Battle of Bulltown
Wheeling Intelligencer
Our Victory At Bulltown
October 19, 1863
Wheeling Intelligencer
Our Victory At Bulltown
October 19, 1863
The following letter gives an interesting account of our victory at Bulltown:
One of the greatest victories that has yet occurred in West Virginia was achieved by the gallant little band of the 6th and 11th West Virginia regiments at Bulltown, on the 13th inst. At 4 o'clock, A. M., of that day the Federal forces at that point, only 155 in number, were attacked by the renegade Wm. L. Jackson with a rebel force, stated by him in a note demanding the surrender of the garrison, to be 900 strong, and which has since been ascertained to have not been less that [sic] 800, with two pieces of artillery.
The Federal force was under command of Captain W. H. Mattingly of Co. G, 6th West Virginia, and consisted of parts of companies G, and I, of the 6th, and of companies C, F and H, of the 11th West Virginia regiment. The fight was kept up till 4 P. M., and resulted in the complete repulse of the rebs., with a loss of from fi[f]ty to sixty killed, wounded and prisoners. Our loss was slight. Capt. Mattingly was dangerously wounded in the thigh by a musket ball, but is recovering and will likely survive. Lieut. Hole, of the 11th, was slightly wounded.
Jackson after the first fire sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender, saying he knew the exact force, amount of ammunition, &c. The answer was that if he knew where they were, to come and take them. Jackson expected to capture the whole force and come on to Weston, no doubt, but was sadly disappointed. Capt. Simpson of Co. C, 11th, who took command after Capt. Mattingly was wounded, told his boys to remember Spencer, and most nobly did the 6th and 11th West Virginia redeem whatever has been heretofore attributed to them. Too much praise cannot be awarded to them for the heroic and brave repulse of the rebel vandals. The vain boasts of the Southern chivalry of one gray back bequal [sic] to five blue jackets was completely exploded in this instance, and the tables turned on them.
The noted Bill Thompson was with the rebels as Lieut. Col., as was also nearly all of our Lewis county traitors.
W.