st, having encamped on its rout at Bulltown, Salt Lick,
Flatwoods, Sutton, Birch Mountain, and Summerville.

Encamped at Cross Lanes in a beautiful, sloping meadow, it remained
drilling until August 21, when an order was received in the evening to
march to Gauley Bridge. In an hour the regiment was on the road, and at
10 A. M. of the next day it had reached Twenty-Mile Creek, where it
halted. Gen. Cox, at Gauley Bridge, gave orders for it to return
immediately. It remained until the 24th. On arrival in the vicinity of
the old camp, it was discovered that Gen. Floyd had crossed Gauley River
and had encamped near Cross Lanes with 4000 men. Reason suggested only
one thing to be done. Military orders, not always coming within its
jurisdiction, put the men in bivouac on the corners and on the four
roads leading to them. While the men were roasting their corn and frying
their meat for breakfast in the morning of the 24th, the picket alarm
was given, and very soon it was discovered that the regiment was nearly
surrounded. The main strategy seemed to be for each company to take care
of itself, and do what its wisdom and discretion dictated. The enemy
marched across the meadow in fine column of divisions, and, by exact
orders, poured successive volleys into companies, A, C and K, the most
of which was received by Co. C. Here was enough order justly to give the
action the name of battle. If others name it differently, it may be that
they did not see enough of it to learn its true nature. Co. C formed on
a little hill, and held it, fighting to the best of its ability until
every other company, without exception, had fled, in addition to every
field officer. To retreat, soon became a military necessity. Cross,
Orton, Jeakins, Sheldon, Collins, and Jones, were severely wounded, and
left on the field. The rest of the company, with the Captain and
Parmenter at its head, wandered two hours in the woods, and, losing
their way, turned their course so as to fall in with a regiment of
rebels, commanded by Col. Tompkins, who ordered a halt and surrender.
The Captain shrewdly parleyed sufficiently to give Lieutenant Baker time
to command--"Skedaddle." Then followed the scattering of Co. C in the
woods, and a separation of friends that have never since met. At this
point only fifteen were captured. Others were picked up in the woods
during the four succeeding days. Men gathered together in squads of
two, four, or half-a-dozen, to find their wa