Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-24
Garnett's Retreat.

Garnett's Retreat.
Through Lieut. COL Crenshaw, of this city, and of
the 23rd Virginia Regiment, we have learned, and
have the satisfaction of reporting a much less dis
astrous result than that heretofore credited, con-
corning the late collision between our forces and
those of Gen. Mcclellan, in the Northwestern noun
tains The force in Col Hcck's, or rather Col. Pc
grams camp, was not cut off and captured as re-
ported, but manly escaped safely through the
woods to Monterey, where Col. CrenShaw has seen
them. Maj Tyler is at that point. The only priS-
onerS taken by the enemy, except stragglerS, were
al out 200 including Capt. Atknson's company,
who surrendered while under command of Col. Pc
gram. These have all BEEN paroled except Colonel
Pegram, who is probably preserved for exchange;
Mcclellan doubtless found it nconvenent to feed
them as prisoners.
Gen. Garnett under whose immediate command
the 23d regiment was broke up his camp on Thurs
day night, the day of the Rich Mountain battle
He marched towards Beverley for some miles when,
learning that Col. w. c. Scott had deemed it prop
err Contrary 1t is thought to Gen. Garnetts orders
to retire his force below Beverley, and retreat
ing Gen. G. halted and reversed his course, com
mencng line of retreat by way of St. George
The march was commenced amid heavy rain, and
was exceedingly laborious DetachmentS we're de-
tailed to obstruct the road in the of the retreat
ing column, by Telling trees, as to retard pur-
suit In this manner the last ford Of Cheat River
morning. Skirmshing had meanwhile been taking
place between guard and the advance of the
enemy pursuing column of SIX thousand. In one
of these, 200 GeOrgians cut off from the main
body, but evaded capture by taking to the woods,
and subsequently rejoined the army.
At the crossing of the Cheat severe fight took
place between the enemy and the 23d Virginia Rcg-
ment, who were set to protect the passage of our
baggage, and to check the pursuit. Our troops
were posted on bluff, on the farther side of the
Cheat and the firing was across the stream. In
fortunately, one of the wagons in crossing became
jammed in the track, and the following teams of
the train became wild and ungovernabe and had to
be abandoned The fight was kept up until its OBJ
ject was accomplished, and the retreat was then re-
sumed and continued without further interruption.
At this fight on the Cheat, General Garnett lost
his life He renamed behind in special command
of twenty picked rhemen to bring up the rear when
he was shot in the throat and breast As he fell he
ordered his squad to retreat OF our loss eleven
are known to have been killed and II wounded a
considerable number, more than hundred are mis-
sing; but it is believed they are dispersed in the
mountains, and they are constantly coming in. The
loss of the enemy was very heavy.
Some of the enemy's troops who were fallen in
with by the GeorgianS while separated from the rest
of the command, said their loss was four hundred
The retreat of our army under Col. Ramsey of
the Georgia troops until they got into the North
western turnpike, leading from Grafton to Ronney.
They followed this road to where it returns from its
divergence into Maryland and crosses again into
Virginia. Our column here turned south, and
marched to Monterey, where the other divisions of
our army had previously concentrated
Quite a number of soldiers who were in the fight
at Rich Mountain and Cheat river came down in the
cars Observation-Disclosures Inquirer.
NeaOs from the Upper POtOmac-Gen. .yohnston's
DiUision
CAMP NEAR WINCHESTER, VA,
July IA, 1861.
Your readers have already been fully informed of
our little skirmiSh near Falling Waters in Berkely
county, with the enemy under the command of Gen.
Patterson, who had about IL, 900 men, while we
only had, all told $780, and yet their accounts of
it give us 10000. Our loss was only three killed
and eight wounded and we know almost certainly
that they buried $50 the field, and carried off
| great many MORALLY wounded. Like the battle at
| Bethel, we never will know how many they lose
they are so given to lying and Misrepresentation,
until the history of this war shall be written.
Finding ourselves in a Instantaneous locality
and nearly surrounded by superior numbers, we
retreated several miles this side of Martinsburg
and, having been reinforced by Gen. Johnston, Of
tered the enemy fair fight on an open field but
! Gen. Patterson had no idea of meeting Gen. John
| ston on any thing near an even footing. They must
have two to one of and the advantage of position
or tney Will never venture close enough to be
They are now strongly fortified in the town of Mar
tnsburg, where, doubtless, they find many friends
and not wishing to destroy the place. with the wo-
men and children, which they refuse to allow to
leave Gen. Johnston has fallen back upon Winches-
ter where he is quietly awaiting the coming of the
enemy with his fifty thousand men, now reported as
being the number of his forces But | am afraid
they will never get any nearer this place. as they
are afraid of the masked batteries that constantly
haunt their magnations, and the stone fences along
the road, behind which they believe our sharp.
shooters are concealed
An incident is related of the Rev. Captain Pen
dleton, of the Artillery, in the recent skrmish,
which shows clearly what "stuff he is made Of "
Having loaded and aimed his piece he calmly raised
his hands, and uttering the short prayer, MAY the
Lord have mercy upon their poor SOULS" gave the
command, fire and that ball struck the head of a
column, and when the smoke cleared away, its path
was still visible.
The crops of wheat in this region are unusually
good, but there is great difficulty in saving it, as
the approach of the enemy has driven away many
citizens from their homes The health of our troops
is good JOSIE.
Ex-Gov. j. II. Adams, of South Carolina. died n
his residence at Live Oak in that State on the 13tL