Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-12
NEWS FROM NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.
from the Richmond ENQUIRER, JuIv

NEWS FROM NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA
IRON the Richmond Enquirer, July o
The following letters have been reoa2ved by a
distinguished citizen and kindly furnished MS for
the general information. Of the places mentioned
in the letters if may assist some oF our readers to
explain that Beverley is the county seat of Ran
dOph, and about the centre os the county Ii is
situated on Tygart's Valley River a stream which
runs nearly North into the AOnoRGahela- Phihppi
is situated the river, about % miles lower
down than Beverley laurel Hill is between Bev-
erley and Philippi and about miles from the lat
ter BuckhannOn Is the county seat of Cpshur,
and is situated Northwest frsm Beverley, and dist
AIT from il about thirty miles. Camp Garnet
where Colonel Heck IS in command is on the road
from Beverley to Buckhannon, about seven miles
from Beverley. Our troops are posted at Beverley
Laurel Hill and Camp Garrett. The enemy are in
possession of Phiippi and Buckhannon. All of
these places lie the South side of the Parkers-
burg and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads We here
present the letters in the order Of their date
BEvEKLEY, RANDOLPH Co, July 2.-Ny 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
left that encampment learned that Lieut.. Robert
McChesney. of the Rockbridge cavalry, was killed
on Saturday last by the enemy, near Rollsburg,
Preston county, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road The company was posted on the road lead
ing from this place TO St. George in Tucker coun-
ty On Saturday morning he was placed in com
ugtgly was surprised by party OF the enemy,
numbering about hundred men, who were IN am
bush on the side of the road. The enemy waited
until McChesney and his men had passed them, and
then fired upon their rear, without doing any exc
Cution. McChesney in m 'diately ordered his men
to wheel and fire which they did promptly, but
" re Immediately surround 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 Paxton badly, and the other, by the
name of Long, received two flesh wounds, one in
the arm and 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 sabres and double
barTeled shot guns. 1t 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 shall that they
! taken to Rockbridge. There is no doubt of the
! general accuracy Of the above statement Of the
| affair.
think we are upon the eve of fight in this quar-
ter Orders brought here late last night for all
the troops here 6 COM anies of infantry march
Immediately TO join the command Of Col Heck. They
were of by times this morning. 1t has just been
asCertaned here, that the above mentioned order
resulted from the fact that the enemy, twentyhree
hundred strong have within the last two days tax.
en- position at Buchanan, about twenty miles from
Camp Garnett and presume it is the object of Col
Heck to advance upon them at once. 1t is hi ghiy
important that the movement of the enemy in this
quarter should now he promptly checked. Our
own people, beyond our lines of defence, are in a
most distressing condition. The enemy and the to-
ries are committing daily and hourly depredatiOns
upon their person and property, and refugees are
daily arriving here who are driven from their homes
by the most cruel persecUtions-men, women and
children arrested and shockiugy treated by the
internal devils who were once their neighbOrs and
friends. Two of the children of Jonathan HAMMOND
who had to flee IRON his home some weeks since ard
who is now here, were taken from their homes a
few days since. No mans life Is safe in the dsaf-
teCted counties who does not take thu oath to
support the Federal Government. Mr.. Cressup
the father-in-law of Major COwan, of Preston wgE
forced to take the oath last week. You have no
idea of the state of this gS in Northwestern Virginia
and they will not improve until we march into the
country and drive the enemy out. They must be
s5UeTtly 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 few nights since. He was this
morning required to enter into a bond with GOOD
security for his good behavior and to take the oath
to support the Government of the Confederate
States. He at first declined TO do so: but when he
was placed IN charge Of file Of soldiers to take
him 10 head quarters, he came into measures nv
giving the bond and taking the prescribed oath We
have several suspected fellows in jail hare besides
five prisoners of war taken by the Greenbrer cav
airy, one of the finest companies in the service
Capt. Moormaa and his III, n have done the most Of
fCent service. They have had many skirmishes with
the enemy, thirty Of whom they have killed with.
out receiving the slightest injury themselves Col
Bell, whose command they have so much ANNOYED
say they fight like the devil and run like the
wind" nave heard many amusing incidents con-
nected with their scouting expeditions which would
tert4iG you but the space have left will not ad-
mir of my d, failing them in this letter
Since writing the above the companies that left
this mOrniDg were intercepted by orders from
Gen. Garnett, to march Immediately TO st George,
the county seat of Tucker county. They Immediate
y retraced their steps and passed through this
place about II O'Clock this morning en- route for ST.
George. About O'Clock Col. Heck, who it seems