CARNIFEX FERRY, W. Va., place at which occurred a battle of the Civil War, 10 Sept. 1861. On 23 August Gen. John B.
Floyd, who had marched from Lewisburg, crossed to the north side of Gauley River at Carnifex Ferry with five regiments of Virginia infantry, 100 cavalry, and five guns, aggregat ing about 2,600 men. The 7th Ohio had been guarding the ferry, but had been recalled to within six miles of Gauley Bridge, and then ordered to return to Cross Lanes, two miles from Floyd's position, which it reached in the night of the 25th. Early on the morning of the 26th Floyd advanced, surprised the regi ment while at breakfast, and routed it, killing and wounding 45 and capturing 96. About 200 men escaped to Gauley Bridge and about 400 were collected and led. by Major Casement to Charleston on the Kanawha. Floyd's intention in crossing the Gauley was to force the retreat of Gen. J. D. Cox from Gauley Bridge down the Kanawha Valley, whither he proposed to follow him and make a raid of 50 miles into Ohio, but Gen. H. A. Wise, who commanded one of his two brigades, had refused to obey his order to cross the Gauley, upon which Floyd aban doned his idea of invading Ohio, and entrenched his position in a bend of the Gauley, both flanks resting on the precipices rising abruptly from the river. The presence of Floyd north of the Gauley gave General Rosecrans some un easiness, and turned his attention from the Cheat Mountain region where he had been con fronting Gen. R. E. Lee. Leaving Gen. J. J. Reynolds to oppose Lee, he drew troops from posts in the rear and assembled at Bulltown seven and a half regiments of Ohio infantry, two batteries of artillery and three companies of cavalry, which were formed into three brigades, commanded by Gen. H. W. Benham and Cols. E. P. Scammon and R. L McCook.
On 9 September he marched from Bulltown, crossed Big Birch Mountain, drove the 36th Virginia and a company of cavalry from Sum mersville, on the morning of the 10th, and fol lowed to Cross Lanes, which he reached at 2 P.M., and heard that Floyd was entrenched about two miles distant. Benham, command ing the leading brigade, was ordered to advance cautiously and feel Floyd closely, but not to engage him until the entire column came up, unless he saw a good opening. Benham drove in Floyd's pickets, and believing that he was in full retreat, pushed rashly forward in the face of a severe artillery fire, becoming closely en gaged and making some spirited charges upon Floyd's works, which were repulsed. He then called for help. Rosecrans hastened up the brigades of Scammon and McCook, and going to the front, was surprised that the reconnais sance ordered had developed into a severe and badly conducted engagement. It was too late to withdraw without giving the appearance of defeat; other efforts were made, in which Scammon and McCook participated; but it was growing dark, the men were exhausted after their march of 17 miles, and Rosecrans with drew, intending to renew the fight in the morn ing. During the night Floyd recrossed the Gauley, destroyed the foot-bridge behind him, sunk the ferry-boat and, with Wise, retreated to Sewell Mountain. The Union troops, fully exposed and not well handled, had 17 killed and 141 wounded. The Confederates, well pro tected by log-works, had none killed and 21 wounded. Consult (Official Records' (Vol. V) and Battles and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol. I, New York 1887, ed. by Johnson and Bud).