Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-19

advanced. Here and there were garments hastily
thrown upon the roadside, now and then portions
OF Fe9el equipments, which had been scOrnfully
| kicked aslae by our troops. Yonder lay dead
morse, shot through the body, and there part of
| powder wagon belonging to the enemy and a hum
dred yards from it the magazine. The lads said the
horses Irlghted at their fire and of with the
wagon AT last We reached the battle feld.-'''
THE BATTLE OF RICH MOUNTAIN.
In pursuance of orders from Major General NJ,
CleIlan, BrIgadlef General ROsecrans marched frolu
koaring Bun at three O'Clock Thursday morning TO
turn the rear OF The rebels. Ills command consist
ed OF the Sh, 10th, and 18th Indiana aud 10Th Ohio
Regiments, and Burdsal's Dragons in all about
SO0O men Col Lender, with guide, had charge
OF the reconnaissance department The troops
marched light, taking only their arms and ammuni.
Aoh VITA one days rations. They made wide he
tour to the southeast through unbroken thicxets
and rugged mountains and occasionally were ar
rested by blind paths, which led them into full view
OF thls valley At about two O'Clock thov were with
IN mile OF the extreme rear of the enemy's posts
tlor and had not been disturbed BIZ pickets when
suddenly about thirty shots were fired into thom on
the top of Rich Mountain, killing Sergeant Joseph
A. Taggart, and mortally wounding Captain Chris
Miller OF Company A, 10th Indiana, who were in
! advance. 1t was now apparent that the enemy had
! got wind of the surprise, and were waiting for
| them An sbortive effort was madde to form
| the men into line in the forest, but it was
| found necessary to advance to more open
ground. AS they approached the brink of the
upon the enemy behind breastworks of logon
an opposite spur, the rebels fired a shell which
burst near Col. Lander, and severely wounded
his horse. The rebels followed with grape and
CANISTER, firing some twenty rounds, all of them
too high, besides, our were ordered to lie
down, and advance at intervals, meantime Gen
Rosecrans discovered the two six FOUNDERS which
played upon them. Both were considerably in ad>
vance of the rebel ntrenchments-prOteesed on the
right flank by log stable Occasionally there was
an interlude of musketPy both Sides either party
! watching an opportunity to make good shots The
enemy generally fred too low, while our boys
made excellent ones. After considerable difficulty
partially owing to the impracticablity of the
ground, and partially to the eagerness of the men
to rush in pell mell-the General finally formed
the column-the 10th Indiana, Col. Munson, on the
right; the Sth under Col Benton in the center; the
l3th Col. Sullivan en- the left and fanSing toward
the front. The 18th was placed in reserve, half
| mile in the rear, Col. Beatty commanding under
Capt kingsbury, Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral
After considerable promiseuous skirmiahng
! during which some of our men fell and a number
I were wounded, the enemy also suffering severely,
| large body of the rebels under cover of their
batter les, broke over and charged the road
| some fifty yards towards our columns. The
HOosiers laid still in the grass until they
dered to fire; instantly every his feet,
| and poured into the daring rebels murdcrous
! volley. large number fell, and the remainder
| prudeutly retired to cover again. Our lads again
| broke Inc ana went 10 ugnllng on lnelr own NOOK
| The Thirteenth Indiana was returned TO the re-
serve, and the Nineteenth Ohio advanced TO its
! place. Lander daringly leaped upon big rock, in
! full view of the enemy, and wanted to know why
| in the HI the HOOsiers didn't form by platoOns'
| He begged few men to follow his directions, and
take the batteries in ten minutes. A lieutenant and
! twenty men yielded to him, and depleyed as skir-
smihers 10 pick of the gunners
The General, meantime, dashing gallantly
| among the men with the COones and reforming
I 2 n her thn or1ap tn and
Benton to take the batteries. The skirmishers let
drive and did cruel execution upon the gunners.
| The Tenth and Egth dashed down the hill like
| thunderbolt adSSe, and the guns were taken.
! The 10th had the honor Of taking one gun-and the
honor Of capturing the other is a disputed point,
| Bentons men claiming it. 1t is hard to say who
did most Of the business since they all event in
together like fiends incarnate. The lads now made
short work oft, and the 10Th Ohio, who sd steadi-
! " obeyed orders had chance Of which they avail
themselves quickly, to let drive two cleverly exc
cuted yolleys full upon the rebels, who were
| making their final stand But the work
! too hot for them, and the brave rebelsafter max
ing gallant fight, fled over the hill to their main
! positions, troops pursuing them with fierce
| Yells of triumph and giving them an occasional
! shot to promote their flight.
The battle had occupied an hour and quarter
/ during a considerable portion of which time there
was sharp fighting portion of the engage
! ment was a furious battle. Our soldiers went into
the action with the Characteristic ardor of Ameri-
! can soldiers, and never finched. Many Of them
/ were as cool as sportsmen shooting at game. The
| Rebels proved themselves gallant and determined
! ioemen. Their numbers are rOundly reported by
| themselves at from $50 To 500. Our own men GO
innate their number at 900. | think, froEa all &C
counts, that they have about GOO The disparity of
numbers was partially equalized By their two fine
field pieces-one of them rihsd and by their breast
works.
The casualties have not been definitely ascer-
tanned Our own loss is confined entirely to the
1 /. ~ \
none, having been detained IN reserve until the fight
was almost ended The surgeons report eleven
killed, including those killed by the Rebel pickets,
ard about forty wounded. The enemy ST sixty
| killed, the bodies of whom were found and respect
fully inferred. and large number wounded. About
! 100 prisoners were captured, including two cap
tains
Among the enemy dead was Capt Skipwith, of
| the Richmond Blues. a prominent rebel cavalry oHi-
Ger. Capt Irwin. of Brunswick. received two dan
gerous wounds, which will probably prove mortal
Capt. DepAgnel, late U. S. 4 commanding the re-
bel artillery, received three dangerous wounds but
escaped to camp and was carried away last night.
prisoner reports that he cannot recover. His lst
( Lieutenant had one hand badly shattered and
captured. Lieut.. Dawlett, DR.. Taylor, late of the
U. s. A. and Dr. WOlk, Surgeons in the Confederate
Army, and others, making seventeen commissioned
officers, were killed and captured-besides several
| sergeants. About l5e prisoners were taken.
! Among the spoils captured were six brOnzed field
| pieces. large number of muskets, 40 rifles, and
about 200 tents; large number of horses and army
! wagOns-in fact, all they had, excepting the mus
kets the fugtives ran away with under Col. Pegram
at night
| BEVERLY.
| The army arrived here this afternoon troop
of rebel cavalry, including Colonel fled in dismay
towards Huttoqsville.
! At O'Clock Gen. Mcclellan received information
! from scouts, that Gen Garnett and all his force
evacuated Laurel Hill this morning, leaving behind
! a large amount Of camp equipage and other spos.
They started to retreat TO HutOnsville via Beverly
but upon arriving at point within six miles Of this
! point they learned that Mcclellan was here, and
| they turned off at Leading Greek, striking east
| wardy into the mountains towards St. GeOrge-feH-
! ing trees and obstructing the road behind them
much as possible. As soon Gen. Morris discOv-
cred they had reiterated, he pursued with all his
available force and at last accounts continuing
the pursuit with fair prospect Of OvertakDg them,
and 1t is probable he will cut off their baggage
trains. We have been taking prisoners, fugitives
from Rich Mountain, all day, and scouting parties
are out cutting off struggling detachnents of the
enemy.
CAMP LAUREL Hill. July r. Ie6l.-This morning
about O'Clock intelligence conveyed by Coils
Millroy and Sleedman to headquarters that the
my had retreated-''vamoosed the ranche'-and
were off for Beverly. Accommodating parties were,
how; sent out, and they returned with the news
that the camp really deserted, and on the top
that came dispatch from Gen Mcclellan announc-
ing the victory gained at Rich Mountain.
Detailing guard over the camp, three regiments
with one piece Of artillery, pushed on to Laurel !
Hi and haltei on the height prepared to repulse
the ebels should they attempt to return.
The camp itself was in ravne on the right, IN