September 27, 1861 – Southern Account of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry

Map of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry, 1861

From the editorial correspondence of the Lynchburg (Va.) Republican, of Sept. 11th, we extract the following statement with regard to the late engagement at Carnifex Ferry :

On Tuesday morning Col. McCauslin’s regiment, which had been down at Summerville as our advance, was driven in, and the enemy encamped 14 miles distant from us. We expected him to drive in our pickets on Tuesday night and attack us on Wednesday morning, but contrary to these expectation he forced his march and drove in our pickets at 2 o’cl’k Tuesday. Our line of battle was at once formed behind our breastworks, and scarcely had all our forces been placed in position, before the enemy was seen swarming in the woods from one end of our lines to the other. He approached with great deliberation and firmness, and his central column emerged from the woods and above the hills, 200 yards in front, just 16 minutes after 3 o’clock. He approached us from this point in double-quick time, evidently intending to force our works at the point of the bayonet. At the first crack of our rifles, the gallant Colonel, who led in front of his men on a splendid black charger, fell dead to the earth, while the head of his column recoiled in utter confusion. The Colonel’s horse, as if unconscious of the fall of his rider, dashed up to our embankments around them into our camp, and, from the inscriptions on the mountings of his pistols, proved to be Col. Wm. H. Lytell’s, of Cincinnati. I saw the daring officer fall from his horse, and he was certainly one of the bravest of the brave, for he sought “the bubble reputation” at the very cannon’s mouth.

September 20, 1861 – Vermont Boys

Photo of Colonel Breed Noyes Hyde of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. He stands in uniform, left hand on the hilt of his sword.
Col. Hyde

Washington Correspondence of the Boston Journal.

In my school-boy days one of the most pleasing pictures in my geography by Malte Brun, was that intended to illustrate the character of the Green Mountain boys. It was simply a picture of a regiment of men on the march. An explanatory note said that they did great service in the revolution, that, they were tough, hardy, steady fellows, or something to that effect. The note is not half so well remembered as the long line of soldiers, marching over the hills and through the valleys, is to me the most vivid of all the numerous pictures in the book. I cannot remember what illustration gave the character of any other State. I remember only the Green Mountain boys.

The picture was recalled as I visited the Green Mountain boys of to-day in their encampment located in just such scenery as you may find in Vermont. There I found the 2d Reg., Col. Whiting, and the Third, Col. Hyde. My visit was to the last named. Every thing was neat around the camp, everything quiet. The Provost Marshal’s quarters of the brigade are near the guard tent of the Third. As I entered the camp I saw three soldiers of the New York 33d standing on pork barrels as if they were about making stump speeches, yet all three were silent as if waiting each for the other to begin. Occasionally they turned round as if to survey the scene, and catch, perhaps, the significant gesture of a soldier off duty, but they were dumb orators and were only paying penalties for slight offenses taking green corn without leave of the owners, or offenses of similar turpitude.