Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-10-10
Fight near Cheat Mountain, Va.

Fight near Cheat Mountain, Va.
On the Sd inst, at one o'clock, A. NJ,
portion of Brigadier General ]. j.
Reynolds brigade, consisting of three
Ohio regiments-24th, 25th and 32d--
and portions Of six Indiana regiments
~ 7th, 9th, 18th, l4th, 18th and 18th
together with attachments of Brack-
ems Indiana, Robinsons Ohio, and
Green6eld's Pennsylvania cavalry,
and detachments of Howe's United
States, Loomis' Michigan, and Daum's
Virginia artillery, numbering, in all,
five thousand men, left Cheat Noun
tain Summit to make rcconnoisance
in force in front Of the enemy's posi-
tion on Grcenbrier river, twelve miles
distant. fSAtE 4 &
Fords 32d Ohio was sent forward
to hold an important road, the posses
sion Of which prevented the enemy
from fanking our main column. The
expedition arrived in front of the enc
my's Notifications at eight o'clock,
their pickets retreating after firing an
Intellectual volley. Kimbalrs 14th In
diana was Immediately sent forward
to secure position for LOOMS bate
ny. Ammens' oath dcployed, as Skin
mishers, on the south slope of the hill,
Loomis' Battery getting position, sup
ported by the 18th Indiana, Lieut.. Col.
Wilder commanding, opened the bat
tie. The shot was Immediately re-
sponded to by volley from the enc
my concealed in bushes, who were
soon routed by the l4th Indiana, with
a loss of seven killed and a large
number wounded and taken prisoners.
Howe's battery. supported by the 18th
Indiana, then moved forward, taking
position 800 yards nearer the enemy's
Notifications and opening q brisk fire.
Daum bringing forward two pieces,
one was stationed near Howe, and
likewise opened brisk FIRE. The fir
ing on both sides was almost inccs-
SAINT for one hour, our artillery doing
execution, judging from the lamcnta-
bic shrieks Of their wounded.
The encmy's battery did compare
lively little, the guns being too much
elevated. Our guns cffcctually 81
fenced three of theirs. While obser.
vations were being made Of the enc.
my's Notifications, occupying three
more hours, an irregular artillery fire
was kept up, occupying the cncmy's
attention. During this interval, the
25th Ohio and 18th Indiana rendered
eficctual service, scouting the noun.
taiDs.
Before the close of the reconnaissance,
which was most satisfactory, the ene-
my received heavy rcinforccmcnts
from their camp near Monterey, max
ing their strength about $4,000. AL.
though this reconnaissance partakes
more of the character of a regular
engagement, than any previous battle
in Western Virginia, our loss is but
ten killed and eleven wounded. TWAS
fully asccrtaincd that during the en-
gagement the rebel loss, in killed and
wounded, is over five hundred. Most
of the cnemy's batteries were masked,
and situated on the side of the noun
tain. The position occupied by our
troops was 30 close 10 the foot Of the
mountain that that the enemy's guns
could not all be brought to bear upon
them, thus accounting, in part, for on,
small loss.
The enemy's camp was situated on
the slope of the mountain, supported
by number of guns.
We captured thirteen prisoners
from Virginia and Arkansas regi-
ments also a lot of cattle and horses.
The reconnaissance proved entirely sue
cessful, affording information relative
to the cnemy's strength which could
not be obtained from scouts. Gen.
Anderson and Coils johnson, Jackson,
and Tolive commanded the enemy.