Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-17
From the Cincinnati Gazette of last night
FIELD OF BATTLE OF CHEAT RIVER, !
CARRICK's FoRD 8, MILES SOUTH
oF ST. GEoRGE. July IA. ]
OF ST. GEORGES, July "a.


FIELD OF BATTLE OF CHEAT RIVER,
CARRICK'S FORD 8, MILES SOUTH
OF ST. GEoRGg, July IA.
TDY COURIER TO RowLEsRuRG
On the night of the llth, the rebel army
at Laurel Hill, under the command of
Brigadier-G General Garnett, late Major in
the United States Army, evacuated its
camp in great haste, Immediately on learn
ing of General McClelMn's approach to
Beverly, and retreated in that direction,
apparently hoping to pass Beverly before
Gen. McCIellNn's arrival, and thus escape
the trap set for them by passage through
Cheat Mountain Gap.
The evacuation was discovered on the
morning of the 18th, and pursuit instant
ly ordered
By ten o'clock the Ninth Indiana enter
ed the rebel camp on Laurel Hill, and found
a large number of tents, Il lot of flour,
camp equipage and clothing, and dozen
of their sick and wounded, with note
asking us to give them proper attention.
The whole road, for over twenty miles,
was strewn with the baggage thrown from
wagons, to Tighten the loads and hasten
their retreat, and INSTRUCTED by fallen trees
TO delay pursuit.
The rebel army went within three miles
OF Beverly, and there met the rebels flying
from Rich Mountain; and fndingan escape
to Huttonsville impossible, all united and
returned toward Laurel Hill until they
reached the Leading Greek Pike, and took
that road in the direction of St. George.
Gen. Morris army pursued them for a
mile or two beyond Leedsville that night,
and halted from eleven O'Clock till three
this morning, when the advance resumed
the pursuit, and continued it all day in
spite of the inccssnnt rain pouring down.
On the route of the rebel army, the latter
left the pike, struck Cheat river, and pur-
sued the mountain road down the valley.
Their passage, with heavy wagon trains,
rendered the road almost impassnble-
They were still without food-some for
over twenty-four hours.
Our advance, composed ofthe Fourteenth
Ohio, Seventh and Ninth Indiana Regi-
ments, pushed on, guided through the
mountain gullies by the tents, camp furni
ture, provisions and knapsacks thrown
from the rebels wagons, to facilitate their
flight. We forded Cheat river four times,
and finally, about one o'clock, came up
with the enemy's rear guard and wagons.
The Fourteenth Ohio advanced rapidly to
the ford, in which Wagons were standing,
when suddenly the rebel army opened IL
furious fire OH them from the bluff on the
opposite side of the river. where they had
been concealed, with small arms and two
rifled cannon.
Fortunately, most of their firing was a
little too high. The Fourteenth returned
it with spirit. Meanwhile, two pieces of
the Cleveland Artillery came up and open
ed on the rebels, and the Ninth Indiana nd-
vanced to support the Fourteenth Ohio's
left, while the Seventh Indiana marched
down the river between the two fires, and
came in on the rebels right flank. The
rebels then fled in great disorder, leaving
their finest piece of artillery.
AT the next ford, perhaps quarter of n
mile further on, Gen. Garnett attemptedto
rally his forces, when the Seventh Indiana
came up in hot pursuit, and another brisk
little engagement ensued. Gen. Garnett
was finally shot dead, when his army fed
in wild confusion toward st. George.
The Seventh Indiana pursued them q
mile or two further, but our forces were so
exhausted with their forced march of TWEEN
ty miles to-day, with but little rest from
yesterdays march, that Gen. Morris re-
fused to let them pursue further.
The results of the whole affair are the
capture of the rebel camp Mt Laurel Hill
the total rout of their army the capture
of large amount of their tents and camp
equipage; forty of their baggage wagons
the field camp chest, supposed to contain
all their money; two regimcntal banners,
one of them that of the Georgia Regiment;
fifty or moro prisoners, including four
Georgia Captains and Lieatenants, and o
large number of Virginia officers; the
death of Brig. Gen. Garnet, and twenty
of his men, and the wounding of u much
larger number.
Our loss is wholly in tue l4th Ohio Reg
iment, killrd-Samuel Mills of Co. A,
and Henry Richeldifer of Co. G; Q fatally
wounded-John Kirighanos of Co. A, by
ball through the chest, and Daniel Mills of
Co. A, by four severe wounds by shell, and
about fifteen others wounded, but not
fatally. Richard Henderson of Co. G,
wounded in the leg; Sergeant Greenwood
of. Co. q, n slight wound in the head;
Capt. Fisher of Co. G, slight wound in
the face; L. Richards of Co. @, wounded
in the arm; Casper Sinalf of Co. D, wound
ed in the wrist. Others were more or less
seriously hurt, but were too eager to fight
to remain in the hospital after dressing
their wounds, and hence cannot give
their names.
Our forces are now engaged in buryiug
their dead Gen. Garrett is lying at head
quarters. His body is to be sent to his
family at Richmond.
Garnett's army at Laurel Hill numbered
about 5000 1t was increased by the