The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-25

Dreary March-1he Flight of the Eneny--
A WGsh IN the RiUer-An Exciting Chase
i Ihe Rebets Cornered, Routed and Pursued
| Particulars Of the Hattie Death of Gen. Gar
nett
/ [Corresp ondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
CAMP DUMoNT, Corricks Ford y
Eight miles South of St. George
Tucker County, Va, July Is.
have dismal recollection of dreary, wea
ny, forced march of nineteen miles, over almos
impossible mountain roads, mud knee deep
with steady, heavy rain falling all the way
and terminating in fierce engagement of hal
an hour, the total route of the rebels. and the
death OF Gen. Robert S. Garnett, Adiutant Gen
| erai OF the State of Virginia, and Commander
OF the confederate forces in Western Virginia
OF whom all that is mortal lies but few fee
from our tent "'~ %
At last we emerged from the Laurel Noun
tains, and came cut on the Cheat River at K ali
ier's Ford, about IL miles from, and due south
OF st. George. It was then noon. Our ad
vance consisted of the Ohio 18th, Col. Steed
man, |6O Col Millroys 9th Indiana, 500; Du
mont s 9TH Indiana, $50, and two pieces of artil.
lery and Az men-the total being 1910 The
reserve was an hour or more behind their march
being doubly wearsome because of their ne
cessary halts and roads made worse by those
who had preceded them.
The boys were glad to plunge into the fore, las
the swift flowing waters of the Main Cheat
purged them of heavy loads of mud, which was
plastered most to their Wristbands. Emerging
from the lord, our advance came in sight of the
rear troops of the fugitive army, at the sec
ohd lord below, where their baggage train was
at rest, and their infantry drawn up to
protect It. L he advance regiment halted till
Dnmont's and the artillery came up to thei,
support, when the unlucky firing of a gun sci
the whole body in motion.
| The chase now became highly exciting. The
| rebeis pitched the rest of their camp equipage
INTO the bushes; the officers threw their trunks
containing their personal effects, into the gul
lies and ravlnes, and the privates gave up thei
blankets, knapsacks and canteens to the mex
orable extremity of fighting OF retreating, ant
they preferred the latter Our advance pushed
them so hard, that they formed in line and com
menced scattering fire, but when our artillery
opened upon them, they instantly renewed thei
stampede. This stand, however, had given
their baggage train time to get under way
and they showed as wonderful agility in figh
as Portertied's army at Phillippi.
Within mile of the next ford the mountains
recede ON both sides from the river. The mos
OF this comparatively level bottom land i:
comprised i'll the farm of Mr.. James Corrick
and the fords are known by his name. In cross
ing the first of these fords to the right side O
the road. Gas we were advancing) one of theil
wagons mired and those in the rear had to hal
Till 1t could be relieved. The rebels meantime
drew up in line on the opposite side in All oa
| field, and were concealed by rail fence and
the trees and bushes fringing that bank of the
river. The bluff is from so to 80 feet higher
than the land on the opposite side, down which
the OHIO 18th was advancing, with Captain
Mow's company thrown out as skirmishers Al
cha Al, a.,
teamsters cried out" don't shoot don't shoot
we are going to surrender" The Captain then
called to the Colonel, Come on Col. Steed
man. they are going to surrender, land the reg
iment was ordered to advance at double Quick.
AS he came opposite the bank where the rebels
were drawn up, Gen. Garnett cried. '.Three
cheers for jeff. Davis" and at that instant the
whole line YVES blaze of fire, as they poured a
dOot' oetive volley upon the 18th. Tho mon
came to an instant halt, and returned the com
phment without changing position, and then
advanced nearer the river and took position be
hind a worn out fen ce. The rebel battery then
opened fire, and Barnetts artillery was ordered
up. The action became general. Millroys reg.
lment came up to Steedman's support but were
compelled to deliver an oblique fire., Capt Ben
ham then ordered Dumont's six companies 10
cross the river about 800 yards above the ford
pass obiquely up the hill, from our right and
take the enemy in the rear. The bank was ex-
ceedingly steep, almost perpendicular, but two
companies had succeeded in clambering up
when the order was countermanded and Col Du.
mont ordered down the river towards the ford
under cover OF the heights on their side, and
protected by the fire from Steedman's and Mill.
roy's Regiments, to take them in front ut the
road. The Colonel executed this order in gal
liant style. His line instantly formed and
marched down the bed of the river, where the
water was frequently waist deep, and the me-
ment the head of his column appeared, the reb.
els ceased firing along the entire line, and STAN.
peded through wheat field down to the second
ford, the officers vainly trying to rally them.
J Gen. Garnett was last to cross the ford which
he did on foot, and stood by the river shore
waving has handkerchief and calling them tC
come back and dispute the passage Of the ford
MAJOR Gordon, of the u s. Army, at this mo-
ment appeared on the opposite side, which the
rebels had just left, and seeing thom huddled
together in the road, called to the advance Of
Dumont's command, which was rushing along
like whlrlwind, to come on. Gen. Garnet
directed the attention Of his panic stricken real
to the Major, and volley of bullets fell thick
as hail around him, many lodging in the Syca
more stump on which he was standing. The
Major at the same time saw Garnett, and point
ing him ont to squad of Captain Ferrys com
pany, Sergeant Burlingane drew deliberate
sight on the General and fired. He was seer
| to throw up his hands and fall back on the
| sand. At the same instant almost the only mar
who had the pluck to stand by the General Ga
Georgian, be it said to the shame of the chival
ry of Virginia) fell dead at his side. Dumont
Regiment had come up in much less time thar
it has taken to record this event, and poured
Taking fire into the enemy who made stand o
some ten minutes, during which the firing wal
sharp on both sides, and then they ran, crowd
ing upon each other in the widest confusion.-
Dumont's Regiment crossed the ford, and chas
ed them two miles up the st. George road, wher
they gave out from absolute exhaustion, anC
bivouacked for the night.
Major Gordon had crossed the ford in thu
meantime, and came up to Gen. Garnett WHIT
was in the last agony of DEATH He discovered
his rank by the star on the shoulder strap, ant
Selling linen handkerchief from an Indian;
boy, tied up his face and composed his limbs
The action was over. The reserve of the ar
my came up soon after, and each regiment wa
assigned quarters on the battle field, built rous
ing fires and proceeded to dry their clothes
The wounded ofour own and the rebel force
were carried off on litters to the hospital, wher
they received immediate surgical aid, while tn
dead were collected and a guard placed owe
them for the night.
LETTER FROM MRS LINCoLN-It ha
been published in the Southern papers that tn
sympathies of the Presidents wife are with tn
!. Secessionists. The following very handsom
letter received by Que of our fellow Kentuck
: ans does not indicate it.:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, June 20, 1861.
Col. JOHN Fry:
My Dear Sir.-It gives me great pleasure t
be the medium OF transmission of these weaI
ons to be used in the defence of national sovel
eighty upon the soil of Kentucky.
Though some years have passed since | lei
my native State, have never ceased to col
template her progress in happiness and prosper
; ity with sentiments of sond and flial pride.
every effort of industrial energy, in every Ell
: terprise of honor and yalor, my heart has bee