p.
254.] Benham's brigade was temporarily increased by 1500 picked men from the posts between Kanawha Falls and Charleston.

He was expected to march up Loup Creek and cut off Floyd's retreat by way of Raleigh C.H., whilst Schenck should co-operate from Townsend's Ferry.

On the 5th the preparations had been made, and Benham was ordered to cross the Kanawha.

He did so on the night of the 6th, but except sending scouting parties up Loup Creek, he did nothing, as a sudden rise in New River made Rosecrans suspend the concerted movement, and matters remained as they were, awaiting the fall of the river, till the 10th.
For a week after the 1st, Floyd's battery on Cotton Mountain fired on very slight provocation, and caution was necessary in riding or moving about the camp.

The houses of the hamlet were not purposely injured, for Floyd would naturally be unwilling to destroy the property of West Virginians, and it was a safe presumption that we had removed the government property from buildings within range of fire, as we had in fact done.