Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-07-26
The Battles of the Week.

are nlled With rumOrS ana cOnnlctlnG
statements. In the utter confusion
and conflict of the accounts, it is i'm
possible to get at the exact truth as yet
| And We do not think it advisable to oc-
cupy our columns with statements which
the neat dispatches will probably pro-
nounce false or greatly exaggerated.
The splendid victory. of our forces un-
der the command of Gen. Mcclellan, at
Rich Mountain and the vicinity of
Laurel Hill, in Virginia, is fully con-
frmed.
We cannot better state the result of
that action, than by copying the follow
ing proclamation of Gen. Mcclellan to
his army. as follows:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, I
| WESTERN VIRGINIA,
BEVERLY, VA, July 10th, 1861.
Soldiers of the Arn,y Of the Vest:
lam more than satisfied with you
You have annihilated two armies, COM
manded by educated and experienced
soldiers, entrenched in mountain fast
nesses fortified at their leisure. You
have taken five guns, twelve colors,
| fifteen hundred stand of arms, one thou
sand prisoners, including more thanforty
oficers-one Of the two commanders Of
the rebels is a prisoner, the other lost
his life on the field of battle. You have
killed more than two hundred and fifty
of the enemy, who have lost all their
baggage and camp equipage. All this
has been accomplished with the loss Of
twenty brave men killed and sixty woun-
ded on your part.
You have proved that Union men,
fighting for the preservation Of our
our misguided and erring brethren;
more than this, you have shown mercy
to the vanquished. You have made
long and arduous marches, often with
insufficient food, frequently exposed to
the inclemency of the weather. [ have
not hesitated to demand this of you,
feeling that could rely on your en-
durance, patriotism and courage
In the future, l may have still greater
demands to make upon you, still greater
sacra6ces for you to offer; it shall be my
care to provide for you to the extent of
my ability; but l know now, that by your
valor and endurance, you will accom-
plish all that is asked
SoldiersI [ have confidence in you,
and trust you have learned to confde
in me. Remember that discipline and
subordination are qualities Of equal
value and courage:
I am proud to say that you have
gained the highest reward that Ameri-
can troops can receive-the thanks of
Congress, and the applause of your
fellow citizens.
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major General U. S. A, Com &.
On the Kanawha, a very severe con
test was had between Il regiment of Gen.
Cox's forces stationed there, and a part
of the rebels under Gov. Wise. Nine
were killed, thirty wounded and several
officers taken prisoners OF our side. or
the rebels about sixty were killed and
some two hundred wounded, as near as
can be ascertained
1t is understood that Gov. Wise has
from ten to fifteen thousand rebels,
posted i'll strong positions, and many
batteries Of cannon, guarding the way
to Charleston. Whether he will dare
to attack Cox, and his comparati vely
small force, remains to be seen. It is
said he issued a proclamation sore days
ago, ordering Cox to leave the State in
thirty-six hours, or fight. Gen. Cox
has no force sufficient to meet the su-
perior number Of the rebels in these
strong holds. But it is not so certain
that Wise will leave his entertainments,
to meet Cox, Notwithstanding the ad-
vantage he has in troops. Either Cox
or Wise must retreat from the Valley of
the kanawha, or there will he a great
battle there soon.
But the greatest battle ever fought
on this continent was at Bulls Run
and Manassas Junction. AS stated be-
fore, the rumors, and reports are so
conflicting that it is wholly impossible
to get at the truth. Doubtless few
days will clear up the wild rumors and
bring out of the confusion an intelligi
BILE history Of the terrible contest. Until
this is had, it would be useless to fill
our columns with the exaggerated and
contradictory statements.
1t seems to be certain, however, that
after most obstinate fight at Bulls
Run, in which our troops were the vic
tors, the rebels were reinforced at their
strong entrenchments at the Junction.
and finally overpowered the United
States forces and compelled them to re-
treat. 1t is certain, too, that the
slaughter on both sides was fearful
The first reports made the killed and
wounded on our side from 1000 to 5000. |
Later dispatches modify this somewhat,
and say that the number is not near so
great. But the exact truth when it is
ascertained will be bad enough. 1t
will send mourning into thousands of
households and unbounded indignation
into millions of loyal hearts.
The question will be asked by every
loyal citizen in America, 'for what is
all this terrible and bloody sacrifce?"
"Why is the business of the country
prostrated?' "Why is universal bank
ruptcy and ruin brought upon all