Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-20
ARMY CORRESPOND, N,E.


received orders TO march. Tho telegraph
wires are stretched along she road as faat as
We proceed. The 10th LEFT BuckhannOn on
the sth, on reseiving news that an advance
guard had been attacked at Middle York
On arriving there we could plainly see the
effects Of the contest; the bridge riddled in
different places with bullets, and tho siding
ripped of. Yesterday We learned that a
body OF secessionists, three thousand slrong,
wee stationed at Beverly. We accordingly
proceeded Immediately, intending 70 rout
them, but when within about seven miles
Of that place, we found our progress arrested.
rhe enemy had taken stand, and were
protected by strong batteries, which com
msndod the road for about mile.
Gen. Mcclellan, cOmmandingall the forces
Of this division, gave orders to his brigade
to como on Immediately.
From our position, which was about three
miles from their fort, we could see them
bnsily working at their inirenchments, night
and day, and for,ifine the neighbOring hills
At 2 o'clock the next morning, General
Rosecranz gave orders to march and attack
them in their strong hold. he picked out
four regiments Of three months men, sur
rounding them on all sides The 1slh Ohio
and sth and 10th Indiana regiments took up
the rear, and by o'clock P. NJ, We were
close on TO them. The rain poured down in
torrents, completely stopping our operations
for an hour. Our messenger with dispatches
rode back to camp with a plan Of our posi-
ton, but he was shot by the rebels, and the
dispatches taken and opened. By this
means they were made aware at what point
the attack was TO begin. They accordingly
took two pieces of cannon, with 1000 men,
and placed themselves behind their in
trenehments. The cannon were rihed.
The first intimation we had Of their close
vicinity, was the killing of three Of the l9th
by their pickets. At tthesignal We marched
out 70 them on all sides, and then the attack
was commenced. Tho indiana boys led the
van, but we could sec that they had no mill
tsry training, as they scattered gurilla fash
ion, among the rocks and stones. Firing
over each others heads. CT was afterwards
ascertained that they killed several Of their
own men by mistake, owing to their scat
tering Out.) The roar Of the enemy's can
non was tremendous, and cannon ball and
| grape were hurled over US in all directions.
But the gallant l9lh" stood it all without
linching, until the order was given 70 ad-
vance, which we did in perfect order, not
withsanding the rough ground. Our line
Of battle was quickly formed, and We poured
in snch a regular yolley, and loaded and
fired with such precision, that the rebels fed
in all directions uP,tho hill. The Indiana
boys, with one united cheer, broke down
the hill, and pursued the enemy in all d.
reclions. The rebels had throughout, kept
up an irregular ERE, scattering behind rocks,
and some collected in squads. They fought
desperately. The day was ours. Then
commenced the taking care Of the killed
aud wounded. I never saw such a sight in
my life, as that battlefield. One man lay
writhing in the agonies Of death, his brains
shot away, another with leg gone, some
with hands clenched, and bodies in the at
titude of defence, lay still in death. Inever
sh Ill forget that scene.
We buried the dead yesterday, fifteen Of
our own men and one hundred and fifly Of
the rebels. We re-examined the prisoners,
and they said that only $500 occupied the
main intrenchments.
We encamped on the battle feld all night,
and next morning Col. Beatty said he would
take the intrenehments himself According
" We marched in the rear of their fort
Down the hill We rushed, cheering as we
charged bayOnets upon them. Tho Rebels
had over estimated our numbers, and fedin
wild confusion, over their breast works,
leaving everything, tents, baggage, utensils,
munitions Of war, and two cannon, which
they spiked. We took their stronghold
,0itAout firing a SINGLE gun. About hundred
prisoners were captured. The main body
aed to Beverly. Cheer after cheer rent the
air, ss the Secession colOrs were being hauled
down. The Rebel Colonel was taken prison
eF. A hundred horses we're also taken
This was glorious triumph fer our bully
Nineteenth"
The Rebel Colonel made the remark that
we "dared not face him in the front, but
had to sneak in the back way" He was
rather taken abask when he learned that
one thousand had routed his whole force
: This ratification was intended as q perma.
: neut stronghold, as il commanded the only
road by which our troops could pass through
! Virginia. Last night we marched on Il
: Beverly, hearing that the main body has
. retreated there. You can imagine our as
: constituent when we learned that the ad
: vance of our brigade had captured 700 Pris
: oners. They were literally starved out
i This morning we we're gratiied with the az
: pearance of ScUcR or eight more prisoners
/ who came in, Of their own accord, and lait
! down their arms.
The amount Of property captured is ssti
i mated at 100000. This has put a stop t
3 their operations in Western Virginia. W
9 will probably start for home in a few days
l. Laurel Hill and Huttonsville have bot
been taken. The Rebels had put great con
ee fdence in their batteries at Camp Garnard
"a The Colonel (Hicks) had refused troop
' from the other side of the mountain, sayin
le that he could defend the place against an
" number of troops that could be mustered b
the " damned Yankee States" These al
" his very words.
j But must close, as I am detailed for pri
!. oner guard.
IL
Yours, Respectfully,
B. FRASK s.
P.s. Leland's band still continues vii
Ee US, and discourses its splendid music dali
1t, NoTE.-I am unharmed, but had narro
ay escape for my life. As / was loading
at battle, a bullet struck my bayonet, az
an glanced of, killing the man behind me-
10 The butt Of the gun was between my fec
~ and the bayonet directly ahead. Ny mu