20th VA Cavalry Organized: on 8/14/63 Mustered Out: 4/15/65
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Report of Col. William Wiley Arnett, Twentieth Virginia Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS,
Near Salt Pond Mountain, November 8, 1863.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
operations of a detachment of your brigade in the battle of Droop
Mountain, and also of its operations both anterior and subsequent
thereunto, but connected therewith:
Being encamped at Marling's Bottom, in the county of Pocahontas,
on November 4, I received a dispatch from Lieutenant Siple,
commanding Captain McNeel's company, then stationed at Dunmore,
that the enemy in force were at Green Bank, in the northern portion
of the county' of Pocahontas. That dispatch I immediately
forwarded to your headquarters at Mill Point, at the same time notifying
Captain Marshall, commanding detachment at Edray. In a short
time thereafter your dispatch to Lieutenant Siple was brought to
my headquarters, and together with it I forwarded one of my own
requesting the lieutenant to send both you and myself any and all
information he might obtain concerning the movements, strength, or
intention of the enemy. Vainly waiting a reply from him for what
I considered a sufficient length of time to justify me in the supposition
that his (Lieutenant Siple's) communication with us had been
cut off, I sent out scouts from my command, who discovered, and
returned me a report of, the enemy near Huntersville, 6 miles distant
from my camp.
Thereupon I ordered my wagons to be loaded and to move off on
the road leading to your headquarters, a distance of 8 miles from
my camp, at the same time informing you of the whereabouts of the
enemy, and ordering Captain Marshall to move by a mountain path
intersecting the road on which I would retreat (the Lewisburg road)
at Mrs. Kee's, 1 mile distant from my camp. This I did that I might
be able to dig away and blockade that portion of the road, which I
did as effectually as the means and appliances at my command would
permit. I moved off, having been joined by Captain Marshall's
detachment from the point above alluded to (the house of Mrs. Kee)
about the time the enemy made his appearance at my old camp.
Leaving a small squad of cavalry under command of Major Lady
to watch his movements, I started at sundown Wednesday evening,
the 4th instant, for your headquarters. All these moves were made
in pursuance of orders issued from time to time by yourself. I
received several dispatches from you while on the way, stating that the
enemy in considerable force were advancing on the Beaver Creek road
leading direct from Huntersville to Mill Point. I, however, passed
the intersection of the road above alluded to, where the enemy had
been foiled in his endeavors to capture my command by Lieutenant
Colonel Thompson's command, which, through your order, was holding
the enemy in check until I could pass.
I reported to you at Mill Point and was ordered to take position on
the hill to the southwest thereof. I received a subsequent order to
assume command of all of your infantry, and station them by detachments
in tenable positions along the stream near Mill Point. I did
so, and remained there until the following morning, when I received
orders from you to hold my position there until the enemy should
open his battery upon us (which, to have been in view, must have
been within the range of grape-shot, when I should move out by
the safest route indicated by you to Droop Mountain.
The enemy opened his artillery about 11 o'clock, when I commenced
a retreat to the point designated, moving my command as much
as possible under cover of hills and through timber, and notwithstanding
the shells of the enemy burst in numbers over our heads
and near our ranks, not the slightest confusion was thereby created.
Arriving at Droop Mountain I took position on a high point adjacent
the road, that position having been selected by yourself. There
we remained until the following morning, when, the enemy sending
small squads forward from time to time, slight skirmishing ensued.
About 2 p. m., November 6, we were attacked vigorously by a heavy
force of the enemy, consisting of the Second, Third, and Eighth
[West] Virginia and another regiment of the Federals. The
majority of my command, officers and men, behaved with great courage
and coolness, some of them even holding their position until they
could and did strike the enemy with their guns. Through fear of
being flanked or even cut off by the enemy, then driving our left
wing, we fell back to our battery, where we took position and
remained until ordered back by yourself.
Concerning the number of killed and wounded, either of my own
command or of the enemy, I have not the means of ascertaining,
but the action being spirited, our loss will doubtless correspond.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. WILEY ARNETT,
Colonel 20th Virginia Cavalry, Comdg. Detachment.
Col. W. L. JACKSON, Commanding Huntersville Line.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 543-48 OPERATIONS IN N. C., VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. XLI.
[Series I. Vol. 29. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 48.]