Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-01
HEAD QUARTERS c. S. VOLUNTEERS, I
GRAFTON, July %, 1851.

HEAD QUARTERS, L. ,. VOLUNTEERS,
GRAFTON, July %, 1861
To MAJ. Gen. G. B. KcCIelgan, Comma1'd'g the
Dept Of the Ohio:
Sir:-I have the honor to submit the follow
ing statement of facts, showing the operations
of my command, in attempting to intercept
the retreat, and TO capture portion of Gene
ral Garnett's army from Laurel Hill. When
l was first assigned to duty here, the Cheat
River line was in the hands of Col. ]. lrvine's
command, (16th Ohio Reg II and he continued
in charge of the line until the night of the
18th inst.
On the first inst went over the line with
Col. Irvine from RowlesbUrg to the Cheat riv-
er bridge. five miles above and then gave him
in writing all of the instructions which / had
received from the Department Head Quarters
touching that line. The instructions as given
10 me and thus impaired contemplated Row
les5urg as the point of support, on the Rail
Road, and West Union, distant thirteen miles
IS the place for the advance guard to the east
ward, with scouts further east, and as soon as
practicable, an advance guard towards, or at st
George. intermediate points were to be held,
and. for the whole, including the protection of
three bridges on the Rail Road the garrison
was to be Increased early, to 1000 men.
From the 4th to the 9th inst, minute re-
connoisance of the line was carried on by my
order, by Col Chas. Whittlesey and Major j.
B. rockingham, Engineers, and the conclus-
ions arrived at reported on the 9th to depart
ment Head Quarters.
On the 7th inst, 25 cavalry to serve as vi
dettes, couriers and pickets were added to Col
Irvlne's command as had also been 6-pouder
field piece
On the 18th inst, six companies of the Ohio
9Th, under Col Depuy had Joined Col Irvine,
moving in by way of Oakland and Chisholm 5
mill. and the garrison at Rowlesburg, and
thence five miles up Cheat River, was held by
six companies of the Ohio 18th, under Col.
G. W. Andrews, and two companies of the
First Virginia
On the 9th, Col. Irvine telegraphed me as
follows:-"Our increased knowledge clearly
indicates the occupancy of the Junction Red
House as the proper position for our troops.
Referring him to the instructions already Civ
en- and the views of Col. Whittlesey and Ma
jor rockingham, Col. Irvine was informed on
the same day by telegram that he must act on
his best judgement
On the 18th inst Col Irvine telegraphed me
that he intended to move eastward along the
North West pike. He says, My main force
will be at the mill mentioned, (Chisholm's,) 8
miles from Oakland, with strong advance
guard at the Red House, say two hundred, or
three hundred men, Our telegraphic cores
DGnQenCe was 6dCn udl anu NoAAluS-
ted with a view to keep each other fully ad-
yised of all material facts. On the 18th OF
July l was called in from Webster at about II
A NJ. and then I received telegram from
Major s. Williams, Assistant Adjt Gen dated
the 18th at Beverly and at Roaring Run the
18th. saving =" Gen. Mcclellan having just
learned that the rebel forces abandoned theiI
position at Laurel Hill last night and are now
making for Eastern Virginia, via the Louis
vile, Leedsville,l and St George pike, directs
that you take the field at once with all the
force that you can make available to cut of
their retreat Two Penn. Regiments at Cum
berland have been directed to proceed forth
with to Rowlesburg by special train and re-
port to YOU You can for the time being with
draw several companies from points on the
Railroads between Wheeling and Parkersburg
and concentrate them by special trains. 1t is
supposed you will be able to take the field
with say six thousand men, including Col. lr-
vines command and at least guns. No time
is to be lost. The rebel force under
Garnett are said to be tonight about six miles
from Leedsville. Morris is following them up. "
l Immediately telegraphed Col Irvine =
"The rebels are driven out of Laurel Hill and
in full retreat eastward on St Georges pike.
Hold your position with tirmness to the last
man. will reinforce you in person, and with
all available forces as soon as possible"
1t was not deemed safe to depend upon any
of the Pennsylvania troops, (none came at any
time or reported) The suggestion of six
thousand troops and four guns was supposed
to be an approximate rule. To comply with
it near four thousand troops in detachments
scattered along the line of the two Railroads
to Parkersburg and Wheeling would have to
be gathered up, supplied with a reasonable
amount of baggage teams, forage, and days
rations; and horses and harnesses must be OBJ
tanned Tor the three guns in battery at Grafton.
Requisitions were therefore made and by
reaching to Parkersburg and near Wheeling,
the figures were brought up to about !, 400
men, including detachments from the 5th, Sth,
18th, 18th, 18th, 18th, Goth and 22d Ohio, with
a few artillerists and cavalry and detachments
from the lst and ID Va Regiments. These
troops were almost entirely destitute of horses
harness and baggage wagons, and nearly all
of those subsequently obtained being other
wise appropriated, were to be got by force
only. The orders were all given and answers
obtained, except as TO baggage teams by three
P NJ of the 18th. The troops and three guns
to be moved from Grafton, were much delay
ed for the want of horses, harness and wagons
and the first train, with four companies of in
fantry, was not able to leave for Oakland un-
I'll after p NJ went in that train and ar
rived in Oakland about II P NJ The second
HUH OIdltOu VIII q lev ll4OlC Illdull
of the goth, three guns, and 25 cavalry came
I'D soon after For all on these two trains
there was but one baggage wagon, and that
belonged to Col Morton of the 20th. As soon
as the horses of myself and staff could be got
off from the cars, and guide obtained, all OF
the infantry, q companies,) not required fol
guard duty, were ordered forward to CHS.
holm's Mil with Major Walcutt and Captain
Bond of my staff, to report to Col. Irvine
They arrived there about A NJ of the 18th
Found no troops there and leaving the three
companies to rest, went on and reported in
person to Col. Irvine, at West Union at about
O'Clock A NJ, few minutes before he re-
ceived news that the rebels had already passed
the Red House, at A NJ, eight miles further
east Coils. Irvine and Depuy immedietaly
called to arms and went in pursuit Major
Walcutt following, as soon as possible, with
the three companies marched by him from
Oakland. Capt. Bond returned to Oakland to
notify me, but owing to the fatigue of his
horse, did not arrive until 8 A NJ Anticipa-
ting the arrival during the night of several
other trains, including that having the horses
wagons, rand harnesses, ordered to be taken
and brought on, had given orders for such
as should come up. to march at daylight, by
way of ChishOlm's Mill, not then knowing
any other way to reach Red House Junction.
Several trains were known to have been on
the way, in time to arrive at Oakland long be-
fore daylight The train with horses, wagons
and harness was reported to be at Rowles-
burg before II o'clock the preceding night
This property was separated and portions of
it were said to be at Cranbery Summit the
next morning at o'clock; all trains but the
fEo first were equally and unaccountably de-
layed. From daylight until o'clock my ut
most efforts with the telegraph seemed to
avail little, or nothing The Regimental Com
manders, Coils Dunning, Stanley, Morton,
Smith and Turley, were equally baked by