Attack on L.D. Russell’s Store

Attack on Bay’s Store

Ironton Register; July 21, 1864

Improbable as it may appear, it is true that eight desperate guerrillas made a bold attempt on Sunday morning to raid across the Ohio River, a few miles below Guyandotte, Virginia, to rob the store of L.D. Russell, at the mouth of Indian Guyan.

In this, they were frustrated by their carelessness and the pluck of young Billy Bays. They neither succeeded in killing any person nor robbing the store; but were outwitted and skedaddled, leaving their wounded behind and themselves slightly demoralized. A citizen of that vicinity has written us the following particulars:

Photo of Mr. and Mrs. George Bay from Lawrence County, Ohio — About two o’clock Sunday morning, a band of rebels came to the river opposite “The Boat Yard,” or mouth of Indian Guyan. One of them swam over and appropriated L.D. Russell’s skiff and eight of them crossed to this side of the river, evidently intending to rob Russell’s store, but by mistake called upon George W. Bay at his store, saying they wanted some cigars.

As soon as the door was opened, they rushed in, and George, seeing the state of things, reached for his revolver, but before he could make any use of it, they fired upon him several times, inflicting two very severe wounds in his chest; also inflicting a slight wound upon his sister, Sarah.
In the meantime, “Billy,” a younger brother, rushed in with his “tools” and discharged six shots, making five of them tell, sending the rebs downstairs in a great hurry. Giving his name as Boyd, one of them has since been ascertained to be Mill J. Stephenson.

He only went a few steps before falling. The remainder reached the river, but the first ones reaching the skiff were pushed off, deaf to the pleadings of their companions, who shot at them to bring them back.

*[Photo of Mr. and Mrs. George Bay]*

After vainly trying to get a gunnel into the river, they finally found a “joe boat” capable of carrying a few of them. They pushed off, some swimming and calling lustily for help, and it is thought two of them drowned. They left their Captain, John Keller, at O. Harris’s, and he and Stephenson are now at the hospital at Guyandotte, said to be mortally wounded.

Result of the raid: Two prominent Cabell County rebels were mortally wounded, two more probably drowned; one Union man badly, one young lady very slightly wounded. After crossing the river, they reported killing “Russell” (Bay). You can trace the rebs’ course from the store to the river by the blood.

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