When Genl. Floyd first learned the approach
of Rosencranz towards his camp at Carnifax
Ferry he dispatched orders to Genl. Wise stating
his condition & directing him emphatically to rein-
force us by 1 000 men immediately. Just before
the battle opened a reply was received, & much
to the discomfort of Floyd the men were not
forthcoming. Of course the reply was lengthy
(four pages of foolscap I believe). Genl. Floyd
was deciphering this horrible Jeremiad when
the fight opened. Wise stated with a remark-
able degree of presumption, that "He took
the responsibility of disregarding the order."
The chagrin of Genl. Floyd was intense. The en-
emy in superior force were upon him. His
subordinate in the place of obedience had
substituted a miserable scroll of excuses -.
Such conduct was inexplicable & unexpected.
Forthwith another messenger was sent with
orders for the men -- This man also return-
ed late in the evening with a similar
response. Many who knew Wise were not
slow to attribute his obstinacy to envy
jealousy & a malignant spirit = Genl. Floyd
as far as I could see, retained the compla-
cency of spirits = though evidently much
perplexed by the glaring insult & disre-
spect evinced towards him.
At the close of the battle & before it was deter-
mined to retreat, Majors Glass and Lawrence Carr
were hurried off post haste with perempto-
ry orders to Wise to start the troops at once
so that they would reach ^'us' by morning in
time to participate in the conflict.
Major Robert Henry Glass
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