Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-01

of the enemy at about 81 o'clock of the 18th
I Immediately put my command in motion,
and marched Eastward on the n. ". Pike to
Red House, where l learned the enemy had
left at o'clock A. N. | followed, crossing
Backbone Mountain, and halted to rest my
men TWO miles West of North Branch bridge,
where l was overtaken by you. My command
had already marched fourteen miles, most Of
them without breakfast | had but few "a
tions to send forward ifI had transportation,
but had not single wagon to carry any
thing. At the consultation then held, full
statement being made by the respective COM
manding officers of their condition and of
yours, in regard to want of transportation, it
was determined to abandon the pursuit, in
which opinion there was n unanimous con
currence, with, believe, a single exception
amongst over twenty officers. At that time
the enemy were at Stony River bridge, which
they subsequently destroyed, before even
fresh troops could have reached them from
where we then were. Subsequent operations
being conducted under your own eye, 1 sup
pose are not called for in this hasty report
made under circumstances fOrbidding accu-
racy of date and detail
remain your obedient servant,
J. IRVINE,
Col Commanding 10Th Regt, o. VM.
P. Son Saturday, 18th, l had mounted
scouts at a fork of the road, where road
branched East from St. George Pike, suppos-
ing it to be the road leading to Red House.
RED HOUSE CANT, July %, 1861.
BRIG. GEN HILL. Sir: In compliance
with your order dated July 10Th, 1861, requir-
ing me to transmit you a full account of my
proceedings with my command, to pursue and
intercept the rebel forces retreating from Lau-
rel Hill by way Of St. George and Red House
Corners on Tues6 lay, July 14th, 1861, with the
number OF my foices, the amount Of provis-
ions on hand an 4 means of transportation,
herewith present. the following report:
| arrived at West Union from Oakland
with four Compallies of my command on Sat
utday morning, July 18th, at 1 a NJ, in a
violent rain storm having been compelled to
leave two Comps inies at Chisholm's Mill to
guard all ofmy tbams which had given out.
| They arrived at West Union at A. NJ
making my forceI6 Companies of 57S men.
At 8 A. NJ, July 13tn, waited on Col Ir-
| vine, of the 10th Ohio Regiment, and we pro
ceeded to examinH the country for five miles
in the different objections which we supposed
the enemy would take. On our return Col
Irvine received s. despatch from you inform
| ing him that the enemy were retreatinc by
way of st. George As yet not knowing but
that West Union would be the route they
would be compelled to take owing to the i'm
passable state of the other roads leading from
| st. George across the country, and intersect
ing the Western Turnpike
| ], with Col. Irvine and Mai. Bailey, inme
| diately selected two positions, one South O
| West Union one half mile, and the other one
mile West, either of them strong enough tc
have defended US from any numbers. l OF
dered my men to lay upon their arms in readi
ness to take position at a moments warning
At 81 A. NJ, Sunday morning Col Irvine:
scouts came in and informed me that the enc
my were retreating by way of Red House
Corners. We Immediately got under way anC
gave chase, arriving at the Corners at s AN.
a distance offs miles. Here we learned they
had passed at 5 a. M, with the exception O
a regiment or two still back We immedi
ately selected two Companies of rifles, one
from the Sth, Capt. Daggett, and one from tht
| 10th, and ordered them to proceed Southwark
toward Texas Corners, and meet them, i
possible, upon advantageous grounds. Tht
main body, supposed to be from what We
learned from prisoners, about 5000 strong
having got p hours the start, we continued
the chase until we were within miles O
them. Having travelled six miles, we halted
to make reconnaissance, when we were over
taken by Gen. Hill The balance of tht
march was made under the supervision of the
Commanding General.
When l started on Sunday morning in pur
suit, many of my command had taken nc
breakfast and made the entire march that
day with but half biscuit We had notont
days provisions on hand, and our means O
transportation were so limited as to cut of
the hope ofan immediate supply. My com
mandhad at that time received no horses ol
wagons from the government, and my only
means of transportation were teams pressed
into service from farmers in and about Oak
land Fl. G. DEPUY,
Col. sth Regt., o. V.