New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-23
IUsT1cE TO CAPT. pENnAM.

TO Ne E5aor Of IN. N y. Tcibvsc.
SiR; find in n letter Of your correspondent from
Beverly giving account Of the war IN Western Nir-
gina M ATTEMPT to oispage the recent grand achieve
ment al the other branch Of the came army, which
routed the rebel forces at Carncks Ford The writer
complains that more WA pot dcno by Gen. Morriss
diyis.on and compares the rosuhs dis1dvantageousy
with those achieved by the division Of Mcclellan.
The injustice 30 great rs to he glazing, and demands
the fullest corrocton--as the following facts viii
abundantly show:
10 900 men, and al tho battle OF Rich Mountain they
defeated force under Col. PegTam OF some 1900 or
tbose not moro than $50 were IN the inirenchments
stofmed by Gen. Roeeneranzs brigade OF 900 10 1000
of our troops; and when tho,e were conquered COL
Peyrpm retTeated from bis Entertainments, and found
bim,eif compelled by hunger TO surrender, two days
after bic remaining force Of CO. the rest having got
away.
Gen. Gsrnett's force however, comprised the main
body Of the rebel army and amounted 10 5000; and
these upon their retreat were pursued by Gen. Nor
riss brigade Of less than 1000. Only the advance
guard Of ills brigade under Capt Benham, could, by
any possibility, be hurried forward fast enough 10
oyerake the retretng foe In face Of the storm and
the obstacles which in peded their pursuit They be.
bayed with yalor which cannot be too highly sp-
plauded. After exhsustiDg march Of nearly
Two days, this body, q about eighteen hundred
in ALL oame up with tie rebel army posted in
/ HObl pOslhVi, my.
eighty feet high. The men had tasted no food
since Friday evening, some OF them not since
Friday noon, and is was now p. ID. on Satur-
day. Yet such was their spirit that in these
circumstances they attacked the foe without mo-
,nsn,s hesitation or delay. Capt. Benham ordered
the Indiana troops into the bed OF the nyer, where
thew were protected by the steepness OF the bank
from the enemy's cannon, and thus enabled his
men 10 pass down the whole front OF the enemy
and turn HE flank. This judcious and PromT meas
ure saved many lives, and secured the victory. AZ
tackled az IN flank aud In 'front.' though Dy % IN
ferior n number, the enemy broke and ned, iesVing
their commander dead upon the gronnd losing .heir
cannon, their military chest one hsii tner PROVISION
ira in, and some 80 dead and 30 prisoners
Your correspondent seems TO imply that Gen. Nc,
Clellan was Disposed 10 censure tins ~ meager ana
INADEQUATE result, for an attack by this small brigade
mon strongly posted enemy Of four tines their num-
her. Permit me 20 Assure you that ! have decisive
reason 10 know that Gen. Mcclellan has, on The COLI
try expressed his most decided approval OF the ex.
traordinary efforts and daring Of Capt. Benham AND
hs admiration of the sodierly handling of this heroic
brjgode-aa opinion in which Gen. Morris most warmly
eoncur Capt BeRham has been performing the duties
OF Brigadier Genera, for weeks past, ana tho DIRE
ton of tie whole division Of Gen. Morris has been In
trusted to his hands with the most cordial siistaci On
of his suFerors The cheerful obedience OF the Colo
nes IN tie action of Carricks Ford, where Capt Ben
ham commanded IN person, and alone, aiords sufficient
nroof of their estimation Of his mes and the brilliant
result inttdes the confidence reposed Ia HIM.
Permit me- moreover, to suggest lha! tue very p'an