The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-07-18
Another Triumph in Western
Virginia.
Desperate Fight Between our Forces
and the Rebels.
A GLORIOUS VICTORY.
The Rebels Defeated and HOalcd.
GEN. GARNETT KILLED.
INTERESTING DETAILS.
FIELD or BATTLE OF CHEAT RIVER.
CARRIcK's FoRD. 9 MiLEs SoUrn
or IN Gyc,r, LII, "A fQcI


at Laurel Hill, under the command Of
Brigadier General Garnett, late Major in
the United States Army, evacuated its
emp in great haste. Immediately on learn.
ing Of General McCleIlan's approach 10
Beverly, and reireated 10 that direction,
apparently hoping to pass Beverly before
General McClellan's arrival. and thus es-
cape the trap set for them by passage
through Cheat Mountain Gap.
The evacuation was discovered on the
morning Of The 18th, and pursuit instant.
ly ordered.
BY ten O'Clock The Ninth IHdiana en-
Ter the Rebel camp on Laurel Hill, aud
fund q large number OF tents, a lot Of
flour. camp equipsge and clothing, and a
dozen OF their sick and wounded. with a
note asking us to give them proper alten'
tion.
The Whole road, for over twenty miles.
was strewn with the baggage thrown from
their wagons, to tighten the loads and
hasten their retreat, and obsiructed by
fallen trees to delay pursuit.
The rebel army went within three miles
Of Beverly, and there met the Rebels fly.
ing from Rich Mountain; and finding 40
escape TO HattonsYille impossible, al unit.
ed and returned towards Laurel II until
they reached the Leading Creek Pike aud
took that road in the direction Of ST..
George.
General Morris army pursued them for
a mile or two beyond Leedsvlle tha. night.
and halted from eleven O'Clock Till three
this morning, when the advance resumed
the pursuit, d. continued it all day in spite
Of tho inCeSsant rain pouring down. On
the route Of the Rebel army, the latter
left the pike, struck Cheat river. and pur.
sned the mountain road down the valley.
Their passage, with heavy wagon trains,
rendered the road almost i'm mpassable. e.
They were still without food some for
over twenty four hours.
Our advance, composed Of the Four
teChth Ohio, Seventh and Ninth Indiana
Regiments, pushed on. guided through
the mountain gulles by tents, camp fur.
niture, provisions and knapsacks thrown
from the Rebals' wagons, TO facilitate
their flight. We forded Cheat river four
times. and finally, about one o'clock, came
up with the enemy's rear guard & wagons
The Fourteenth Ohio advanced rapidly
to the ford, III which wagons were stand
ing, when suddenly the R,b.l army op'n.
cd furious fire on them from the bluff
on the opposite side Of the river, where
tboy had been concealed, with small arms
and two rifed canton.
Fortunately, most of their firing was a
little too high. The Fourteenth returned
it with spirit. Meanwhile, two pieces Of
the Cleveland Artillery came up aud open
ed on the Rebels. and the Ninth Indian;
advanced to support the FourteenthO Ohio'i
left, while the Seventh Indiana marche
down the river between the two fires anC
came in on the Rebels right flank. Til,
Rebels then fed in great disorder, leaSiuG
their finest piece of artillery.
At the next ford, perhaps quarter o.
mile further on. General Garretl attempt.
ed to rally his forces, when the Seventh
Indiana came up IN hot pursuit, and ano.
ther brisk little engagement ehsued. Gen
Garnett was finally shot dead, wten his
army fed in wild confusion toward S..
George.
The Seventh Indian1 pursued them a
mile further. but ourfOrces were so ex.
bausted with their forced march Of tSen'
ty mile to-day. with but little rest from,
yesterdays march, that General Morri.
refused to let them pursue further,
The results of the whole affair are the
cupture of the Rebel camp at Laurel II i'll
the total rout of their army; the capture
of large amount of their tents and camp
equipage; forty of their baggage wagons
the field camp chest, supposed TO contain
all their money; two regmental banners,
one of them that of the Georgia Reg
ment; fifty or more prisoners, including
four Georgia Captains and Lieu,enants,
and large number of Virginia Officers;
the death Of Brigader General Garnett,
and twenty of his men, and the wound
ing of much larger number.
Our loss is wholly in the l4rh Ohio
Regiment, 2 killed Samuel Mills of Co
A., and Henry RichelliITer of Co. c; G
fatally wounded--John Kirighanos OF Co
A, by taIl through the chest, and Dan
iel Mills of Co. A, by four severe wound.
by shell, end about fifteen others wound
ed, bat not fatally. Richard Henderson
OF Co. G, a slight wound in the leg; Ser
geant Greenwood Of Co, c. slight woun(
in the head; Capt. Fisher of Co, 9, sigh
wound in The face; i. Richards of Co. G
wounded in the arm Casper Sinalf Of Co
D. wounded in the wrist. Others were
more or less seriously hurt. but were toe
eager to fight to remain in the hospita
after dressing their wounds, and hence
l cannot give their names.
Our fources are now engaged in bury
ing their dead. Gen. Garrett is lying a
headquarters. His body is to be sent tt
bis family at Richmond,
, Garnett's army at Laurel Hill number
ed about s, 1000. Itwss increased by th'
r4bes routed from Rich Mountain, an(
/, diminished 10y the numerous dessrtions
Along the line of retreat the woods ar
, filled with deserted rebels, and our mel
are ordered 10 stop arresting prisoners
because we can't tase care Of them. Thre
t times as many as we hold would hav
! been taken but for this.
D There must have been over 1900 re
bells on the bluff commanding our posi-
, ton who opened fire on the Fourteent
Q Ohio. and the distance was little over tw
$ hundred yards.
Their artillery was rapidly served, br