Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-15
OUR war FOR INDEPENDENCE
THE OAmPAIGN m VIRGINIA.


memDer OF Ool FULTONS reglmenG addressed 70 ~ n
father, giving an interesting account of the move
Rent on Cheat Mountain, in which eur troops took
prominent part:
Big SPRING, Sept 17-At last the great and long
expected movement of the army of Northwestern
Virginia has been made Twill endeavor to give you
an idea of the movement and its results, though
can give you but very imperfect idea of it with
paper for canvas and words for colors. The gem
eral plan was for simultaneous attack by the three
divisions of the Northwestern army. FLOYD who
has superseded WISE was to make the attack in the
Ksnswha valley. LEE, our commander was to
make an attack on that division that was
fortified near Huttonville, which is about twenty
miles North Of this place. JACKSON was to attack
the Cheat oMuntain forces. This was to have been
done on the morning of the 1lth inst. Accordingly
on the 9th we marched from camps with but q
scant meal for man of ordinary appetite in our
haverssckz, though called two days rations Here
viii explain that we are under the immediate
command of LcRING who is full Genera, LEE'being
the senior general in the army of Northwestern
Virginia; why / stated shove that LEE was our
commander was because he was with US in person.
Our forces, that were to make the fight with the
Hut.onvills forces were about eight thousand all
tod. Those of the enemy between twelve and
twenty thousand. LoRING with about two thou
sand including cavalry and artillery which was
both few in number, there being not more than two
hundred and fifty cavalry, and twelve small pieces
of artillery, moved up the road to drive in their
outposts and attack their Notifications directly in
front, while our brigade under DoNELsoN, was to
flank on their right, and ANDERSON to come in on
their rear, q inclose you rough map Of the routs
and postions,) to effect this it was necessary for
DoSE1SoE and ANDERSON to make Ithe entire march
through the woods The frat day VIC marched to
Laurel HILL of which you have read much of late,
it is ten miles from here on an air line, but
we travelled fully twenty miles to get there;
we had absolutely to crawl part Of the
way, we were either going up or down noun
tain the entire route the mountains have
sharp cones like housetOps not ten feet across the
tops We rested that night st the foot of Laurel
Hill; there we separated from ANDERSON he going
upon our right, with his brigade made Of Coils
HATroN's, FORBES and MASEY's regiments, leaving
DoNErsox OILY FULxoRs and SAvAGE's regiments
On the morning of the 10th our provisions were
all gone but not in the least discouraged we crawl
ed on, guided by an old herdsmsn, hundreds Of
the men with not a shoe or sock on their feet. AT
ter marching nine or ten miles we came upon
CoNwAT's run, marching down which, for a mile,
we came upon their pckets, took four prisoners;
guns were fred from them; we learned that pickets
were posted all along the for three miles; from
there, we double quicked down the rocky
branch about one mile, where we came upon an
other post-killed two who attempted to escape,
and took several prisoners. From there we ran
two miles and came upon the reserve picket; sar'
prsed and took the m all prisoners without firing
gun That picket line was an entire company from
Cincinnati captain ieutenants and all. We were then
within one mile of an eneampment of about six
thousand Of the enemy time, o'clock p. m. Our
only Oh ance and in fact the policy adopted in the
original plan of attack, to hide our little briH
gade in the mountains till the next day. when LO-
RING should commence the cannonading in
front, and draw of this six thousand to
their Notifications, and let us have q
run and jump at their rear. Thereupon we
turned abruptly to the right, crossing most stu
pendous mountain: after crossing which we received
from Gen. LEE an order to cross back by another
route, and stay in the same raFine in which the
enemy was encamped till the cannonading should
commence, as he expected it to commence at day
break next morning. Before we could get back to
the top of the mountain dark came upon US, and it
was very intense darkness for rain had been falling
ali day, and had checked up, leaving heavy, dark
cloud, and you would naturally suppose that we
could not follow directions with any degree
of certainty. Any way, we CROPPED our way
forward down the mountain. no road frequently
along the brink Of feaFfal preeipices 1 know not
how high, but could hear the cascades in the dis
lance, directly under me. The Gener sis order was
for no man to speak word. You could only have
heard an occasional suppressed exclamation of pain
from the barefooted men, (whO were getting quite
numerous) when they stepped on a sharp edged
rock In zigzsgging down the mountain we missed
our eourse, and came down directly OF the enemy.
Our van was within three hundred yards Of their
camp, but so steslthily had been our movements
that we would have escaped without their knowing
our proximity, had it not been for the barking of
dog that one of our men has with him.
Though that fully aroused Them General D.
then ordered US back to the top Of the mountains
(all orders were passed along the line ina whsper)
1t took US three or four hours to get back An ex>
eeedng cold rain fell heavily upon US through the
entire night We got to the top exhausted and hug
CRY; had lost all our blankets, and great many
threw their coats and hats away. We threw our
selves in the mud and slept for an hour or two, but
aToke almost chilled to DEATH the rain still falling
When light enough came to see distinctly, what
sight presented itseIfl man little supersti iOus
would have believed ,bst he bad died, and was
spectator at q great convention Of tho dead,
though had fallen in amongst strangers. havs
no douut you will be inclined TO doubt nay
yeracity or sanity, but it Is truth that
ye could not recognize some Of our most in
innate acsuaiatances even by their voices. There
stood around me hpaareds Of strange skeletons, all
shvsring muddy and Fith eyes ell sunken, features
puekered aud that peculiar, cadsverous ceiGF Of
dead man, like SO many fresh from the charDsi
house You have but a pooF idea what a change
can be wrought in short time In Elsp's appear
ance, by fatigue, kgRger and exposure. These are
+ ice things for the historian in his study, with
a satisfied appetite spd plenty Of tired ma
lures sweet restorer,S to emheilish gponi
Or toe well fed, smooth faced, slick headed
school boy to make his Friday evening defamation
upon. But ths soldier who undergoes it can all
most hear the clOds falling in upon his GOTTA. With
all this we had some fun. After Ee had all gone to
rooss in the mud large bruin, alias bear, by some
means got in our midst, ran over several Of the
boys. scared our horses loose. and kicked up d.
Of row generally, Our prisoners took advantage
of the muss and attempted to escape. They broke