Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-01
THE BATTLE AT RoMNEY.
. nu and RELIABLE Account by an
Eye Witness.
C1NP KErs, RoMxEY, VA, Oct %.


= brief account of Gen. Kelley's advance
upou this place, and the battle fought here
on Saturday last, which resulted in so
brilliant and important victory to our
/ arms.
The plan of attack so admirably arrang-
| ed by Cen Kelly consisted in simultane-
Gus advance from two directions-one col
umn moving from the mouth of Patterson's
Creek, by way OF Frankfort and Spring
field, upon the North side of Romneyj
while another moved from New Greek and
Fort Pendleton, and approached Komney
from the west, by the Northwestern IuFn-
pix. These two columns, II uncheckeu
in their advance, were to form con- a"c-
ton at Romuey, at three O'Clock r M'' on
Saturday.
Agreeably to this skilltully arranged
plap. the troops concentrated at New Greek
left their camp, on Friday night, ut mid
night, and marched to Ridgeville, where
| they were Joined by the troops from Fort
! Pendleton, at an early hour in the morn
ing, and the column thus constituted, under
icommand of Gen. Kelley in person, con-
1 tinued its advance over the Northwestern
Turnpike towards Romney.
The day was fine, and the troops were
enthusiastic and confident of victory
AT Patterson's Greek, IL miles west OF
Romnay, the troops made short halt tor
rest and refreshments, and about noon re-
sumed their march, with IL determination
on the part of both officers and men, to
make their next halt and take their even
ing meal in Romney.
Our advance now continued without in
tcrruption, for more than six miles, when
the discharge of cannon, from point IN
the road, a short distance ahead OF u.s. and
the falling of IL pound she'll near the
head of our column, notified us that we
were in the presence of the enemy. we
were then within about a mile and hall
of the westerly end of the mountain pass,
and between four and FIVE miles of Rom
new. After returning this fire with several
rounds from our IL FOUNDER, the enemy
abandoned their position. and retreated
rapidly through the mountain pass, ana
we heard no more from them till the head
of our column had approached to within
half mile of the bridge over the river,
1.-THE south branch of the Potomac,) and
within mile and n half from the town,
when the enemy again opened FIRE nPon
US, with a IL pound riAed gun. placed In
very commanding position in the cemetery,
Mt the westerly end of the town, and with
q mountain howitzer from the nigh grounds
on the east bank of the river, which point
commanded our approach for distance OF
, over u mile At the east end of the bridge
, the enemy had also thrown up entrench-
ments, from which they kept up " CON
slant FIRE of musketry upon the head OF
? uur column.
The battle was now plainly begun-up-
i. or the chosen ground of the enemy-and
gladly did our troops meet the Issue. With
our one l2-pounder, and two 6-pounderS,
(all smooth bores) under the command OF
Capt. Wallace and Lieuts. Junks and Nix
on, we returned the enemys fire with very
marked elfect-though their ritled gun, and
$ prior acquaintance with the ground gave
them n great advantage; and for the perl
cd of halfa an hour or more our troops were
exposed to a most terrific fire of shell AMI
. canister from their guns. 1t was from
n this fire that all of our loss, amounting to
! one killed aud ten severely, and about
/. twenty slightly wounded, occuredj and 1t
: is Il matter of astonishment to all that our
loss was not vastly greater, rs the enemy 5
guns were served with remarkable skill
and precision. Many were the shots that
- passed lust over our heads, TO expend their
e force aud perform tbeir work of destruc-
It ton in the wooded mountain side on ouI
i, left, and but q few feet from the road oc.
cupied by our troops. Yet, in the face oil
= all this fire, our untried but patriotic sol.
: ders stood like veterans in their ranks
C calmly awaiting the movement which
q should give their rifles and bayonets an OPP
portunity to retaliate upon the enemy fol
d the injury he was inficting uron them
: Nor were their desires long ungratihed, fol
Gen. Kelley, who had with great bravery
:. advanced to the front and most exposedpo'
d sitious ut the beginning of the battle, ana
st whose quick perceptions enabled him
: ut once to fully comprehend the enc
d my's position, and devise the most feast
: BILE plan of attack, soon gave the well
+ come command to charge upon their
o batteries and intrenchments, when, with
II shouts, our little force of cavalry, under
Y the lead of the gallant Captains, Keys ana
McGhee, dashed across the river (Which
$ was fordable Mt this point while our equal
: " enthusiastic infantry under the COM
a mand of Colonies Mason and De Puy
:. Lieutenant Colonel Kelley, and Major
c Swearingen, rushed over the bridge to en-,
l., counter the foe, at the very muzZles of his
: guns. No sooner did the enemy perceive
G this movement, however, than, with theil
n usual repugnance to any intimate acquaint-
n ance with "the Lincoln men, they imme.
K diately abandoned their carefully selected
e positions, and commenced precipitate re-
!. treat, rushing spell nell" through the
i, town, and directing their flight towards
e Winchester.
n In this retreat they were, however, Sc
: holly pursued by our cavalry, that their
0 two guns, and all their baggage wagons
d about 80 in number-were captured before
G they had advanced two miles, while our ex
d hausted and foot-sore infantry rushed into
$ the town, thus restoring it once more, to
the legitimate dominion of that govern.
ment, from which it has been so long ar
: rested by the hands of secession. Most OF
the enemy's troops escaped us, however,
owing to the circumstance that large por-
Il ton were cavalry, who were too fresh to
J.. be overtaken by our own, while his infantry
aaE..t.5 .L.;. No. h.. ..s=;-.s. s.. d.