me and another officer as we were talking and struck in hillside; a cannon ball struck in the ground under Lieut. Shield’s feet, but did not hurt him in the least. He is going to Indiana to raise a company. Make him stay at Father Stewart’s as long as he stays in Greensburg.

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