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 MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 Executive Department, March 12, 1862. 
 
 To the Senate and 
 
 House of Representatives : 
 
 I transmit, herewith, to the Congress, the official report 
 of Col. William B. Taliaferro, of the action at Carrock's 
 Ford, July 13, 1861. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS 
 
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 Confederate States of America, War Dep't., 
 Richmond, March 10, 1862. 
 
 To His Excellency the President : 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to transmit, herewith, for the in- 
 formation of Congress, an official copy of the report of Col. 
 Wm. B. Taliaferro, of the action at Carrock's Ford on the 
 13th day of July, 1861. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J. P. BENJAMIN, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ACTION AT CAR- 
 ROCK'S FORD, JULY 13, 1861, COL. WILLIAM 
 B. TALIAFERRO, TWENTY-THIRD VIRGINIA 
 VOLUNTEERS, COMMANDING. 
 
 Monterey, Va., August 10, 1861. 
 
 To Brigadier -General H. R. Jackson, Coin'g Monterey line : 
 
 General: As no report has been required of me by the 
 officer (Col. Ramsey of the first Regiment Georgia Volun- 
 teers) who succeeded to the command of Gen. Garnett's 
 forces on the death of that officer, of the action at Car- 
 rock's Ford, at which my regiment, with a section of artil- 
 lery, were engaged with the enemy, beg, in justice to the 
 officers and men who were with me, to make to you a brief 
 report. 
 
 On the evening of 12th of July, Gen. Garnett bivouacked 
 at Kalar's Ford, on Cheat River, the rear of his command 
 being about two miles back on Pleasant Run. 
 
 On the morning of 13th July, the command was put in 
 motion about 8 o'clock — the 37th Virginia, Col. Jackson's 
 regiment, and Lieut. Colonel Hansborough's battalion, with 
 a section of artillery under Capt. Shumaker, and a squadron 
 of cavalry under Capt. Smith, forming the advance; then 
 the baggage train, and then Col. Ramsey's First Georgia 
 and the 23d A r irginia regiment, constituting, with Lieut. 
 Lanier's section of artillery and a cavalry force under Capt. 
 Jackson, the rear of the command. Before the wagon train, 
 which was very much impeded by the condition of the coun- 
 try roads over which it had to pass — rendered very bad by 
 the heavy rains of the. preceding night — had crossed the 
 first ford half a mile above Kalar's, the cavalry scouts re- 
 ported that the enemy were close upon our rear with a very 
 large force of infantry, well supported by cavalry and ar- 
 tillery. The first Georgia regiment was immediately order- 
 ed to take position across the meadow on the river side, and 
 hold the enemy in check until the train had passed the 
 river, and then to ref^Te behind the 23d Virginia regiment, 
 which was ordered to take position and defend the train 
 
until the Georgia troop? had formed again in some defensi- 
 ble position. By the time the Georgian's had crossed the 
 rivci-. and be • of the companies of that regiment, 
 
 who were thrown <mt to ambuscade the enemy could be 
 brought over, the enemy appeared in sight of our troops, 
 and immediately commenced firing upon them. This was 
 briskly returned by the Georgia regiment, who. after some 
 rounds, retired in obedience to the orders received. 
 
 The 23d Virginia and the artillery were halted about 
 
 three-quarters of a mile below the crossing, and were order- 
 ed to occupy a hill commanding the valley through which 
 the enemy would have to approach, and a wood which com- 
 manded the road. This position they held until the Geor- 
 gia regiment was formed some distance in advance ; then 
 the former command retired and again re-formed in advance 
 of the Georgians. This system of retiring upon eligible 
 positions for defence, admirably selected by Capt. Corley, 
 Adjutant General to Gen. Garnett. was pursued without 
 any loss on either side, a few random shots only reaching 
 us until we reached Carrock's Ford, three and a half miles 
 from Kalar's. This is a deep ford, rendered deeper than 
 usual by the rains, and here some of the wagons became 
 stalled in the river and had to be abandoned. 
 
 The enemy were now close upon the rear, which consist- 
 ed of the 23d regiment and the artillery, and as soon as 
 this command had crossed, Capt. Corley ordered me to oc- 
 cupy the high bank on the right of the ford with my regi- 
 ment and the artillery. On the right this position was pro- 
 tected by a fence, on the left only by low bushes, but the 
 hill commanded the ford and the approach to it by the road, 
 and was admirably selected for a defence. In a few min- 
 utes the skirmishers of the enemy were seen running along 
 the opposite bank, which was low and skirted by a few trees, 
 and were at first taken for the Georgians, who were known 
 to have been cut off, but we were soon undeceived, and a 
 hearty cheer for President Davis having been given by 
 Lieut. "Washington, C. S. A., reiterated with a simultane- 
 ous shout by the whole command, we opened upon the 
 enemy. 
 
 The enemy replied to us with a heavy fire from their in- 
 fantry and artillery. We could discover that a large force 
 was brought to attack us, but our continued and well di- 
 rected lire kept them from crossing the river, and twice we 
 succeeded in driving them back some distance from the ford. 
 
They again, however, came up with a heavy force and re- 
 newed the fight. The fire of their artillery was entirely 
 ineffective, although their shot and shell were thrown very 
 rapidly, but they all flew over our heads without any dam- 
 age, except bringing the limbs of trees down upon us. The 
 working of our three guns under Lieuts. Lanier, Washing- 
 ton and Brown was admirable, and the effect upon the 
 enemy very destructive. We could witness the telling 
 effect of almost every shot. 
 
 After continuing the fight until nearly every cartridge 
 had been expended, and until the artillery had been with- 
 drawn by Gen'l Garnett's orders, and as no part of his com- 
 mand was within sight or supporting distance, as far as 
 I could discover, nor, as I afterwards ascertained, within 
 four miles of me, I ordered the regiment to retire. I was 
 induced, moreover, to do this, as I believed the enemy were 
 making an effort to turn our Hanks, and without support it 
 would have been impossible to have held the position, and as 
 already near thirty of my men had been killed and wounded. 
 The dead and severely wounded we had to leave upon the 
 field, but retired in perfect order — the officers and men mani- 
 festing decided reluctance at being withdrawn. After march- 
 ing half a mile, I was met by Col. Starke, Gen'l Garnett's 
 aid, who directed me to move on with my regiment to the 
 next ford, a short distance in advance, where I would over- 
 take General Garnett. 
 
 On the further side of this ford I met Gen'l Garnett, who 
 directed me to halt my regiment around the turn of the road, 
 some hundred and fifty yards off, and to detail for him ten 
 good riflemen, remarking to me, " This is a good place be- 
 hind this drift wood to post skirmishers." I halted the regi- 
 ment as ordered, but from the difficulty of determining who 
 were the best shots, I ordered Capt. Tompkins to report to 
 the General with his whole company. The General, how- 
 ever, would not permit them to remain ; but, after selecting 
 ten men under Lt. Depriest, ordered the company back to 
 the regiment. 
 
 By General Garnett's orders, conveyed by Col. Starke, 1 
 posted with that officer three of my companies on a high 
 bluff, overlooking the river; but finding the undergrowth so 
 thick that the approach of the enemy could not be well ob- 
 served, they were withdrawn. 
 
 A few minutes after these companies, rejoined the regi- 
 ment, Col. Starke rode up and said that Gen'l Garnett di- 
 
8 
 
 ted me to march as rapidly as I could and overtake tire 
 main body. In a few minutes afterwards, Lt. Depriest re- 
 ported to me that General Garnett had been killed. 
 
 IK- fell just as he gave the order to the skirmishers t j re- 
 tire, and one of them was killed by his side. 
 
 It gives me pleasure to tear testimony to the coolness and 
 spirit displayed by officers and men in this affair. Lieute- 
 nant-Colonel Crenshaw and Major Pendleton set an example 
 of courage and gallantry to the command, and the company 
 of officers behaved admirably, doing their whole duty. It 
 would be invidious, when all behaved BO well, to distinguish 
 between them. 
 
 The gallantry of Lt. Washington was conspicuous. After 
 the six pounder rifled piece had been disabled, and it was 
 discovered that it had to be abandoned, he spiked it under a 
 heavy fire. It is not my province, perhaps, in this report to 
 speak of officers outside of my own command, but 1 trust I 
 shall be pardoned for bearing testimony to the coolness and 
 judgment that characterized the conduct of Col. Starke and 
 Capt. Corley during the whole of this day, and afterwards 
 on the march. These officers, but more particularly the 
 latter, selected every position at which our troops made a 
 stand, and we were never driven from one of them. 
 
 The loss to the enemy in this action must have been very 
 great, as they had from their own account three regiments 
 engaged; and the people in the neighborhood, whom I have 
 seen since, report a heavy loss, which they state the enemy 
 endeavored to conceal by transporting the dead and wounded 
 back to Bealington in covered wagons, permitting no one to 
 approach them. After receiving the order of General Har- 
 nett, I marched my regiment four miles further on to Par- 
 son's Ford,. a half mile beyond which I overtook the main 
 body of our troops, who had been halted there by General 
 Garnett, and which had been drawn up to receive the enemy. 
 The enemy did not advance to this Ford, and after halting 
 for some time, our whole command moved forward, and march- 
 ing all night on the road leading up the line of Horse Shoe 
 Hun, reached about daylight the Red House in Mar viand, a 
 point on the Northwestern Turnpike, near West Union. At 
 this last place a large force of the enemy, under Gen'l Hill, 
 were concentrated. This body did not attack us, and we 
 moved the same day into Virginia as far as Greenland, in 
 Hardy County. 
 
 After seven days arduous march, we reached this place. 
 
I have not thought it proper to give any detailed account 
 of the march of our troops, either before or after the action 
 at Carrock's Ford. I subjoin a list of killed and wounded 
 in that action. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed,) WM. B. TALIAFERRO, 
 
 Col. ComoVg 23d Regt. Va. Vols. 
 (Official:) Jno. Withers, 
 
 A. A. General. 
 A. & I. G. 0., 
 
 March 6, '62. 
 
11 
 
 LIST of Killed and Wounded of 23d Regiment Virginia Vol- 
 unteers, at Carrock's Ford. 
 
 
 Name of Company. 
 
 Name of Captain. 
 
 Name of Killed. 
 
 Name of Wounded. 
 
 Co. A 
 
 Louisa Rifles, 
 
 B. J. Walton, 
 
 None. 
 
 None. 
 
 
 ' B 
 
 Amelia Grays, 
 
 J. E. Perkinson, 
 
 T. B. Walthall, 
 
 J. B. Walke, 
 Ja8. Walke, 
 T. Hastings, 
 
 
 ' C 
 
 Amelia Rifles, 
 
 A. V. Scott, 
 
 G. W. Lockett, 
 
 
 1 D 
 
 Louisa Grays, 
 
 W. J. Sargeant, 
 
 J. T. Meeks, 
 
 J. C. Sanford, 
 
 
 ' E 
 
 Brooklyn Grays, 
 
 Wm. Haynes, 
 
 H. H. Haygood, 
 
 P. P. Vass, 
 
 
 ' F 
 
 Goochland Grays, 
 
 W. F. Harrison, 
 
 
 Serg't Moody, 
 
 
 ' B 
 
 Fred'ks H» 11 Grays, 
 
 C. G. Coleman, Jr., 
 
 I. H. Mason, 
 
 Wm. Smith, 
 
 
 ' H 
 
 Rich Sharp Shooters, 
 
 R. A. Tompkins, 
 
 S. Phillips, 
 
 0. 0. Beazley, 
 
 
 ' I 
 
 Central Guards, 
 
 J. P. Fitzgerald, 
 
 Serg't Venable, 
 Irby King, 
 J. Foster, 
 
 H. Edmunds, 
 T. W. Cone, 
 D. Lacy, 
 
 
 1 ." 
 
 (( u 
 
 ft li 
 
 J. Carter, 
 E. Collins, 
 
 L. Hines, 
 
 B. A. Womack. 
 
 
 ' K 
 
 Keysville Guards, 
 
 S. T. Walton, 
 
 C. Mahoney, 
 
 T. Sock, 
 
 
 « «« 
 
 u 
 
 «i ti 
 
 R. Orsborne, 
 
 G. Crenshaw. 
 
 (Official :) 
 
 
 Jno. Withers, 
 
 
 
 
 
 A. 
 
 A. General. 
 
 A. & 
 
 I. G. 0. 
 
 March 6, '62. 
 
Hoi linger Corp. 
 pH8.5