[393]
He also claimed to have captured stores of value.
On the next day, however,
Garfield retired, and fell back to
Paintsville.
General Marshall's report, made to
General Johnston, differs radically from this.
Writing from his camp in
Letcher County, January 23d, he says:
General: Since I last wrote, the enemy assailed me in largely superior force, and was effectually and gallantly repulsed by the troops under my command.
My loss in the action of the 10th of January is accurately stated at ten killed and fourteen wounded. The loss of the enemy was severe.
Garfield had stated that he captured one captain and twenty-five soldiers.
Marshall in his report replies to this that the captain was a sick man, too ill for removal, and that the prisoners were not soldiers, but citizens who have been running ever since the war began like frightened hares-afraid to take arms, afraid to offer a single effort of resistance-and who, if pressed to it, would submit to have their ears cropped to show they have a master.
The report continues:
The firing was kept up, with some intervals, for about four hours, and was, occasionally, very sharp and spirited.
My troops behaved remarkably well, had decided advantage in the situation, and maintained it throughout the day .... The enemy did not move me from any one position I assumed, and at nightfall withdrew from the field, leaving me just where I was in the morning.
After he had withdrawn, I called my troops down from the hills, and pursued the march which I was executing when the enemy came in sight.
I see by the telegraphic dispatches that the enemy represents his achievement of a victory over me upon the occasion to which I am referring, and says that my troops fled in confusion, etc. I state that this is not only false, but it is an after-thought. ... H e came to attack, yet came so cautiously that my left wing never fired a shot, and he never came up sufficiently to engage my centre or left wing.
His force was fired upon by the twelve-pounder howitzer, and at once cleared my front; but, concealed by a point of the hills from my artillery, confined his further efforts to assaults upon my right wing, by which he was repulsed three times.
General Marshall goes on to state that he sent forward
Trigg's regiment; but the enemy withdrew, and did not dispute the ground on which the fight had taken place:
The repulse was final.
It proved final, for he has never since that day sought in any manner or form to reengage.
Garfield is said to have fallen back fifteen miles to
Paintsville;
Marshall, seven miles, where he remained two days at the foot of a lofty mountain.
He then slowly pursued his retreat.
He informed General
