Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-17
Io0rTei1 i1oads6os d 90 0l15I6SsiI' ds1sIiS j y
The Dattle nc ohent Rkset, Va.
KrLp oy DAT,lr % omlr .RviR, ~
0ARaiUEs RoRp, Nun sousg 4
NoR nIl aEoElR July lls1
[BY COURIER TO RoWLFsEURo.

o. 81 qrOR6I, July fi.5
ny COURIER TO RowLxsEuRo.
On the night OF the lIth, the rebel army d
ILeufel Hill under the command yof Brigadier-
General Garrett lale III ID The United States
Army, evacuated he camp IN great haste, Inn.
mediately on learning Of General McClellan's
approach to Beverly, and fetfeated ID that difec.
tion, apparently hoping to pass Beverly before
Gen. McClellan's arrival, and thus escape the
trap set for them by . passage through Cheat
Mountain Cap - ~ ~ ~
The evacuation vas discovered on the morn !,
ing Of tho 18th, and pursuit instantly orderl
cd.
By 10 o'clock the Ninth Indiana entered the
rebel camp at Laurel Hin, and found large
number OF tents, Q lot of aonry osmp equipage
and clothing, aud b dozen of their sick and
wounded, with note asking US 10 give them
The Whole road, for OVER twenty mhes, was
strewn with the baggage thrown from their
wagons, to Tighten their loads and hasten their
retreat; and cbstructed BY fallen trees 10 delay
pursuit. ~, ~ - slf 'ba.,.ss l'F Aas sfI,
The rebel army went within three miles Of
Beverly, and there met the rebels flying from
Rich Mountain, and finding an escape to Hut
tonsville impossible, all united and returned to-
ward Laurel Hill until they reached the Leading
Creek Pike, and took that road In the direction
OF st. George. ,.lEy rvY-rr, ,
Gen. Moffis,s army pursued them for inlet
or two beyond Leedsville that night, and halted
from eleven o'clock till three this morning,
when the advance resumed the pursuit, and
continued it all day in spite of the incessant
rain pouring down. On the route Of the rebel
army, the latter left the pike, struck Cheat
river, and pursued the mountain road down the
vnlInv ~ TN.nI,
trains, rendered the road almost impossible.
They were still Fithout food--some for over
twenty -four hour 3fitiA1 dtt Job
Our advance. composed of the Fourteenth
Ohio, Seventh ana Ninth Indiana Regiments,
pushed on, guided through the mountain gul.
lies By the tents, camp furniture; provisions
and knapsheks thrown from the rebels wagons,
70 facilitate their flight. We forded Cheat
river four times, and finally, about one O'Clock,
came up with the enemy q rear guard and Wag-
ons. The Fourteenth Ohio advanced rapidly
20 the ford, In which wagons were standing,
when suddenly the rebel army opened furious
'6re on them from the bluff on the opposite side
of The river, where they had been concealed, !,
with small arms and two rifed cannon. ,--.
Fortunately, most Of their firing was q little
too high. The Fourteenth returned Il with
spirit, Meanwhile, two pieces Of the CIeve-
land Artillery came up and opened on the reb
els, and the Ninth Indiana advanced to support
Indiana, marched down the river between the
two fires, and came in on the rebelS right
flank. The rebels then fled in great disorder,
leaving their finest piece of artillery.
At the next ford, perhaps quarter of q mile
further on, Gen. Garnett attempted to rally his |
forces, when the Seventh Indiana came up IN |
bot pursuit, and another brick little engagement
ensued. Gen. Garnett was finally shot dead,
when his army fed in wild confusion toward st. |
George. e '9Tvg7V.ETT Y~Nf5
3 The Seventh Indiana pursued them mile
or two further, but our forces were 90 ex-
hsusted with their forced march of twenty miles
today, with but little rest from yesterdays
march, that Gen. Morris refused to let them
pursue further.
The results of the whole affair are the CAP
lure Of the rebel camp at Laurel Hill; the total
rout Of their army; the capture Of large
amount OF their tents and camp equipage forty
,f their baggage wagons; the field camp chest,
supposed 10 contain all their money; tMo regil |
mental banners, one Of them that OF the Geor. |
yia Regiment; ilfty or more prisoners, inciud- |
ng four Georgia Captains and Lieutenants,
Ind large number Of Virginia officers; the |
ieath of Brigadier General Garnett, and twen-
y Of bic men, and the wounding Of much
arger number.
Our loss is wholly in the 18th Ohio Regiment;
killed-Samuel Mills of Co. A, and Henry |
sieheldiffsr Of Co. G; fatally wounded John
kirighanos Of Co A, by ball through the |
hest, and Daniel Mille Of Co. A, by four severe |
Wounds by shell, and about fifteen Others wound.
ID, but not fatally. Richard Henderson of Co. |
}, wounded in the leg; Sergeant Greenwood of |
20. c, slight wound in the head; Capt. Fisher |
Il Co. @, slight wound in the face; L. Rich. |
Irds of Co. q, wounded in the arm; Casper |
'lnalf of Co. d, wounded in the wrist. Others |
vefe more or less seriously hurt, but were too |
,Ager to fight to remain in the hospital after |
Iressing their wounds, and hence cannot give |
heir names. r.-..i.g te or gtN9N
Our forces are now engaged in burying their |
lead. Gen. Garnett is lying at headquarters. |
ils body is to be sent to his family at Rich |
nond. EsFt-Yf sarEgoH
Garnett's army at Laurel Hill numbered
bout 5O0O., Il was increased by the rebels |
outed from Rich Mountain, and dimished by |
hs numerous. .desertions. Along the line Of re-
reat the woods are filed with deserted rebels, |
md our men are ordered to stop arresting pris.
,ners, because we can't take care Of them
Three times as many as we hold wonld haye
,een taken but for this. -., --, .st-,gls,, Il
There must have been over 1000 rebels on |
be bluff commanding our position, who opened /
Ire on the Fourteenth Ohio, and the distance |
vas little over 900 yards.
Their artillery was rapidly served, but aimed |
bout two feet too high, cutting of trees at that
listance above the heads Of our boys. Some |
,f their shells burst near our ranks, doing |
considerable damage. Our advance, which |
Ilone entered the engagement, numbered hard |
y 1000. l,ilg,l. .ss. ~ is,.'ya'5 "a