GENERAL LORING IN THE KANAWHA VALLEY.
It was now September, and the Federal army had been driven completely
out of Virginia. General Loring was sent to the Kanawha Valley
to take possession of that great salt-producing region. On the 10th
he reached Fayette Court House, where he found the Federals posted in
considerable force. An attack was at once made, and after an engagement
lasting six hours, the place was captured, the Federals falling
back to Cotton Hill, where they made a stand; but after a few hours'
fighting the next day, they were driven again, and this time continued
their retreat to Charleston, the county-seat of Kanawha. General
Loring followed on down the Kanawha river, and two days later occupied
Charleston, from which the Federals had fled after firing it. At
Point Pleasant they were largely reinforced, and marching back to
Charleston, compelled General Loring, whose forces were greatly inferior,
to evacuate the town and fall back to Staunton, in Augusta county.
