Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-11-20
The Battle of Chesnaburg.

An affair occurred on the Kanawha dur
ing the past campaign which we have uev
er yet seen in print. 1t is commonly know
as the ''Battle of Chesnaburg. and SHOULD
have its appropriate place in the history O.
the present war. General Cox's division
had been moving from place to place, anC
finally eneamped in the neiehborhood O.
Spiral Knob. No enemy in force had fol
some time appeared, and the army were raw
enous for fight. One evening a celebra
ted scout from a neighboring State wen
out, and had proceeded about seven miles
when he came upon the pickets of the en-
emy. Crawling up to tie cncampment, h
alarmed the sentinels who gave chase; bu
finally eluding them, he returned to camJ
with the joyful tidings that several thous
and secesSionists were encampeG in 4 corn,
field about seven miles off. Upon the re.
ceipt-of this news the countenanee of the
officers and men beamed with delight at the
prospect Of a fight It was at onee decid-
ed that the Secesh should be attacked the
same night; and the Colonel of the regi-
mcnt to which the scout belonged claimed
the honor Of leading the attack, as one of
his men had discovered the enemy. That
evening 1T dress parade the order was read
to the attacking force TO march at certain
hour. The gallant Col not wishing that
any should be forced to fight who were dis
inclined, and that he should not be embar-
rassed by any cOTardly siprits, addressed
his men, telling them that such as were
afraid; could remain behind. The men
were worked up to good fighting pitch,
and when tie hour came all were found in
their places. The regiment moved of, each
man determined to win or die, and we're
followed by supporting force at a proper
distance. Silently they marched for sew
eral miles, with determined tread of men
who were resolved on victory or an honor
able death. The road was rugged and
crooked, winding around mountains and
through rayincs, az only mountain roads
can.
When near the camp of the Secesh, Gen.
d., who had command of the whole force,
rcde to the front, and engaged in CONVEX
sstion with the Colonel commanding the
advance. Having attained the summit Of
a mountain ridge, which gave view of
the opposite hills, they soon espied the pick
cts of the enemy. The lines were formed
and everything put in readiness for
charge, when Gen. NJ, raising himself in
his stirrups, exclaimed
"Why Colonel, those are nay pickets!
yes, and By G-aUley that is my camp"
The effect of this announcement may be
better imagined than described Just
think of two or three thousand men being
reused from their slumbers at midnight,
marched seven miles over the wsrst read
In creation, and then to be brought up be.
fore their own CAMP
The ua~ttor- ~as hnafiy explained. The
road they had followed ran in an easterly
or sOuth-eusterly direction from the camp
them winding around among the mountains
ran direetly west and came out into the
road at the south end of the encampment
The scout had also followed the same road,
and caine very near being caught by his
own friends in his own camp. This battle
kas been christened and will hereafter be
known by the name of the Battle of Ches-
naburg," in the Cheat Mountain region,
o. s. Journal