Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-09
yo,.. from Nor,hyy.,tern virginia.

n distinguished citizen, and kindly 'urhisie"
us for the general information. OF the places
mentioned in the letters, it may assist some 'l
our readers to explain that Beverley IS the
county seat Of Randolph, and about the centre
Of the county. 1t is situated on lygarlS
Valley River, . stream which runs nearly
North into the Monongahela. PhllIppl is
situated on the same river, about - miles
lower down than Beverley. Laurel Hill IS
between Beverley and Philippi, and aoout :
miles from the latter. Buckhannon Is the
county seat of Upshur, ind | is situated North
west from Beverley, and distant from 1t about
thirty miles. Camp Garrett where Colonel
Heck is in command. is OH the road from
Beverley to Buckhannon, about seven miles
from Beverley. Our troops are poster al
Beverley, Laurel Hi and Camp Garnett.-
The enemy are in possession OF PhilIppl and
~Buckhnnnon. All of these places lie on the
South side Of the Parkersbnrg and Baltimore
and Ohio Railroads. We here present the let
tiers in the order Of their date:
BEVERLEY, RANpoLPn Co., July 2, 1861.
Dear Sir:-I have delayed writing to you
for the last ten DAYS, for the reason that had
but little worth communicating beyond what
you have been advised CT by gentlemen who
have left here, by every stage, during that pc
Rod. Nv time, since / first arrived here, has
been divided between Camp Garnett, Laurel
Hill, and this place. | returned from Laurel
Hill on Yesterday, and, Just before LETT that
I~,n,l tbAt 7 ;nuf R,,hprt Nc.
| Chcsncy, Of the Rockbridge cavalry, was kill.
ed, on Saturday last, by the enemy, near Rolls.
burg, Preston county, on the Baltimore and
Oaio railroad. The company was posted on
the road leading from this place: to St. George,
in Tucker county. On Saturday morning he
was placed in command of a scouting party OF
ten men, and, unfortunately, was surprised BY
q party Of the enemy, numbering about 4 bur.
dred men, who were III ambush on the side OF
the road. The enemy waited until McChesney
and his men had passed them, and then Tired
upon their rear, without doing any execution;
McChesnev Immediately ordered his men to
wheel and fire, which they did promptly, but
they were Immediately surrounded, and had
TO cut their way through. McChesney and his
horse were both killed, and two Of his men
wounded; one OF whom, by the name Of Pax
Ton. badly, and the other, by the name Of Long,
received two flesh wounds, one in the arm aud
the other in the leg. Paxton is now in the
hospital here. Two Of the enemy were killed.
How many Of them were wounded is not
known by us. Our men were armed with sa
bres and double. barrelled shot-guns, 1t is
said that both barrels Of McChesney's gun
were discharged in the conflict. understand
that his remains. which were buried BY the
neighbors near where he fell, will be
brought to this place; in that event. | shat! see
that they are taken TO ~Rockbridge. There is
no doubt OF the general accuracy Of the above
statement Of the affair.
| think VIC are upon the eve Of q tight in
this quarter. Orders were brought here late
last night for all the troops here, Give compa-
mes of iufantry.O to march Immediately to join
the command of Col. Heck. They were OF by
times this morning. 1t has just been ascer-
tanned here. that the above mentioned order
resulted from the fact that the enemy, twenty
three hundred strong, have, within the last
two DAYS, taken a position at Buchanan, about
:wsnty.milcs from Camp Garrett and pre-
sunni ii is the object Of Col. Heck to advance
upon them at once. It is highly important
that the movement Of the enemy in this
quarter should now be promptly checked
Onr own people, beyond our lines Of de-
fence, are in a most distressing condition
The enemy and the tories are committing daily
and hourly, depredations upon their persons
sad property, and refugees are daily arriving
here who are driven from their homes by the
most cruel persecutions-mcn, women and
children are arrested and ~shockingly treated
by the internal devils who were once their
ncichbors and friends. Two of the children
of Jonathan Raymond, who had to flee from
MS home some weeks since and who is now
here, were taken from their bones n few Gays
since. No mans life is safe in the disattectcd
counties who does not take the oath TO sup
port the Federal Government. Mr.. Cressup,
The father in.law Of Mnjr Cowau, Of Pres
ION, vas forced TO take the oath last week.
You have no idea of the state of things in
Northwestern Virginia, and they will not i'm
prove until we march into the country and
drive the enemy out. They must be Screrely
whipped. There are many tories even in this
county. The late post master at this place,
who was concealed in this neighborhood, was
caught and brought in a few nights SINCE
He was this morning required to enter into
bond with good security for his good behavior
and to take the oath to support the Govern
nent of the Confederate States. Hc ut first
declined to do 80 but when he was placed IN
charge Of q file Of soldiers to take him to head.
quarters, he came into measures by giving the
bond and taking the prescribed oath. We
have several suspected fellows in jail here be
sides FIVE prisoners Of war taken by the Green
brier cavalry, one Of the finest companies liz
The service. Captain Norman and his men
have done the most efficient service. They
nave had many skirmishes with the enemy,
thirty of whom they have killed without re
ceiving the slightest injury themselves. Col.
Bell, whose command they have so much an
moved, says they flight like the devil and run
like the wind" l have heard of many anus
ing incidents connected with their scouting
expeditions which would entertain you, but
the space I have left will not admit Of my dc
failing any Of them in this letter.
Since writing the above the companies that
left here this morning were intercepted BY or
ders from Gen. Garnctt, to march Immediately
to St. George, the county seat of Tucker coun'
Is. They Immediately retraccd their steps.
and passed through this place about II o'clock
this morning en- route for ST. George. About
9 o'clock Col. Heck, who it seems was igno
rant of the movements CT the SAID companies,
sent orders to Col. Hansrough, who was in
command here, to have them ready to march
to his assistance at n moments warning. Two
messengers arrived here late this evening from
Heck's camp, who stated that the enemy are
marching upon his position. will write you
again to. morrow night. The excitement here
is very great.
BEVERLEY, July Sd, 1861.
DEAR Sir: l wrote you on yesterday. We
are all excitement. FIVE hundred men, under
command Of Major Tylor, passed through this
place this morning from Laurel Hill, 10 join
Col. Heck's%. command at Camp Garrett They
left Laurel Hill at 9 o'clock this morning upon
q rcquisition from Col. Heck, who is menaced
with an attack from tho enemy from the dl.
~rection of Buchanan. ain in command Of q
volunteer company, raised here last night for
defence Of the place. 1shall go over to Camp
Garrett this e;eninp with q portion of nv conf