Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-24
The Engagement Mt Corrick,s FORD.


At last we emerged from the Laurel Noun
tains, and came out on the Cheat River ut Kah
ler's Ford, about twelve miles from. and due
south from St. George. 1t was then noon. Our
advance consisted of the Ohio 18th, Col. Steel |
man, $50; Col Milroy's 9th Indiana, 500; Col.
Dumont's 9TH Indiana. $50 and two p.eces art- !
lery, with 40 men-the tot Al being ,e40. The |
reserve an hour or more behind, their march |
being dOubly wearisome because of the necessary |
halts, and roads made worse by those who had
preceded them
The boys we're glad to plunge into the ford as
the swift flowing water of the Main Cheat purged
them of heavy loads of mud with which most |
we're plastered to their Wristbands. Emerging
from the ford, our advance came in sight of the
of the fugitive army, at the second ford be-
low, where their baggage train was at rest and
their infantry drawn up to protect it. The ad
vance regiment halted till Dumonts and the
artillery came up to their support, when the UNI
| lucky firing of gun by one of our men set the
whole body in motion.
The chase now became highly exciting. The
rebels pitched the rest of their camp equipage
into the bushes; the officers threw their trunks
containing their personal effects, into the gulles
and ravineS, and the privates gave up their blan
kets, knapsacks and canteens to the nexOrable
necessity of fighting or retreating, and they pre-
| ferred the latter. Our advance pushed them so
| hard that they formed in line and commenced
scattering fire, when our artillery opened OH them,
and they instantly renewed their stampede. This
stand, however, had given their baggage train
time to get under way. The pursuit was holly
kept up for three miles, and they showed as won
derful an agility in fight as Porterfeld's army at
Phillippa
| Within mile of the next ford, the mountain
recedes on both sides from the river The most
of this comparatively level bottom land is com
prised in the farm of Mr. James Corrick, and the
fords are known by his name. In crossing the
first of these fords to the right side of the river
| (as we we're advancing) one of their wagons
mred, and those in the had to halt until it
could be relieved. The rebels meantime drew up
in line on the opposite side in an Oat field, and
were concealed by rail fence and the trees and
bushes fringng that bank of the river. The bluff
is from fifty to eighty feet higher than the land
on the opposite side, down which the Ohio 18th
was advancing, with Capt Mow's company thrown
out as skirmishers. AS the skirmishers pressed
Oh toward the ford, the teamsters cried out,
Don't shoot! don't shoot We going to
surrender" The Captain then called to the
| Colonel, Come on, Colonel Steedman, they
are going to surrender" and the regiment
ordered to advance ut double quick. As he
came opposite the bank where the rebels were
drawn up, General Garnett cried. "Three cheers
for JEFF. Davis" and that instant the whole
line was Il blaze of light, as they poured
came to an instant halt, and returned the
compliment without changing position, and then
advanced nearer the river, taking position behind
n worn out fence. The rebel battery then opened
fire, and Barnett's artillery ordered up The
action became general. Milroy's regiment came
up to Steedman's support, but were compelled to
1 deliver an oblique fire. Capt Benham then or
dered Dumont's six companies to cross the river
about 800 yarls above the ford, pass obliquely
up the hill from our right, and take the enemy in
the rear. The bank was exceedingly steep,
almost perpendicular but two companies had sue
ceeded in clambering up, when the order was
countermanded, and Col. Dumont ordered down
the river to the ford, under cover of the height
their side, and protected by the fire from Steed
mans and Millroy's regiments, to take them in
front Mt the road. The Colonel executed this
1 order in gallant style. His line instantly formed
and marched down the bed of the river. where the
water frequently waist deep, and the moment
the head of his column appeared the rebels ceased
firing along the entire line, and stampeded through
a wheat field down to the second ford the officers
vainly trying to rally them.
Gen. Garnett was the last to cross the ford,
which he did on foot, and stood by the river shore
waving his handkerchief, and calling them to
come back and dispute the passage of the ford.
Major Gordon, of the U. S. army, at this
ment appeared on the opposite side which the
rebels had just left, and seeing them huddled in
mand, which rushing along like whidwind,
to come on. Gen. Garnett directed the attention
of his panic stricken rear to the Major and volley
of bullets fell thick as hail around him, many
lodging in the sycamore stump on which he
standing. The Major at the same time Gar
nett and pointing him out to squad of Captain
Ferry's company, Sergeant Burlingame drew a
deliberate sight on the General and fired. He
was seen to throw up his hands and fall back on
the sand. At the same instant, almost the only
man who had the pluck to stand by the General,
"a Georgian, be il said, to the shame of the chiv
airy of Virginia. fell dead by his side. Du
monts regiment had come up in much less time
tnan it has taken to record this event, and poured
a raking fire Into the enemy, who made a stand
of some ten minutes during which the fire was
sharp on both sides, and then they ran, crowding
upon each other in the widest confusion. Du-
monts regiment crossed the ford, and chased
them two miles up the st. George road, where
they gave out from absolute exhaustion, and III
vouacked for the night
Major Gordon had crossed the ford i'm the mean
time and came up to General Garrett who was
in the last agony of death. He discovered his
r'Ak by the star on his shOuldersrap, closed his
eyes, and seizing linen handkerchief from an
Indiana boy, tied up his face and composed his
limbs.
The action was over The reserve of the army
came up soon after, and each regiment was as
signed quarters on the battle field, built rousing
fires and proceeded to dry their clothes. The
wounded of our own and the rebel forces were
carried off on filters to hospital quarters. where
they received immediate surgical aid while the
dead were collected and guard placed over them
for the night
The loss in killed and wounded fell entirely
upon the Ohio 18th; they occupied the post of
danger, and behaved like veterans under the fire
of infantry and artillery. There was no finch
.
nation not only characteristic of the men, but
their gallant Colonel, who rode up and down the
ranks cheering them on, regardless of danger
rs though by his own fire side. Captain Benham.
in his plain brown suit, walked his horse up and
down the ranks, giving his orders clearly and
calmly as in the terrible day of Buena Vista,
while the chivalric Col. Milroy chafed like lion
because his now famous regiment could not be
+ brought into direct collision with the enemy.
We captured two stand of coors, one of the
Georgia regiment; one rifled cannon, forty loaded
wagons, hundreds of muskets and side arms, the
army chest, but how valuable did not learn with
!, any amount of personal effects and military equip
ments.
This action must speak for itself. To pursue
and overtake an enemy having twelve hours the
: advance; making a forced march of nearly thirty
miles in less than twenty four hours, over the
worst of roads, and with scarcely mOuthful of
food for the men-some. indeed, being thirty six
hours without nourishment; fight battle, cut off
the baggage train, capture the cannon and rout
the enemy, is not feat of every day record, even
in times of war. All honor to the gallant SOL
ders from Indiana and Ohio, and the true men
OF Virginia. They prove themselves worthy of
the Inheritance their fathers bequeathed to them
and ready to sacrifice their lives to preserve as
their sires were to establish the independence Of
the people and the Union of the Statesl
Mr.. LincOln's Messagc...Au UnfOrtu.
nate Expression.
In the message of the President the following
sentence occurs: