Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-18
THE BATTLE All LAUREL HILL.

~ IN =
THE ENEMYs ACCOUNT.
We publish the following special dispatch
to The Cincinnati Gazette relative to the battle
at laurel Hill Due allowance must be made
for The exaggeTations Of the abolition author,
who, like the rest Of the Lincolnites, is no
doubt a constitutional liar:
FIELD OF Battle OF CHEAT RIVER
GARRACRs FORD, g MILES SOUTH
OF ST GEORGE, July IA.
On the night Of the 18th, the rebel army at
Laurel Hill, under the command Of Brigadier-
General Garrett, late major in the United
States army, evacuated its campi 10 great haste,
Immediately on learning Of General McClel-
lan'B approach to Beverly, and retreated in
that direction, apparently hoping to pass
Beverly before Gen. McCIellau's s~rrival, and
thus escaped the trap set for them BY a pas
! sage through Cheat Mountain Gap.
The evacuation was discovered on the morn
ing Of the 18th, and a pursuit instantly or
dered.
By ten O'Clock the 9th Indiana entered the
| rebel cam at Laurel Hill, and found a large
| number OF tents, a lot Of flour, csmp equipage
and clothing, and a dozen Of their sick and
wounded, with a note asking Us to give them
proper attention.
The whole road, for over twenty miles, was
streWn with the luggage thrown from their
wagons, to tighten the loads and hasten their
retreat, and INSTRUCTED by fallen trees to delay
pursuit.
The rebel army went within three miles Of
Beverley, aud there met the rebels flying from
Rich Mountain; and finding an escape to Hut
tonvilie impossible, all united and returned
toward Laurel Hill until they reached the
Leading Greek Pike, and took that road in the
direction OF S.. George.
Gen. Norris army pursued them for a nile
or two beyond Leedsville that night, and halted
from IL o'clock till 3 this morning, when the
advance resumed the pursuit, and continued it
all day in spite Of the incessaAt rain pouring
down. On the route Of the rebel army, he
latter left the pike, struck Cheat river, and
pursued the mountain road down the valley.
Their passage, with heavy wagon trains, rem
deTed the road almost impossible. They were
still without fOOa-s0me for over tWenty-fOur
hours.
Our advance, composed OF the fourteenth
Ohio, and seventh and ninth Indiana regi-
ments, pushed on, guided through the noun
tain gullies by tents, camp furniture, prOvis-
ions and knapsacks thrown from the rebel
wagons, to facilitate their flight. We fOrded
Cheat river four times, and finally, about one
o'clock, came up with the ensmY's rear guard
and wagons. The fourteenth Ohio advanced
rapidly to the ford, in which wagons were
standing, when suddenly ths rebel army OPEN
ed a furious fire on them from the bluff on the
opposite side Of the river, where they had
been concealed, with small arms and two
rised cannon.
Fortunately, most Of their firing was a little
too high. The 14th returned it WITH spirit.
Meanwhile, two pieces Of the Cleveland artil-
leTV came up and opened on the rebels, and
the 9Th Indiana advanced to supper, the 14th
OhiO's left, while the It'll Indiana marched
down the river between the two fires and zane
in on the rebels right flank. The rebels then
fed in great disorder, leaving their finest piece
of artillery.
At the next ford, perhaps a quarter Of a
mile further on, Gen. Garrett attempted to
rally his forces, when the 7th Indiana came
up n bot pursuit, and another brisk little en-
gagement ensued. Gen. Garnett was finally
shot dead, when bis army fed in wild confu-
sion toward st. George.
The seventh Indiana pursued them a mile or
two further, but our forces were so exhausted
with their forced march Of twenty miles to-
day, with but little rest from yesterdays
march, that Gen. Morris refused to let them
pursue further.
The results Of tAe whole affair was the cap
ture Of the rebel camp at Laurel Hill; the total
rout Of their army; the capture Of a large
amount OF their teEts and cam3 equipage; forty
Of their baggage wagons; the field camp chest,
supposed 20 contain all their money; two regi-
ArUldl u1LltGHs one or LGem luaE OF the GeOE-
gia regiment; fifty or more prisoners, including
four Georgia captains and lieutenants, and a
large number Of Virginia officers; the death Of
Brigs1ier General G3rnett, and twenty Of hiB
men, and the wounding Of d much larger num-
Der.
Our loss ia wholly .inl,the.. 14th 'Ohioi regi-
ment, two killed, two fatally wounded, and
about fifteen others wounded, but not fatally.
Oilers were more or less seriously hurt, but
grara FOO ner.r n EwhE 70 vo-,afu in fha h,a
pitsl after dressing heir wounds, and hence I
cannot give their names.
Our forces are now engaged in buryiDg their
dead. Gen. Garnet is lying at headquarters,
His body is to be sent to his family az Rich
mond.
Garnett's army at Laurel Hill numbered
about five thousand. Il was increased BY the
rebels routed from Rich Mountain and dj-
miHished by the numerous assertions. Along
the line Of retreat the woods are filed with
deserted rebels, and our men are ordered to
stop s~rresting prisoners, because we can't
take care OF them Three times as many as
We hold would have been taken but for
this.
There must have been over four thousand
rebels on the bluff commanding our position
who opened FIRE on the 1lsh Ohio, and TIE
distance was little over two hundred yards.
tn artillery was rapidly served, but aimed
about two feet too high, cutting of trees at
that distance above the heads Of our boys.
Some Of their shells burst near our ranks, doing
considerable damage. Our advance, which
alone entered the engagement, numbered hard
" 20OO.
It is hoped that Gel. Nc Clellan, or the forces
at RowIesburg, may cut off the retreat Of the
remainder, and secure the few baggage wagons
left. The rebel army was composed mainly
of GsOrgians and Eastern Virginisns. Colonel
Ramsey, Of the Georgia regiment, succeeds
General Garnet IN their command. The
G~eorgiaDs had all been moved 10 Laurel Hill,
direct from Pensacola.
LATER.
GRAFTON, July 15.-COming through The
field Of battle Of Cheat river yesterday, with
Major Gordon, who mad charge Of the corpse
Of Gen. Robert S. Garnett, we learned that
he rebel army had left the remainder Of their
baggage train and artillery at a point about
two miles from st. George. Word was in
stautiy sent back to Gen. Norris, and all is
now probably captured.
The rebels are greatly disorganized, and
heading for Hardy county. It is hoped that