Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-01


one Of the guns and with the few of Colonel
Morton's infantry then arrived, started in the
pursuit; while moved on with as much dis
patch as possible with my aid, Capt Bond, a
guide, and the 25 cavalry.
At Red House, found the gun sent to Col
Irvine some days before, one company of his
infantry and a few. prisoners captured that
morning. Ordering forward all but eight of
the cavalry, 1 stopped few moments to gath
CT information and make dispositions rendered
necessary in consequence of the (since found
to be erroneous) reports that there was a body
of rebel troops yet to come up moved for
ward again with five of the cavalry, and soon
overlook Coils Irvine's, Depuy and their COM
mands, which were halted, about six miles
east of the Red House. A council was
Immediately called, including the field Off
Gers and captains of all the companies, in
order to learn the actual condition OF the men
and all other facts that should govern the ac-
ton of the command. A free interchange of
facts and opinions occurred when the facts
found, and opinions arrived at, were that the
enemy had passed Red House about 5000
strong, including from three to five guns, and
several hundred cavalry, before O'clock in
the morning, the artillery covering the rear.
That the very sparse settlements along the line
of march had been, and were being so strip
of provisions by the enemy that no reliance
could be placed upon getting any kind of sup
plies in their track, that none of the compa-
nies that marched over the night before from
Oakland had any supper, and that very few,
if any, in the whole command had any break
fast, and the haversacks were almost entirely
empty, and wholly so with the most of the
men. There did not appear to be on an aver
age one days rations for the men then on the
march drawn from the Commissary and un-
consumed For the whole, but one wagon,
and all there was in the way of means of trans
portation, provisions, camp equipage and cook
! ing utensils had been left in the rear and in
camp The whole force then in the column l
think, did not exceed 1 300 men. If the pur-
suit continued, the march for many miles must
/ be over the ranges of the Alleghany Noun
tains with no known possibility of cutting the
enemy off, or attacking him in flank, even
though the pursuers could Overtake the pur-
sued. The mounted scouts accommodating to
the front were sent out before my arrival and
did not report to me- l cannot, therefore,
state from them the distance between the two
armies before our return, but Coils Irvine and
Depuy, in their reports, state the least distance
to have been eight miles, and that while our
command was halted the enemy had reached
Stoney River.
Capt. Keys, who after overtazing Col Irvine
lead the small detachment of Cavalry serving
as part of an advance guard, told me since our
return that he saw none of the enemy except
a few stragglers long distance off The IA
! tigued condition of our men and all of the
matters above being considered in council,
| (except the distance between forces, which
was subject to speculatiOn,) a distinct vote was
,taken upon the question whether the COM
mand should then continue the pursuit. or re-
turn, and every officer but three in the whole,
numbering about'twenty was emphatic in op-
position to further pursuit, in the then condi-
ton of the command and e0ery officer voted
against going forward, Except one, Major,
who declined to vote,) and in that vote fully
concurred. What any one might have done
under different circumstances and in the light
of different facts, it is idle now to speculate.
1t is proper here to say that on the march
east from the Red House no prisoners were
taken. nor were abandoned arms, or articles
1 of any importance found so far as have been
able to learn.
To be in more convenient communication
with the Railroad at Oakland, and nearer TO
their camp equipage and supplies the troops
were marched back to Red House. On the
| way, Col Morton's infantry and one gun were
met about two miles from the Red House. On
arriving at Red House it was found that there
were not provisions enough to give all of our
troops there assembled, one full meal without
drawing from Oakland, and there being as
yet no means Of transportation, Col. Morton's
companies and two companies of the Virginia
troops, marched back to Oakland TO their din
ners, suppers and camp equipage, arriving
there about o'clock in the evening.
Late in the evening of the 18th, Col T. R.
| Stanley, of the 18th, and Lieut. Col Turley of
22nd Ohio, from Clarksburg, had arrived at
Oakland, and during that night Col Dunning
of the 9TH, also from Clarksburg arrived at
| Oakland, as did Col. W. S. Smith, of the 18th
Regiment at Grafton, from Parkersburg, each
with his command endeavoring to respond to
my orders. In anticipation of movement
| forward the next day, if means Of transporta-
| ton, and horses and harness for the guns
should be obtained and information should
come in, indicating probable success in fol-
lowing the retreating enemy, orders were Civ
en- that all of the troops at Red House and
Oakland should be Immediately provided with
| two days' cooked rations and be put in readi-
! ness to marcn. Such information did come
about P. NJ. of the 18th, and while it was
being considered and plan of operations dis
cussed with the commandants of Regiments
at Oakland a dispatch from Department Head
Quarters at Huttonsville was received dated
14th, and addressed to me, SAYING" Gar
nett's army completely routed yesterday 18th
= u
road, baggage captured, one gun taken, Gar
nett killed his forces demoralized. l charge
you to complete your operations by the cap
ture of the remainder of his force. If YOU
have but one Regiment attack and check them
until others arrive. Youmay never have such
another opportunity again. Do not throw il
away. Conduct this movement in person and
FOLLOW THEM a OutrdRce, Ito the utmost r.
Telegram Iiteratim as follows-'d lon Trance
Couriers by two different routes had brought
me intelligence that the enemy, having burnt
the bridge at Stoney River, On the n. W. pike
early in the afternoon of Sunday, had gone in
to camp little eastIOf Greenland, with inten.
/ ton to remain for several days and had burn
ed the bridge at the Gap, there to protect them
from a rear attack. Learning also that Stoney
River could be passed without serious delay,
that the camp a little east of Greenland could
| be turned by march from New Greek Sta
ton, and also by detour to the right, in pro-
ceeding from the west by way of Greenland
and believing that strong expedition, mov-
| ing with celebrity, might expect to reach the
enemy at or before he would reach Petersburg
and return in safety, l considered that such a
movement would be within my discretion,
and also within my instructions. According
Iy Col Stanley with nearly 800 men of the
| 18th Regiment and Col. Dunning with 200
men of the 9th Reg were ordered to move by
the diagonal road from Oakland over the
mountains to the bridge on the pike over the
north branch of the Potomac, there to be
Joined by eight companies of the 8th regiment
under Col Depuy, companies of the 10th
under Col. Irvine, 6 companies of the 18th un-
der Col G. W. Andrews and two companies
of the 1st Virginia Regiments, which were to
move from Red House with the RinggOld cav
airy under Capt Keys and two guns of Capt.
Daums battery. Col Morton with compa-
| mics of the 2lth OhiO and two VIRGINIA com