Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-07-20
CINCINNATI. July l6.

A epecial despatch to the Gazette, dated on
The field Of battle, at Carrack's Ford. on the
l4tb. says: On the night of the llth the
rebel army at Laurel Hill, under command
Of Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garrett, late a
Major in the United States army. evacuated
its camp 10 great haste on bearing Of Gen.
McClellsn's approach to Beverly, apparently
hoping to pass Beverly before Gen. McClel'
lan's arrival, and thus escape the trap for
them by passage tbreugh the Cheat Noun.
tain pass.
The evacuation was discovered on the
morning of the 18th, and pursuit was instant.
ly ordered. By ten o'clock the Indiapna
Ninth entered the camp on Laurel Ii ILL., and
found large number Of tents, lot of -four,
camp equipage and Gle thing, and several sick
and wounded, with q note asking us to give
them proper attention.
The whole road for twenty miles was strewn
with baggage thrown from the wagons to
facilitate their retreat.
The rebel army went within three miles Of
Beverly and there met the rebels flying from
Rich Mountain, and finding escape to Hut
tonsvill impossible, all united and returned
toward Laurel ILL., and took the road in the
direction of st. Morris.
Gen. Morris division pursued them for a
mile or two beyond Ieedsvle that night and
halted from IL till 3 in the morning, when
the advance resumed the pursuit and coutin-
ued it all day, in spite Of an incessant rain
pouring down.
The rebel army left the pike and struck
Cheat river and pursued the mountsin road
down the valley. Our advance, composed Of
the Fourteenth Ohio and Seventh and Ninth
Indiana, pushed on, guided through the
mountain gulles by tents, camp furniture
provisions and knnpsacks, thrown from the
rebel wagons to facilitate their fight
Our troops forded Cheat river four times
and fualy about ten o'clock came up with
the enemy's rear guard. The 4th Ohio
advanced rapidly to the ford in which the
enpmys wagons were standing, when sudden
ly the rebel army opened furious FIRE on
them with small arms two rifled cannon from
the bluff on the opposite side of Cheat river
where they had been concealed, but the fire,
as usual, was too high to be effective.
rhe Fourteenth regiment returned the fire
with spirit Meanwhile two pieces of Cleve
land artillery came up and opened on the
rebels, and the Ninth Indiana advanced to
support the Fourteenth Ohio regiment, left
while the Seventh lndiauua crossed the river
between the two fires aud caue on the
ehemys right flank. The rebels then aed in
great disorder leaving their finest piece Of
artillery.
At the next ford, quarter Of mile fur
ther on, Gen Garnett attempted to rally his
forces, when the Seventh Indiana came up in
hot pursuit, and another brisk engagement
ensued. Gen. Garnett was finally shot dead,
when his army fed n wild confusion towards
St, George.
The Seventh Indianna pursued them mile
--nr-tvo, bnt our forces we're so exhausted with
their forced march of twenty miles with but
little rest from yesterdays march, that Gen.
Morris refused to let them pursue any
further.
The results Of the whole affair are the cap
ture Of the Rebel camp at Laurel Hill, q
large amount Of tents and camp equipsge,
forty baggage wagons, field camp chest,
supposed to contain all their money. two
regineDtal banners, one of them that Of the
Georgia regiment, from Georgia, captains
and lleuteuants and large number of Vit
ginia officers, the death Of Gen. Garnett and
twenty dfbs men, and much larger mum
Der wounred.
Our loss is wholly in the Fourteenth Ohio
Regiment, two being killed and two morta!ly
wounded Our forces are now engaged in
burying the dead
Gen. Garnett's body is lying at headquar.
ters 1t will be sent to his family at Rich
mond. All along the line of retreat the
woods are filled with deserted rebels, and ouI
men are ordered to stop arresting prisoners
because we cannot take care o, them.
There were over 1000 rebels on the bluff
commanding our position, who opened fire or
the Fourteenth Ohio, and the distance wa;
little short Of two hundred yards Thei
artillery was rapidly served, bat aimed abou
two feet too high, and cot off trees above the
hA>ts ~ boys. Our advance. which alone
entered Ito the engagement, numbering les
thin twohundred.
1t Is thught our forces at Rowlesburg will
Gu on the .treat Of the remainder and secrr,
'h'iew baggage wagons still left The rebe
army was Composed mainly of Georgiaus anC
Eatern Vieinians.
Oil RaISay, of the Georgia regiment
succeeds Gtn. Garnett 10 command. Th
Heopians w're direct from Pensacola.
n same correspondent telegraphed from
Nraton last hight as follows:
"oi coming through the field OF battle G
Pheat river Yesterday with Maj. Gordon, VIII
20 charge OF 'he corpse Gen Garnett, W
uuo toat the ebel army had left the remain
OF their baggage train and artillery at
Aht Two mllesfrom St. George Word wa
llaotly sent bick to Gen. NJ orris, and oil
probably captured. The rebels ar
Atly dIsorgauzed and are heading fo
py county. zen Garnstt's corpse is no,
ATafton awaiting the orders Of his family
AT MONROE, MISSOURI