The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-24
McCLELLAN'S LAST VICTORY - ThE
BATTLE AT CHEAT RIVER.

On the night of the th, the rebel. army at
Laurel HUI, under command of Brigader GeBer
eral Garnetr. late Major in the [. 5 Army, evac
uated its camp in great haste, Immediately on
learning of Gen. McClellan's approach 10 Bever-
ly, and retreated in that direction, apparently
hoping To pass Beverly before Gen. Mcclellan :
arrival, and TINS escape the trap sci for them by
pass age through Cheat Mountain Gap.
The evacuation was discovered on the morning
OF the l2;h, and uIsui, instantly ordered.
BIZ 10 O'Clock the eth Indiana entered the reb
el camp on Laurel Hili. and found large num-
ber of tents, lot OF -four, camp equippsge and
clothing, and a dozen of their sick and woun-
ded, with a note asking Us TO give them proper
attention.
The whole road, for over twenty miles, was
stre~ed with the baggage thrown from their
wagons, to tighten their loads aud hasten their
retreat, and obs ructed by fallen trees 10 delay
pursuit.
The rebel army went within three miles oi Be
VERIFY and there they met the rebels flying from
Rich Mountain and finding al escape TO Hut
louisville impossible oil united ami returned to-
wards Laurel Hill, until thev reached the Lead.
ing Creek Pike aud took that road in the drcc-
ton OF ST. George.
Gen. Morris army pursued them for a mile or
two beyond Lecdsvj..e that night, and hstsd from
II O'clock TIL 3 this morning, when the advance
resumed the pursuit and continued IL all day ~
spite Of the iuces>ant rain pouring down. On
ilc route ot the rebel army, the latter left the
pike, struck Cheat River, and pursued the moan
tain road down the valley. Their passage, with
heavy wagon trains, rendered the road aim st
impossible. They were still without tood-sone
for over ~ hours.
Our advance. composed Of the l4th Ohio, and
7th and 9th Indiana regiments, pushed on, guild
ed through the mountain gutiies by the tents,
camp furniture. provisions aud knapsacks thrown
from the rebels wagons To facilitate their flight.
We torded Cheat River four times, and finally
about O'Clock, came Up With the enemy rear
guard and wagons. The 18th Ohio advanced
rapidly to the iord in which wagons were stand
lug, when suddenly the rebel army opened iu-
rlous fire on them from the bluff Oh the opposite
side of the river, where they had been conceal
ed, with small arms and two rifled cannon.
Fortunately, most of their firing was little
too high. The Fourteenth returned it with spir-
1t. Meanwhile, two pieces of the Cleveland Ar
tlllery came up, and opened OH the rebels, and
the Ninth Indiana advanced to support the Four
teenth ohio's left, while the Seventh Indiana
marched down the river between the two fires
and came in on the rebels right flank. The reb-
els then fled in great disorder, leaving their fin.
est pieces of art llery.
At the next ford, perhaps a quarter Of mile
further on, Gen. Garnett attempted TO rally his
forces, when the Seventh Indiana came up in hot
pursuit, and another brisk little engagement en-
sued. Gen. Garrett was finally shot dead. when
his army fled in wild confusion toward ST. George.
The Seventh Indiana pursued them mile or
two further, but our forces were SO exhausted
with their forced march Of twenty miles to day,
with but little rest from yes;erday ; march, that
Gen. Morris refused to let them pursue further.
The results of the whole affair are the capture
OF the rebel camp at Laurel hi! the total route
OF their army: the capture OF a large amount OF
| their tents and camp equippsge; forty OF their
baggage wagons; the field camp chest-suppos-
cd to contain all their money two regncutal
banners one OF them that OF the Georgia regi-
ment; fifty or more prisoners, including four
Georgia Captains and Leutenants, and a large
number OF Virginia officers; the death Of Brig.
Gen. Garnett and twenty of his men, and the
wOundins OF a much larger number.
Our loss is wholly in the l4,h Ohio Regiment.
! = killed, and about fifteen Others wounded but
not fatally.
Our forces are now engaged in burying their
dead. Gen. Garnett is lying at headquarters
His body is to be cent to his f-miy at Richmond
| Garnet;s army at Laurel Hill numbered abou,
500. 1t was increased by the rebels routed
from Rich Mountain, and diminished by the nu.
merous desertons. Along the line of retreat the
woods are filed with deserted rebels, and ouI
men are ordered to stop arresting prisoners. be
cause we can't take care OF them. Three time.
as many ~ we hold would have been taken but
| for this
| There must have been over 1000 rebels or
the bluff commanding our position who opened
fire on the Fourteenth Ohio, and the distance
was little over 200 Yards.
Their artillery was rapidly served, but aimed
about two feet too high, cutting off trees at thai
distance above the heads OF our boys. Some o.
their shells burst near our ranks, doing consider
able damage. Our advance, which alone entered
the engagement, numbered hardly 1000.
II ID hoped that Gen. Mcclellan, or the forces
at Row!esburg, may cut off the retreat of th'
remainder, and secure few baggage wagon,
left. The rebel army was composed mainly o
Georgians and Eastern Vircinians. Col Ramsa,
Of the Georgia regiment, succeeds Gen. Garrett
in their command. The Georgians had all beer
moved to Laurel Hill direct from Pensacola.