Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-07-19
Another Battle--3OO Killed
BEVERLY, July -.

AHuioh" holultctiS, anu tHe Jln OQlO-LO
proceed along the line of the hills south
east of the enemy's entrenched camp. to
the Beverly road, where it crossed the
mountains, two miles east of the enemy's
position, with orders to proceed along the
Beverly road and attack the east side of
the works. General McClellen being pre-
pared to assault the west side as soon as
firing should announce the commencement
of the attack.
The capture of courier who mistook
the road through the enemy's camp for
that OF onr troops, placed the enemy in po-
sition Of knowledge of the movement.
Wien Gen. Rosencranz reached the Bev-
erly road, at two 2. NJ, after a most ex-
hausting march over the mountains, he
found the enemy posted upon the outside
side of the road, about 500 strong, with
two cannon, holding strong position, par
TALLY fortified. An engagement instantly
took place, and continued three-quarters
OF an hour, when the rebels were totally
routed, with loss of 800 men, including
10 officers and both their cannon. About
IS of the killed and rs of the wounded
fell into our hands, and $50 others taken
prisoners.
The road was between two hills Our
troops descending steep declivity were
greatly exposed to the fire of the rebels,
who occupied the opposite hill aud poured
musketry, shot and shell upon them.
The Rossncranz column remained at the
place of engagement during the night.
Gen, McClellen was in position with his
whole force during the whole afternoon
ready to make the assault, but heard moth
ing from the other column, except distant
firing. Early in the morning he was pro-
ceeding to plant cannon upon an eminence
commanding a portion of the rebel camp,
and preparing to attack the whole nest in
front, when it was aseertained that the en-
envy had evacuated the place during the
night, moving towards Laurel Hill, leaving
few men, their sick, all their tents, can
non and camp equippage, and transporta-
ten.
A rapid march was then made by Gen.
Mcclellan to Beverly, passing Rosencranz' S
column on the road, with Instructions to
follow quickly. At Beverly it was ascer-
tanned that late in the day the rebel forces
at Laurel Hill had retreated, moving to-
wards Romney. Our total loss is not
more than l l killed and 35 wounded.
The above report is approved by Gen.
Mcclellan.
GRN, MccLELLAN's OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
WASHINGTON, July 13.-The following
despatch was received to-day at the head
quarters, from Gen. Mcclellan
BEVERLY, Va, July 13.-The success
to-day is ali | could desire. We captured
six brass cannon, Of which one is rihed,
and all the enemy's camp equippage and
transportation. The number of tents will
probably reach 200, and more than 60 wag-
ens. Their killed and wounded amounts
to fully $50, and at least 100 prisoners
and more coming In constantly. | know
already Of 10 officers killed and taken pris-
oners. Their retreat was complete. I
occupied Beverly by rapid march. Col,
Garnet abandoned his camp early this
morning, leaving much Of his equippage.
He came within few miles of Beverly,
but our rapid march turned him back in
great confusion, and he is now retreating.
On the road to St. George, Gen. Morris is
to follow him up closely. I have tele-
graphed to the two Pennsylvania re ginents
at cumberland, to join Gen. Hill at Rowl-
esbusg The General is concentrating all
his troops at Rowlesburg, and will cut off
Garnett's retreat near West Union, or if
possible at St. George.
I may say that we have driven out some
10000 troops, strongly entrenched with a
loss of / killed and 35 wounded. Provi-
sion returns found here show Garnett's
force to have been 10000 men, They
were Eastern Virginians, Georgians. Ten
nesseeans, and, think, Carolinians.
Tomorrow can give you full details as
to prisoners, &c.
trust that Gen. Cox has by this time
driven Gov. Wise out of the Kanawha
Valley. In that case [ shall have accom-
plished the object of iberating Western
| Virginia. hope the General-in- Chief will
approve Of my operations.
G. B. MCCLELLAN.
THE NORFOLK Navy YARD.-The destruc-
tion of property by order of the Govern
ment at Norfolk in April last, has been
subject to much comment The Admins
tratien was violently assailed and the act
denounced as unnecessary and unauthor-
lied.
The Report of the Secretary Of the Ma
Wy throws flood of light upon this mys-
ferrous proceeding. 1t appears from this
that the authorities at Washington antic-
ipating an attempt on the part of the reb-
els TO seize the Navy Yard and the war
vessels lying in the harbor, ordered such
vessels to be Immediately loaded with ord
nance stores and ether public property
and towsd out of the harbor; that the
Merrimac was got ready for sea, but sub
sequently drawn by order of the Comman-
der for some reason hitherto unexplained;
that as soon as this was reported to the
department, Com. Paulding was immediate
ly ordered to Norfolk to take command of
all vessels and prevent their falling into
the hands Of the insurrectionists but be
arrived too late to execute the first part of
the order and compelled to assist the
Commandant of the Yard in destroying what
he could not save.
1t would thus appear that had the or
ders of the Department been obeyed the
Merrimac and other vessels might have
been saved, together with a good share of
the ordnance, &C., in the Yard.