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

all I required with great promptitude. After
this preparation, marched to Cheat River
bridge and arrived there about 81 O'Clock P.
NJ, same day. Mr.. Shaffer sat down with me
in my tent, and made rough and hasty draft
of the county between Laurel Hill and Oak
land and the Red House." showing a main
road running from Northward point from
Laurel Hill to the n. W. Turnpike" inter-
secting the same at the Red House :" also.
showing many roads approaching the same;
also, a road leading to St. George northward
to my Camp, with various approaches. In the
opinion of Mr.. Shaffer and those who were in at
tendance with him awaiting orders to act as
scouts, the rebels must pass along the first
mentioned road leading to the Northwestern
Turnpike so as to strike the turnpike at the
" Red House" With the light had before
me, | cOncurred in this opinion and was
about to take the available force of my COM
mand with the two Companies of the 1st Vir-
ginia Regiment, and Immediately march to the
road described as running from Laurel Hill to
the n. W. Turnpike, so as to take position on
the said road south-westward from West I'm
ion about seven miles, about the same distance
from Red House." and some fifteen miles
from my Camp. But rejecting over my ms
tructions, | thought you had scarcely author
lied me so to do, l abandoned this contem-
mounted scouts well armed, in the direction
last mentioned, as well as in and around St
George. Accordingly, at about 10 o'clock P
NJ. dispatched four scouts well armed and
mounted, with directions to reach the Laurel
Hill and n. W. Turnpike road as soon as pos
sible westward from West Union" and to
Teconnoitre the approaches thereto. This duty
would take them over very rough road (mOst
Of the way some sixteen or eighteen miles.
directed them to first report to Col Irvine's
command, then at West Union. if they should
make important discoveries nearer to him
than to me-then hasten on to me. l also
sent disguise to take observations about st.
| George and the roads leading from that point
to my Camp; also, many scouts, not mounted,
| in various directions The first named
at about o'clock A. NJ, Sunday morning,
| and soon discovered the enemy in large num-
bers, and to get out of his reach, they were
obliged to secrete themselves for short time.
This was South westward from West Union
about seven or eight or eight miles-Of course
much nearer Col. Irvine than to my command,
and in obedience to my order, he was notified
| before the messengers came to me- This
notice, l am informed, was given between
three and four o'clock A. NJ. same day. The
horses of those scouts " gave out" by which
means l did not receive their report until 10
o'clock A. NJ. Little before II O'clock 4. NJ
started with all the force l could spare with
one days cooked rations, together with parts
of the two Virginia Companies, making alto
gether about 459, and arrived at the Red
| House" passing through West Union at half
past three p NJ, a distance OF eighteen Oh
nineteen miles. When | arrived, l found Col
| Irwin's forces, part of Col. De Puy's 18th o.
and few of the Goth Ohio, under your own
| personal command, with two pieces of ord
nance, and had been in hot pursuit several
| hours before. Not gaining on the enemy, and
our forces being considerably out of strength
and 1ottlOut any provisions, and it plainly ap.
| pearing that further immediate pursuit would
| be futile under your order all our forces
| turned back and encamped at " Red House.
Leaving my force, returned to Cheat River
to order provisions and transportation for
ward On the next day (Monday) 1 received
! from you an order to join forward move
ment from the Red House" with all the
forces of my command l could spare, from
the duties already assigned me. At about {
! o'clock p. NJ, on Monday 18th inst, | ioineC
the column under Col Irvine's command, witt
about the same force I took TO the 4" Rec
House" (450,) and moved eastwardly on the
Northwestern Turnpike, in pursuit Of the enc
my. | left with ten days rations and ordered
more to be sent. | had no transportation fa
| cilities, and could take little baggage of any
| kind With some difficulty, my Quarter
master impressed tlo0 teams, which served tC
transport a .felo cooking utensils and the scanty
provisions I took along. We pursued the
enemy, under your personal command, little
over two days and seemed to gradually neal
him, when, on Wednesday, nth, the column
was turned back The whole command
marched back to this point in two days, some
what fatigued, but in the best of order and il
very good spirits; my Town, know to be
particularly so.
All of which is respectfully submitted
| G. w. ANDREWS