ons
of the men had been destroyed the preceding day by the storm. They
had had nothing to eat that morning, could not hold out another
day, and were obliged to be withdrawn. The attack to come off from
the east side failed from the difficulties in the way; the opportunity
was lost and our plan discovered. It was a grievous disappointment
to me, I assure you; but for the rain storm I have no doubt it
would have succeeded. This, Governor, is for your own eye. Please
do not speak of it; we must try again.

"Our greatest loss in the death of our dear friend, Colonel
Washington. He and my son were reconnoitering the front of the
enemy. They came unawares upon a concealed party, who fired upon
them within twenty yards, and the Colonel fell pierced by three
shots. My son's horse received three shots, but he escaped on the
Colonel's horse.

"His zeal for the cause to which he had devoted himself carried
him, I fear, too far."

Lee, finding trouble in the Kanawha country, repaired thither, and
on September 21st assumed immediate direction of the forces there.
A violent quarrel had just then arisen between the fiery Henry A.
Wise and Floyd.

Lee, however, soon returned to Richmond, and though still in favor
with his Governor and President Davis, his failure in Western
Virginia brought him under a cloud from which he did not emerge
until after he succeeded General Joseph E. Johnston on the latter
being wounded while in command of the Confederate Army at Seven
Pines near Richmond, May, 1862.(14)

The principal part of Reynolds' command assembled at Cheat Mountain,
and, advancing, attacked Jackson in position at Greenbrier, October
3d, but was repulsed. Thereafter active operations ceased in the
Cheat and Rich Mountain and Tygart's Valley region.

An unimportant and indecisive affair, hardly above a skirmish,
occurred at Scarey Creek, July 17th, between a part of General J.
D. Cox's command and forces under Henry A. Wise; the capture of
Colonels Norton, Woodruff, and De Villiers, with two or three other
officers, being the principal Union loss. No decisive advantage
was gained on either side. Carnifax Ferry, on the Gauley River,
was a more important affair. It was fought, October 10, 1861,
between troops led by Rosecrans and those under Floyd. Floyd was
found strongly posted, but was compelled to precipitately retreat
across the river and abandon his stores.

The campaign season ended with the Union forces pr