The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-07-17
Full Particulars of the Battle
of Cheat Mountain.
THE CHIVALRY WON'T FIGHT |
spECIAL 70 eAzETrE.

CINCINNATI, July 16th.-FIELD OF Bat
TLE.-CARRICKs Ford, July l4.-On the
night of the 18th the rebel army at Laurel
Hill, under the command of Brig. Gen. Gar
nett, Elk Major U. S. Army, evacuated its
camp ia great haste, on learning of Gen.
McClellan's approach to Beverly, apparent
" hoping to pass Beverly before McClel-
lan's arrival, and thus escape the trap set
for them through Cheat Mountain Gap. The
evacuation was discovered on the morning
of the 18th, and pursuit was Immediately
ordered. By II o'clock the 9th Indiana
entered the rebel camp on Laurel Hill, and
found large number of tents, a lot of -four,
camp equipage, and clothing, and several
sick and wounded, with note asking us to
give them proper attention. The whole
road for 20 miles was strewn with baggage
thrown from wagons to hasten their retreat
The rebel army went within three miles of
Beverly, and there met the rebels flying
from Rich Mountain, and finding escape to
Huttonsville impossible, all united and re-
turned toward Laurel Hill, and took road
in the direction of St. George. Gen. Nor
ris' division pursued them for mile or two
beyond Leedsville that night, and halted
from IL to 3 o'clock in the morning, when
the advance resumed pursuit and continued
it all day in spite of incessant rain
pouring down. The rebel army left
the Pike and struck the Cheat River, and
pursued the mounts road down the val
ley. Our advance composed of the l4th Ohio,
7th and 9th Indiana, pushed on, guided
through the mountain gullies by tents,
camp furniture, provisions and kna2 sacks
thrown from the rebel wagons to facilitate
their flight; cur troops forded Cheat river
four times, and finally about o'clock came
up with the enemy's rear guard. The 14th
Ohio advanced rapidly to the Ford in
which the enemies wagons were standing,
when suddenly the rebel army opened a
| furious fire for time with small arms, and
| two rif1ed cannons from the Bluffs on the
opposite side of the river, where they were
concealed Their firing was too high. The
I4th returned it with spirit; meanwhile two
pieces of the Cleveland artillery came up
| and opened on the rebels, and the 9th Indi-
| ana advanced to support the l4th OhiOs
| left, while the seventh Indiana crossed the
| river between the two-fres, and came in on
the enemy's right flank. The rebels then
fed in great disorder leaving their finest
piece of artillery At the next ford, one
quarter mile further on, Gen. Garnett at
tempted to rally his forces when the 7th
Indiana came up in bot pursuit and another
| brisk engagement ensued. Gen. Garnett
was finally shot dead when his army fed to
ST. George. The 7th Indiana pursued them
a mile or two. but our forces were so ex-
hausted with their forced march of twenty
miles with but little rest from yesterday q
march that Gen. Morris refused to let them
pursue further. The results of the whole
affair are the capture of the rebel camp al
Laurel Hill, large amount of tents and
camp equipage, forty baggage wagons, their
field chest supposed to contain all theiI
money, two regimental banners, one o.
them that of the Georgia regiment, foul
Georgia captains and Lieutenants, and s
large number of Virginia officers, the deatf
of General Garrett and his men and thu
vounding of a much larger number. Oul
loss is wholly in the l4th Ohio, two killed
and two MORALLY wounded. Our force
are now engaged bringing in the dead
Gen. Garnetts body is lying at Head Quart
ers. 1t will be sent to his family at Rich
mond Along the line of retreat tn
woods are filed with deserted rebels an
, our men are ordered to stop arresting pris
Oners because we can't take care of them
There were over 1000 rebels on the blu
commanding our position who opened fir
j on the Fourteenth Ohio, and the distance
r little over two hundred yards. Thei
artillery was rapidly seized bat Wa