The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-18
THE CHEAT MOUNTAIN BATTLE.
INTERESTING PARTICULARs-BRAvERY OF THE
yEy INDIANA AND OHIO BOYS.

INTERESTING OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE
.&yEy INDIANA AND OHIO BOYS.
Corresr ondence Cincinnati Commercial,
CAMP KDdBALL, CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT.
@4}@ October I'd, 1861.
In reference to the recent action in this
vicinity, after diligent inquiry, have
learned that the number of our forces en-.
gagged did not exceed 800, all told, being
detachments from the 18th Indiana, Col.
Kimball; Oath Ohio, Col. Ammon and
25th Ohio, Col. Jones while the enemy
actually numbered and advanced on our
camp with ten thousand men, including ten
pieces of artillery,-their troops being from
Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia and Virginia,
under Lee, Rust, Toliver, Anderson, jack
son, Remington, and other noted military
leaders. Their plans were perfect-two
formidable columns advancing on our rear
and front at the same time. They cut off
all telegraphic communication, and the COL
umn in the rear of Camp Kimball had been
concealed in the thick timber and laurel for
some time, it having been definitely ascer-
tanned they contemplated overpowering Col.
Ammon's command with desperate bay
onet charge. Unfortunately for the enemy,
portion OF their advance attacked our
wagon train, which gave the alarm in time
to repulse the enemy. -Four parties of
scouts, absent from our camp at the time,
fortunately, with simultaneous movement
attacked the enemy in the rear of
their columns. This unexpected move
ment on cur part confounded the
enemy, leading them to suppose that we
had been strongly reinforced, with view
to surround them. They beat hasty re
treat, leaving many of their dead and
wounded behind, while the path they took
through the woods was literally strewn
with their arms, blankets, overcOats, letters,
cartridge boxes, &c. Over eight hundred
blankets alone were picked up along their
rrail. Capt. Coons, OF Company G, 18th
Indiana, with 60 men, not knowing their
force, actually charged on and run body
OF $500 Tennesseeans. Instead of Colonel
Kimball's command being cut of, and re-
lieved by reinf0rcements from Elkwater,
Kimball was in communication with Elk
water, before the reinforcements dispatched
to bis assistance had arrived. The actua
loss on our side was 5 killed and ii wound.
ed, while we found where the enemy had
buried 43 of their dead in one pit, while
twenty. eight single graves were found in
the same vicinity. The woods and ravines
in this locality are strewn with their dead
many of their wounded having crawled in
to the brush and laurel thickets, and died.
The carrion crow and buzzard are now
feasting on the carcasses of their dead.
While their army was retreating, Henry
G Choate, an old Cincinnati boy, detached
on scout, together with two Others from
the 9th Ohio, came upon party of the
secesh in a log house, capturing one Lieut..
Colonel of a Tennessee regiment, two sur
geons, two privates, three horses and a
mule, the latter branded at. A."-Tennes.
see Army. Choate's party, only NUMBER
ing three men, all told, finding they could
not take their prisoners into camp, took the
precaution to remove the locks from their
guns, liberate the prisoners, and return to
camp after spending five days and nights in
the mountains, having been cut off from
their own camp. Choate frequently lay in
ambush when large bodies of the enemy
passed within ten and twenty yards oil
where he was secreted