Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-13

rnh OAmrAres = v...erslA.


papers purportng 20 give correct accounts Of the |
Of the different columns of Gen. LEES !
command against the enemy's defences at Cheat |
Mountain pass, there seems to be studied and con-
certed agreement to misrepresent and suppress the
truth; particularly in reference the participation
in that attack by the first brigade of Tennessee
Volunteers, commanded by Gen. 5. r. ANDERsoN.
would net willingly do injustice to any ia the ser
vice. but beg leave to submit brief statement,
and leave the determination Of the question, as to
the responsibility of the failure upon that occasion,
to the candor of the public.
Upon The morning Of the 10th Of September, Gen.
ANDeRsox's brigade, consisting of the lat 18th and
i4th Tennessee Regiments, moved according TO
orders. from their camp at Valley River. We were
directed to cross the country and avoid the enemy's
pickets and reach the third top of Cheat Mountain
in the rear of the pass cut the telegraph wire and
hold the turnpike leading to Huttonsville. 1t was
expressly ordered that we were to make no attack
and not to discover our presence to the Federal
forces, but await the result of the assault in 'front.'
which was to be made by detached column of not
more than two thousand men Of Gen.. JAoKsoN's
brigade, led by Col. RusT. We were ordered to
reach the pike at early hour on the morning of
the 18th. Of the terrible march through the tan
ged laurel brakes and over the rocky sides of the
spurs of Cheat Mountain, which along the entire
twenty miles that we Travelled, put out from the
main ridge to the Northwest, no poor language at
my command would give the slightest idea. The
very nature of the service in which we were ems
gagged prevented us from awaiting ourselves of the
occasional eow-path which crossed our route, and
we were kept in the woods. Often, for miles, that
resolute column would creep, in the silence
of death, along the edge of the stony preci-
pice, cheered by the roll OF the Federal
drums in the valley below. The second night out
that terrible, that never to be forgotten might've
LAID down in sight of the enemy's camp at Hutton,
and the cold pitiless rain never ceased to fall
through the dreadful hours OF tnat long bivouac
Upon the morning of the 18th we arose, soaked and
drenched but the entire command, after few brief
moments spent in the reloading and cleaning up the
guns, walked up at a lively gait to the point to
which we were ordered. Near the turnpike pick
ct fired upon the column, severely wounding one Of
the 7ih Regiment Very soon after reaching the turn
pike a strong party of the enemy opened upon the
LIST Regiment and for few minutes it rather q
lively affair, but they fled AID the entire brig
ade deplOyed along the pike. The telegraph wire
was cut and we waited and waited, with swelling
hearts, to hear RUsT open fire on the other side
But we were doomed to bitter disappointment
We held the road from very early hour in the
morning until we were ordered back by
General LEE. About two O'Clock, General An
DERsoN having lost all faith in the pro
posed assault in front by General JACKSON,
called his principal officers about him and
| r.,
| should we attack them at the Pass in rear, or
march against them down the road to Huttousville.
Gen. LEES peremptory order to fall back and rein
| force Gen. Donaldson came while the conference
/ wss debating the course we should adopt While
| on the turnpike we captured a wagon with three
| of the enemy, and Gen. ANDERSON personally took
Lieut. NEaRLL prisoner. That prepossessng young
officer confessed that our march across the noun
tains, to the rear of their works, was wonderful,
and he often complmented the unfsltering fidelity
and courage of soldiers who could perform such
service. He had been with US many hours before
he discovered that we had brought the entire brig
/ ade over the mountains. We do not deem it our
duty to give any reasons for the failure of JACKSON
| to make demonstration in front We obeyed or
| ders to the letter, and if the dance had opened
according to the programme, the Confederate flag
might have foated over the rampsrts of Cheat
Mountain pass. Our return was not so difficult,
and we had compsl atively good roads. There was
no longer any necessity for concealment in the
woods Upon the 18th we heard that the enemy
were following US. We Immediately halted and
formed in line of battle, but no enemy came. On
the I4th we rested our bruised and exhausted boys
at SNYDER's and about SHUTDOWN, though weary and
worn, we marched that night under an order from
Gen. LoRING, far on the road to Brady's Gate which
place we reached early on the morning of the 18TH
where we remained until night, when we marched
in enc of the most merciess rains that ever fell on
| this continent, to an important point No Yankee
was to be seen. They had covered back into their
strongholds, and seeing chance of fight, we
returned to camp at Valley river, on the 18th,
weary, worn and mortified, to know that after all
our suferings somebody had prevented us from
NEE ting the enemy in force.
| Of the other Tennessee brigade, commanded by
Gen. DONALDSON can only say that they executed
| their orders promptly. They killed many of the
enemy and took about sixty prisoners
In the skirmish on Cheat, on the morRing of the
18Th, we hal two killed, two missing, and sixteen
wounded. The loss of the enemy, in killed and cap
tured was thirty The Yankees, true to their in
stincts succeeded in stealing two of our negroes,
| who had charge of our horses in the rear. They
also shot the fue horse of Col. SMITH, Gen AMBER
| SONS Aid, but in few minutes the General handed
over to the Colonel the gallant grey upon which
Lieut. MERRILL was mounted.
! OF the brave behavior of the men and officers of
the command in this memorable service, it does
not become the writer to speak. Every man seem
| ed to strive to be foremost in the march.
I Cen ANDERSON did his whole duty, heading the
| column on horseback and on foot, and sharing
every danger and privation with his men. A jewel
of a gentleman, and soldier of approved metal
We will follow wherever he leads, even if it Is
again upon the terrible march to Cheat Noun
tain. TENNESSEE.
Battle at Camp Bart0W-EB Elliant COnfed-
crate Victory
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
CAMP Barlow, Oct 4th, I86l.-Yesterdsy we had
one of the most exciting battles at this place that
has occurred during the present compaign. For
tour hours and half the cannonading from both
sides was inuesssnt, and brilliant beyond de-
scription And justice requires to say that
those in command Of the artillery of the enemy shot
beautifully and have no doubt that pieces did
great execution, as we disabled some of their
pieces and their ambuances were seen carrying off
their killed and wounded.
Our pickets engaged the enemy while our men
were eating their breakfast. At once all were put
g., flna hat 1ouan hu1