Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-09

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A gallant band Of ffsy Buckeyes. Third Ohio
Regiment, under Capt. o. A. Lawson, Of Co.
|iambus. made good record yesterday afternoon.
at Middle Fork Bridge. Friday afternoon,
without Gen. Moe ellan's knowledge, Gehs,al
Schleich ordered Col. Marrow to detaeh fits
men for scouting expedition. Surgeon Nc
Means accompanied the party, i've men being
taken from each company Of the regiment :
The expedition proceeded By bride paths across
the bills TO point on Bevelry Pike, Ave miles
this eide Of Middle Fork Bridge, and encamped
for the night. About midnight Union men ap.
pealed TO them for protection against maraud.
Ing rebels, who had forced their women and
children TO fee to the woods for safety, and had
piliaRed their houses. Lawson scaled rough
mountain,and crossed Middle Fork In the morn
leg, two and half miles above the bridge
He followed the stream with great difficulty
through uDbroken thickets, until he reached q
good ambush with inmusket ranged the bridge
which was crowded with rebels. The enemy
discovered his party, and an advance gusrd
of FIVE cautiously approached him from the
bridge, ready with their muskets His men
stood up, and both parties fred simultaneously
Three Of the rebels fell at the fret round, and
the other two dropped Immediately afterwards,
The enemy now opened upon his little band from
three sides-from the bridge, behind its embank.
ments, and the thickets on the hillside.
In order TO get better opportunity, he moved
his men into an open space seventy-fve yards
from, and commanding the eastern entrance oi
the bridge. and poured into the crowd of rebels
a CALLING fre;,the effect was, awful imprecationa
and screams Of murder" His men obeyed
orders with absolute composure. A number
had already been hit, and one was killed In the
act of airing. After firing four rounds into the
bridge, be ordered q retreat, and the lads
backed slowly into the bushes, carrying their
wounded. The enemy did not pursue, and hia
party recrossed the stream mile and hall
above the bridge. Captain Lawson brought
away the musket Of his dead soldier, but was
unable TO carry of the body, tho enemy's am
buscade from the hillsides being too lot. He
says his party was not much hsrrassed by the
rebels at the bridge, but the ambuscade was an
noying.
Those in the bridge and behind the embank.
meut would pop up their heads and blaze away
without good aim, but those In the bushes were
more deliberate. An Irishman In the party
says II wss ''hot as. hell" Lawson says his
men behaved splendidly, not man finched, and
they obeyed orders just as promptly as If on
dress parade. III
The men say the Captain himself animated
them By his cheerful voice, which was heard
above the din of the conflict. Dr.. McMeans
says the Captain was as calm and collected az
II he were playing soldier.
The casualties were as follows: Samuel W.
Johns, of Hamilton, Butler CO., shot dead by q
ball through the breast; Corporal Joseph High,
shot in the right foot by rebel from the bill.
side. The ball struck on the top Of his ancle.
and passed downward shattering the small bones
Of the foot The surgeons hope to save the
foot, but it is doubtful. High was in the front
of the battle, and fell exclaimipg: "Captain, I'm
hit; but must have another shot," raising and
standing on one foot, he loaded and fred twice
more, when, being faint, two of his comrades
assisted him into the bushes. Nicholas Black,
q Brighton Butcher boy, Of Cincinnati, was
struck in the forehead, over the right eye, by o
buckshot, which lodged between the skull bones
IA severe wound, but not dangerous. He fell,
and rising again, he took two more shots at the
enemy. George W. Darling, of Newark, was
shot in the left arm; the ball entered at the
elbow, and traversed the muscles Of the arm
seven or eight inches, plowing up ghastly fur
row; the bone was not broken; David Edson,
Of Barnesville, Belmont county, slghtly
wounded In the right arm; Joseph Backus, Of
Newark, slightly wounded in the left leg, VIM.
Dening, Of Hamilton, Butler county, had the
skin above his right ear cut by ball; seven or
eight Of the men received scratches, and had
their clothing riddled. Captain Lawson says
Mr.. Miller, Of Worthington, was the coolest
and pluckiest fellow In the fgbt. He was the
last to Quit the field, and left the bushes twice
to get fair shot; but DR.. McMeans said every
man Of the party displayed good pluck. The
wounded were brought to the hospital In wagons,
this morning, and are comfortable. Captain
Lawson and his men are confident that some
we're killed in the bridge. Seven were killed
outside Of the bridge. All accounts agree that
the rebels were about 300 strong, mostly Geor-
gians, including 40 horsemen, armed with
Sharpe's carbines.
Gen. Mcclellan is much pleased with the
gallsntry Of the men, but severely censures the
expedition. Lawson gave valuable information
about the topography Of Middle-Fork.
Col. McCook took command Of the advance,
and moved at daylight with his own Regiment,
the Ninth Ohio, Andrews's Fourth Ohio,
Loomis's Battery and Burdsall's Dragons, (which
constitute the advance guard, the Fourth being
detached from Schleich's brigade. Rosecrsn's
brigade is under marching orders. The Tenth
Indiana have left to-day, the remainder Of the
brigade leave at daylight tomorrow.
Gen. Mcclellan goes forward tomorrow
Scbleich's brigade will follow Immediately.
The 10th Ohio Just arrivedi it is In Schleich's
brigade. s,a9 'aa
Gen. Morris received orders yesterday, to
move his whole force last night to strong posi-
tiun, within mile Of the enemy's Notifications,
o. Laurel Hill. The order was obeyed. and at
daylight Gen. Morris was In position. You per.
ceive the army 10 rapidly closing for conflict.
Tbis division will probably meet the enemy
first at Roaring Run. IL miles beyond Beverly.
Ihe enemy 10 reported 20, ,00O strong east OF the
middle fork, including all their posts. They
are either very strong, or they don't know what
they are sbout. Ripley, California, Charleston,
Glennville, BulltoWn aud FrenchtoWn, are
ordered TO be occupied BY strong detachments.
o Jennings Wise escaped from Ripley. Col.
Norton went after him on the 4sh, but Wise
retreated on Charleston. Col. Connell, OF the
7th Ohio, 10 appointed commander of this post.
Capt. Barrett's company, 18th Ohio, was
paraded before the regiment this morning,
disarmed, and ordered TO report at Columbus
They we're disgraced for ourages perpetrated
on the property Of reputed secessionists, by
Lieut. Stratlon and eight privates Of the com
psny. Captain Barrett was profoundly grieved.
Subsequently the commissioned officers of the
regiment appealed TO Gen. Mcclellan. TO revoke
the sentence, and give the innocent members Q
chance to redeem the reputation Of the compa.
ny. After considering the case, the General
acceded TO the desire, and the arms were re-
stored. Lieut.. stra.ton and bis guilty friends
60 home In disgrace. ., IN r.L,.l-s y.
McCook reported his arrival at Middle Fork
this afternoon, He reports finding the body Of