New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-20

occupation Of Bnekhaunon, ard the defeat Of plan OF
tie enemy 10 deet oy that place. Buckharhon was
then made point Of concentration and dnring seem-
ing delay, stores were accumulated there, baggage
trains arranged the eonnty was thoroughly explored
by &C, us, and plans matursd 10 meet new iaets
and positions then discovered.
The object of the movement Of the column was To
occupy Beverly in the reer Of the forces az Laurel
Ill., and from that point take possession o tie noun
tain pass at Hulonsve tho only available outlet into
Eastern Virginia ia that direction or on tba part OF he
Aleghany chain. u was found that Gaineu had pro-
videi against the s1ccess of such movement 10y very
strong Publications at Rich Hill commanding the only
fea,le approaches from the direction Of Buckhannon'
This position was tuned however, by the matlerly
movement Of the lth nat., headedby Gen Rost hciaz,
under whose direction read opened FOR about
three miles around and up the mountain and by route
deemed pass be by the enemy be reached their rear
and, after short but decisive conflict completely
Col Pegrsm from HE position Meantime, by another
road cleared through the forests and among The lille,
another column was put in such position hat on the
adyaI ee AZ er Pegam and on IIutonsyille, he was
completely surrounded and compelled TO surrender.
Gen. Morris az you are aware, had pushed forward
his column from Ptilippi the 7th, and takep mp
position at Bengtln, under Instructions not 10 attack
but 70 feel the strength Of the enemy and attract hs
attention by tkirmishrg and feina. Gen. Norriss
column was made up Of the OH InIana, ~. MiIroy,
18th Ohio Col. Steedman portions Of tue lst Virginia.
18th and 18th Ohio. the Cleveland Artillery, Maj Bar
nett; the ilh Indiana, tho 9Th Indiana, and the 9th
Ohio.
Ssirmishing was kept mp on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday, the ouposts of the enemy being gradually
driven n and our ria.d guns varying the excitement
by occasionally dropping shell into their camp.
The movement OF Rosencranz on the llth, although
not known to Gen. Morris necessitated the immediate
abandonment of their position and tho night f The
18th Gen. G8rnett baftiy Left his camp and strong To-
tronchmenla and retired toward Beverly, apparently
hoping 10 effect a uuion with Pogam. LeirniDg
however, that Pegram5 force captured, aid that
tie Hupcnsyille Pass occupied by our troops, ho
turned back before reaching Beverly and sruei of TO
the eastward by road knoSn as the Leading Creek
Turnpike h byroad leading from the Beverly and
Leedsvie road out across the head waters OF Cheat
River toward 81. George.
Garnetts retreat was hssty that he left all bis
rick in camp to the care Of men. The grousd was
srewn with articles dropped IN the haste Of departure
number of bushels Of caids scaitered ever the
camp Here and there were packages Of clothing, or
pieces Of uniform, and a largo number OF blankets
were left in tie tents just where tie soldiers Iei them
Nearly 300 tents Were found standing in good Oond
ton, and very large number although sanding,
al sIit 10 pieces with knife culs. eiuful sword
presented to some Georgia officer by the citireIs OF
Augusta, was picked up on the ground where the
"chiy" had inglorOusy dropped il in his hasty aght.
Our rihed cannon was LETT behind at the camp, end
tho camp-chcsl, contsning the "fgnds Of tie army,
war aso found either in tho camp the line Of the
enemys flight.
Their position a. Laurel Hin very strongly for
tilted. Old army officers with Gen. Morris declar, that
10 eco men would have been inadequate 70 the work
Of carrying II By assault in front. Ia the rear q cir
entire reliance 10 have been placed the strong
works at Rich Mountain, and the brilliant moyen,p,
which took that posi,ion ard cut their ines ~ tlal
point made Ganetts retreat unavoidable necessity.
At both points the enemy could no. have rad loss
than 5000 to 10000 men, mosiy Nirginiaus and
Geor,ians. Tie Georgia fJIcss who were under com.
mand Of Col Raufey, next in command to Gen. Gao
nett, after Col Pegrams surrender had recently been
brought up from Pensacola reinforce the ine Our
prisoners stories indicate that their camp wsF fall Of
intestine broils and the biuer feeling that existed
between the Georyans and Yifgiuians crops out on
every OCCASION.
Their rations were not sufficient but in point Of
camp equipage, baggage trains, blankets, and some
portions Of their uniforms they were bet or supplied
than most Of our troOps.
TIE rout Of the enemys lc wing il uiior and irre-
trieyable. Secession ia driven out of Western Vir.
Oiuia and mr. coupus are uoyiny m 40 ocfunv tho
land" with the utmost uipidity.