The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-08
REPORTED BATTLE IN WESTERN
VIRGINIA.
from the Petersburg Express of Thursday.1


from the Petersburg Express of Thursday
An Extra from the Norfolk Day Book, dated
Yesterday forenoon, reached last evening by the
train from Norfolk, containing glorious tidings
which we publish below. The prisoners, of whom
MIR Crockett is one, reached here by the same
train, and proceeded to Richmond. In con-
versation with our reporter, they confirmed the
statements of the Day Book. The i" Extra" of
that paper says:
We are informed by Mr. Henry D. Crockett,
one of the prisoners taken at the battle of Rich
Mountain, who came up from Old Point yesterday
afternoon, in the flag of truce steamer, that a
severe battle had been fought in the Western part
of the State, at the Big Sewell Mountain, between
General Lees and Gen. Rosecrans' forces, and that
the latter had been defeated, and was at Wheel
ing, Va, on Saturday last, MORALLY wounded; and
that the whole Federal army was then on its re-
treat from the soil of Western Virginia.
Mr. Crockett was formerly from Washington, D..
c., where he held position in one of the Depart
ments as Clerk. On the breaking out of the
war, he left the Federal service and made his
way into Virginia, where he joined the goth Vir-
GINA Regiment and was made prisoner at the
battle of Rich Mountain.
He informs US that on his way from Columbus,
Ohio, and while at Wellsville, in this State, on
Saturday last he had the news from the editor of
paper in that place, that the Federal army was
then retreating from Western Virginia. That
Rosecrans had attacked Gen. Lee in his entrench
ments on the Big Sewell Mountain, on Thursday
last and after a severe fight, was repulsed,' and
that he Rosec1ans) renewed the attack again on
Friday and fought all day long.
The loss on the Federal side was reported to
him as very heavy indeed, whilst the Confederate
loss was but trifing owing to their being behind
their entertainments. The Federal army was re-
ported as retreating on to Wheeling at that time,
on their way out of Virginia.
On passing through Belair, about four miles
from Wheeling, on the opposite side of the Ohio
river, on Sunday night, Mr. Crockett and the re-
turning Southerners, heard a confirmation of this
news, together with the additional particulars that
Gen. Rosecrans was then at Wheeling, mortally
wounded This was told him by a gentleman in
Belair, in whom he thinks he can place perfect
confidence, and whom ne thinks was with
our side.
Mr. Crockett also states that he saw an account
Of this fight in the Pittsburg Dispatch, of Mon
day morning, in which it was stated that the fight
had commenced by Rosecrans attacking Lee; that
Rosecrans had been repused, and that they were
fighting again the next day and reinforcemerts
were then coming up for Lee, and would reach
him before the fight was over.
He was not at liberty to bring paper through.
up to Sunday we received nothing confirming
false.
Extract from letter to gentleman in Peters
burg, from of the officers of Wises Legion at
Big Sewell, dated Sept. Goth, (before the above
mentioned battle was reported
81 have just arrived at camp with ID Union men
as prisoners, and find Gen. Lees forces 1000
strong. We anticipate a fight. Some think it
will be hard fight, but [ think not, owing to the
strength of Gen. Lee. The enemy's forces report
ed from ten to twelve thousand.
At Clarksburg, the headquarters of Gen. Rose
Grams, MIR Crockett was informed that the town is
to be burnt if Rosecrans is defeated. So great is
the alarm and certainty of their defeat all through
Western Virginia, that it amounts to perfect
panic among the Unionlsts in that section.
Mr. Crockett, on his way, passed through Phil
lippi, where he tells us the Federals have burnt
and destroyed all the property in the place. They
have broke the windows and doors out of all the
houses in the town, broke and burnt all the furni-
ture, valuable cabinets books &C., of the citizens
The church and the minister's house have been
served in the same way In Beverly they have
been equally as destructive and in both places
they have robbed and stolen everything they could
lay their hands upon.
So great is the decentralization of some of the
Indiana regiments in Virginia, they were daily
threatening revolt unless they were paid off, Mr.
Crockett, who, acting in the capacity Of hospital
steward to our wounded men who are held as pris-
oners, mingled freely with the Federal soldiers and
had ample opportunities of learning of their dis
affection in that quarter and from the accounts he
brings we are satisfied our people have no adequate
idea of the disaffecton in the Federal ranks. He
also represents that there is great deal of sick
ness in the Federal army.