The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-08-31
CAnP Curkr MOUNTAIN SrxnrT,
Xrxfrr, I,raIkIA Aug ~ ls6l

WEsrERS VIRGINIA. Aug u. lcbl.
/. Edsfsrs Erpress:-I should have written
/ to you concerning the battle at Rich Noun
tain. the details of which you are now famil- !
lar with. We acted the part of anxious re-
serves in that short but bloody conflict. We
we're drawn up in order Of battle before our
quarters, listening to the booming Of cannon,
the rattle Of muskesry, ard viewing the
wreaths Of smoke. that curled above the
trees. succeeding each volley. momentarly ex
pecting orders to march to the assistance OF
our brother re-iments engaged in the con-
dict. The enemy, however, were defeated
and driven from their strongholds without
our aid. and the disappointed 18th retired to
dream OF what they would have done. had
they been present a, the action. We passed
the battle ground the next morning on our
line Of march TO present quarters. We
gared with melancholy satisfaction on the
heaps OF rebel dead. wounded and dying.
scattered over the blood bsspattered ground;
m,ralzed upon the sickenins scene and
| moved on in quest Of the enemy. TO re-
chivAlry. We only succeeded in getting
few distant glimpses of the rear Of the re-
, treating brsrss. We reached our present
: quarters. black in complexion. wsared. dir
~ and hungry. and too anxious to proceed
beyond our limits. The boys enlisted to
fight, and they wanted 70 find one before they
stopped.
We are encamped on the summit Of a
mountain halfs mile high, surrounded by
. mountains still more aspiring. catching the
clouds FAR above Us. Looking to the east,
: the higher ranges of the Alleghanies are seen
towering to the skies. and the hazy blue OF
}. distance. These immense elevations are
> covered with lofty, solemn pines and on q
clear day. IAN erception) affords subims
views.
Our boys have had several little skirmish
o. with the enemy. which have resulted in
, killing several Of them. and taking se,era
&c prisoners. with loss Of four OF our cavalry
and one private Of our regiment. belonging
. % Capt. Woods company vas engages
in = skirmsh with about two hundred OF ih'
rebels is., Monday morning, brief sseoun
y of which would probably interest you, sn'
- which viii give you some idea Of southern
bravery.
u took thirty men Of our company gnde
. charge a. pickcts. four miles from camp
ae and street.-The. them out to the distance Of on
le mile and half toward the enemies camp. o
last Sunday evening. About ten o'clock g
70 night an attempt Was made to surround n.
which avoided by hastily Withdrawing m
> pickets. aad placing them in ambush nes
(. nv headquarters. where ne anriolsly await
o. cd the approach Of the intrajers undF mort
M sng, at the same time dispatching mcser
be ger accompanied BY Lieut.. Trcmelin. I
or Capt Foote's station three miles below a
=. spprising him Of our danger. After waitin
ne unit! morning Tor aid that did not come. ar
ier after examining the spots where the enem
sn had been observed the night before. place
=. my picksts accordingly. | had bat just r
III turned to nv headquarters and sat down
IN crackers and coffee. when | wss informs
~ that nv out 2ickets had been frsd into
,., Leaving Gew men under Treme.ia AZ hel
- quarter a. reserve. who Immediately di
81 patched a messenger 70 camp. | h4ssens
~. rssh few men. kfseea IN all. 70 ss- se.ief
the the pockets. l~as met by 49, Il them. N
had escaped their Gre. who ensreAssi me
90 no farther. a. there we're 100 nany fos
to contend against Anxsous. however.
ef save those ~hs had been cut OF II possible
Of harriei on We wers suddenly fred into
Of large company Of rebel infantry. Who d
on. covered themselves aroend Snort bend
~ the road. not forty ysris distant from
ssg Tsrnisg nv eyes - the Ieh. ! discover
lay the snemv lsinS n smbasA along our
AZ. aank. aud ~as AZ the sane tine spprisei
e e their presence on cur right esnk. aiong q
ing mcanssia .id~ above - Observing our .
ned saiios. and knowing il 20 BE their intensi
"a 10 sarrouni Ne and commit wholesale buss
lie sry epoa -. o. take Ne prisoners. ordeI
. Gre and retreat The eoys exhibited
A.eh m>rtshis eesisso N their precanscs sitI