Court-house, where its advance encountered a portion of our cavalry and retired. In the afternoon parts of Hill's and Gordon's troops demonstrated against the enemy on the left of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong's mill. Finding him entrenched, they were withdrawn after dark. During the night the force that had advanced beyond the creek returned to it, and were reported to be recrossing. This morning Pegram's division moved down the right bank of the creek to reconnoiter, when it was vigorously attacked. The Battle was obstinately contested several hours, but General Pegram being killed while bravely encouraging his men, and Colonel Hoffman wounded, some confusion occurred and the division was pressed back to its original position. Evans's division, ordered by General Gordon to support Pegram's, charged the enemy and forced him back, but was in turn compelled to retire. Mahone's division arriving, enemy was driven rapidly to his defenses on Hatcher's Run. Our loss is reported to be small, that of the enemy not supposed great.
Capture of General Scammon
telegram from general samuel jones.
[Received at Richmond, February, 1864, by telegraph from Dublin 15th.]
To General S. Cooper, Adjutant- and Inspector-General:
On the 3d instant Major Nounnan, with a detachment of forty men of the Sixteenth Virginia cavalry, captured the armed steamer, B. C. Lera, at Winfield, Putnam county, Virginia, with a valuable cargo and twenty-none prisoners, including Brigadier-General E. P Scammon, commanding forces in Kanawha Valley, a captain and two lieutenants of his staff. General Scammon and two officers of his staff are there now, and will be forwarded to Richmond to-morrow, unless you order otherwise, in charge of Lieutenant Vertigan, the gallant young officer who boarded the boat with only twelve men. Colonel Ferguson, whom I sent with his regiment, the Sixteenth Virginia cavalry, to the lower Kanawha, some weeks since, has made several captures, and rendered valuable service.
[Official copy of telegram received, and respectfully submitted to the Honorable Secretary of War.]
