The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-18
From Western Virginia.

The following letter is exclusively de-
voted to the fight which the Platt Zouaves
lad with the rebels near Chapmansvilles
Va. 1t is distinct from the victorious
fight which the command of Lieut.. Colonel
Enyart had with another body of rebels, 10
the same vicinity Eds. Cincinnati Com.
CAMP ENYARr, KANAwHA, Oct. 2.
EDS. Con-: The Zouave Thirty Fourth
Regiment, Ohio, have had chance to show
their metal. This was on Wednesday, on
Kanawha Gap, near Chapmansvile, Va.
After marching behind breastworks, but
could not stand our boys steady fire, for
they retreated in utter CONSERVATION, their
Col. j. w. Davis, of Greenbrier, Va, (but
the traitor is native OF Portsmouth, Ohio)
being MORALLY wounded. We killed twenty,
took three prisoners, a sesesh flag, twenty
feet long with FIFTEEN STARS, four horses,
one wagon, ten rifles, Zone of which claim
twelve muskets, and commissary stores
livery low.) We lost three killed, nine
wounded, one since died The route of the
enemy was complete, although they had
brave, skillful commander, and strong
position, with two days information
of our intentions. They fled the moment
their commander fell. The fight lasted
about ten minutes opposite the breastworks,
but,a running fire was kept up previous to
that, by The BushWhackerS and rebel cavalry
for two hours. At every turn of the road
over the mountains, they would fire upon
our advance men, wheel round, and gallOp
away. This kind Of fight was kept up till
we came suddenly upon their breast works,
Immediately 10 line of our entire column.
1t was made on the side of a knoll, between
two mountain sides, the road running be-
tween the mountain and knoll on our right,
and small ravine running between the
knoll and the mountain on our left. The
willy rebel commander had adroitly cut
down the brush on the right, placing force
| of 100 men Gu the mountain top on our
right, who raked our column from the front
to the centre. This was to draw our atten-
ton from their breastworks. Our men
naturally fired upon the rebels on their right,
steadily advancing up the road, until within
twenty feet of the enemy's works, when the
rebels suddenly opened fire, from their right.
left and centre. The order from Col. Piatt
and Lieut. Col. Toland, to flank right and
left was' immediately responded to by the
Zouaves with hurrah, a Zouave yell, and
a cry of wood up" from Little Red; a
dash by our boys upon the enemy's breast
works, above which about 300 rebel heads
suddenly appeared, unknown by our men till
that moment They sent perfect storm of
bullets around, over, under, and into our
men. A few minutes more and our boys
were inside the breastworks, chasing them
over the mountains, the enemy running
away like towards, as they proved to be.
They left 20 dead behind. Their force was
$50 infantry and so cavalry. Our force
was $50.
We buried our three brave dead CONS
rades that night, carried our wounded to
the house wherein the rebel Colonel lay,
MORALLY wounded, deserted by all his men
but one. Our whole column finally march
ed into the little town of Chapmansville,
formerly headquarters of the enemy, and
camped for the night.