M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-07-25


lthe Main Cheat -purged them of heavy
loads Of mud with Which mist were
plastered to their, waist, bands.-
Emerging from thefOrd, our advance
camein sight Of the rear OF the fugi.
tive army, at the second ford below,
where their baggage train was at rest,
and the infantry drawn up to pro,
tect it. Tho advance regiment halted
till Dumont's anG the artillery came
up to their support. when the un.
lucky firing Of gun by one ofour men
set the whole body in motion. -
The chase became highly exciting.
The rebels pitched the rest of their
camp equipage into the bushes; the
officers threw their trunks, containing
,hsir personal effects into the gullles
and ravines, and the privates gave up
blankets, knapsackS, and canteens TO
the inexorablo necessity OF fighting or
retreating, and they preferred the lat.
ter. Our advance pushed them 80
hard that they had to form in line
and commenced u scattering fire, when
our artillery opened upon them, and
they instantly renewed their STAN.
pedo, This stand, however, had Civ.
en- their baggage train time to get un.
der way. The pursuit was holly kept
up for three miles, and they showed as
wonderful an agility in flight as Por'
ter6eld's army at Phillippiy
Within @ mile OF the next ford, the
mountains reccds on both sides from
the river. The most of this compare,
lively level bottom land is comprised
in the farm Of James Corrick, and
the fords are known by HE name. In
crossing the first OF these fords TO The
right side Of the river Gas We were ad
vancing) one Of their wagons mired,
and those in the rear had to halt unit
it could DO relieved. q The rebels
meantime drew up in line on the opo
site side in an oat field, and wero con
cealed by rail fence and the trees
and bushes iringing that bank of tho
river. The bluffs from 50 to so feet
higher than the land on-tIe other side
down which the Ohio 14ihl was ad
vancing, with Capt. Mow's company
thrown out as skirmishers. AS The
skirmishers pressed on towards the
ford, the teamsters cried ont, "Don't
shoot don't shooil We are going tc
surrender" Tie Captain then called
to the Colonel, "Come on, Colonel
Steedman, they are going to snrrend.
err" and the regiment was ordered to
advance at a double quick. As he
came opposite the bank where the reb-
els were drawn up, Gen. Garnett cried
Three cheers foi jeff. Davis" and
that instant the whole line was o blaze
of light, as they poured destructive
yolly upon the 14Ih. The men camo
to an instant stand, and returned the
compliment without changing posi-.
ton, and then advanced nearer the
river, taking position behind worn
out fence, The rebel battery then
opened fire, and Baruett's artillery was
ordered up. The action became gen.
eral. Millroy's regiment came mp to
Steedman's SUPPORT, but we're com.
PEELED to deliver an oblique fire. Capt.
Benham then ordered Dumopt's six
companies to cross the river about 300
yards above tile ford, pass ob!iqiely
up the hill from oar right, and take
the enemy in the rear The bank was
exceedingly steep, almost perpendic.
ular, bu: two companies had succeed
cd in climbing mp, when the order
was countermanded, and Col. Du.
mont ordered down the river tothe
ford, under coyerOf the hight 5onther
side, and projected by tbetirs from
Steedlnan's and Millroy's regiments,
to take them in front at tho road. =
The Cvlonel executed this order in
gallant style His line instantly form.
ed and marched down the bed of the
river. where the water was frequently
waist deep, and the momont the head
Of his column appeared the rebels
ceased firing along the entire line, and
stampeded tiIrouglis wheat field down
to The second ford, % the officers
vainly trying to rally them.
Gen. Garnett wsa the last to cross
the ford. Major Gordon of the U. s.
army atthis moment appeared on the
opposite side which the rebels had
just left, and seeing them huddled in
The road called to the advance of Dn.
mont's command. which was rushing
along like a whirlwind, to come on.
Gen. GMnett directed, the attention of
his panic stricken rearto thes Major.
and a volley OF bullets fell thick as
hail around him, many lodging & 10 the
sycamore stump on which he was
standing. The Major.atI the srsame
time saw Garnet aud pointing him
out to squad Of Captain aSeiry's
company, Sergeant Bdrlingsme drew
a deliberate sight on tie General and
G.ol H. rroo 49,. II.z..f... IL