Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-01

guished the command in Western Virginia
The report, on that account was made in dupli-
cate, and one copy of it delivered with the ac-
companyiug documents to Major General Nc
CleIlan and another to Brigadier General Roze-
Grams. Those commanders, having knowledge
Of the Instructions under which | acted and OF
the extent Of my duties, as also Of the Official
reports and correspondence prior to the l7th OF
July, and of the topography Of the country,
could see the bearing and relation of matters in
the foregoing reports as the public might not
without some additional facts which l now pro-
pose to submit.
My brigade proper, as ordered by General
Mcclellan, consisted of the 18th. 10th, 18th,
2Oth and 22d Ohio Regiments with several de
tached companies of Virginia Infantry, one
company of Cavalry and one of artillery, and
for portions of the time, the 9th, 9th, sth, 10th
and 18th Ohio Regiments were attached to my
command. With these troops l was required to
garrison and hold both lines Of railroad from
Rowlesburg to Wheeling and Parkersburg and
the country adjacent thereto, and South toward
the Kanawha, and up the Cheat River and east
ward to West Union.
The written instructions from Major S. Will
liams, Assistant Adjutant General prescribing
my duties, contained the following language =
1.-THE Commanding General instructs me to add
that he has intrusted to you the most important
duty, next to his own, in this territory, viz
That of securing the base of his operations and
his line of reJreat At any cost, that of your
last man, you will preserve the Cheat River line,
Grafton and the line thence to Wheeling. On
this depends the entire success of the line Of
operations"
To strengthen and support the columns of
Generals Mcclellan, Morris and Cox, troops were
drawn from my lines, thus reducing them to the
lowest point of safety, so that when 1 was ap-
pealed to on the 4th of July to send 500 men to
Oakland TO protect the railroad bridge at that
place, and keep open our communications East
against strong force Of rebels, not a man could
be spared. General Mcclellan was kept fully
advised at all times of everything material for
him to know, so that he might give special in
structiOns on any question, Summing up a
brief review of my transactions in dispatch on
the 9th of July, he says: Your course, thus
far, has been in all respects judicious and soldier
ly."
The instructions were to increase the Cheat
River garrison to 1000 men and supply it with
one gun. This was done. Rowlesburg was the
point Of support on the railroad for this garri-
relative to movements on and East of Cheat
River, he contemplated Rowlesburg as the Point
d Appai. The Cheat River column, under Col.
Irvine, on the Sth Of July consisted of 5 compa-
MES OF the 18th Ohio, companies of the 18th
Ohio, companies of the Ist Virginia and 25
cavalry. On the 1lth of July he was reinforced
from Grafton with companies of the 8th Ohio.
The two Pennsylvania Regiments which Gen.
Mcclellan ordered to Join me from Cumberland,
Nd, were cut off by the burning of the bridge
on the B. Il o. road below New Creek, and that
on the Frostburg road near Piedmont. This was
done by the rebels on the 18th of July, Thsy
also destroyed the telegraph lines at the same
points. On the evening of the same day I sent
advices of these facts to the Department Head
Quarters, but they were not received there until
the next day.
When received my orders on the 18th, it was
perfectly apparent that the two Pennsylvania
Regiments could not reach me at all, and very
probable that they had not even received the Or
der to join me, Two complete regiments, then,
intended by Gen. Mcclellan to be promptly in
position, at what he considered to be exactly the
right place, must be dropped from the estimate
of forces, and their places filed as best they
might, by small detachments, drawn from garri-
sons between Grafton, Wheeling and Parkers-
burg. The result was unavoidable, that the
whole expedition must consist of fragmentary
Regiments and detached companies, almost
wholly destitute Of mems of transportation-to
be organized and put in the field in the utmost
haste and under no common embarrassments-
Lieut.. Col. J. W. Fuller of my staff had been
sent forward to Oakland on the 18th, to aid in
getting means of transportation for Col. DePuy's
companies of the Sth Ohio, over to Chisholm's
Mill as reinforcement to Col. Irvine, and did
not return to Grafton until the morning of the
l4th. Orders had been given to hire and if nee
essary impress teams from Oakland and vicinity,
for the baggage and supplies of Cols. DePuy and
Irvine, but enough could not be obtained and a
considerable quantity remained at Oakland under
a guard from the Sth Regiment. There was also
a company of Home Guards there to protect the
Railroad bridge. 1t was reported that some Fed
eral troops had reached Piedmont that might be
disposed to cooperate; with US. Having ad
vised Col. Fuller that was taking steps to inter-
cept Garnetts army and should move in by way
of Oakland, and directed him to remain in the
telegraph office and keep me advised until I
should reach Rowlesburg. sent him the follow
ing telegrams
GRAFTON, July 1Sth-S P. N.
"CoL. FULLER Order all the men over from
Oakland that can be spared, with one days cook
ed rations, if possible, but do not wait to cook.
until telegraph you from Rowlesburg."
"RowLEsBURG, July ID.
"CoL FULLER Have teams and guides ready
on our arrival at Oakland. We will be there by
a quarter to 8 P. II. Send forces from Pied
mont to re-enfOrce at Junction, with our forces,
on Northwest Pike near Chisholm's Mill, as
soon as possible. On our arrival you and Capt.
DAYTON will return to Grafton where you will
take command"
It hardly need be repeated that the first train
did not reach Oakland until IL P. M.-that We
could get no teams and received no troops from
Piedmont
In making Oakland instead of Rowlesburg
the point of departure from the railroad, thus
deviating from the plan of Major General Nc
Clellan, I was influenced By considerations of
distance, want of transportation, the condition
of roads and the supposed locality of Col Irwin.
From Rowlesburg up the Cheat River to the n.
". Pike was five miles; thence to West Union,
eight miles; thence to Chisholm's Mil, six miles;
and to the Red House. two miles. Total twenty
one miles. From Rowlesburg to Oakland, by
railroad twenty-three miles; thence TO ChishOlm's
Mill, eight and half miles; or from Oakland to
Red House Junction, nine miles. To march an
army from RowlesLurg TO Red House would Or
dinarily require from ten to twelve hours
whereas, from Rowlesburg via Oakland to Red
House would not require over FIVE or six hours.
Transportation of supplies and fatigue of men
should be thought of. The space from Cheat
River to the Red House sixteen miles) has
been alluded to by many editors and Ietter-wri-
ters who bad heard something about that eoun-
try, as Gap through which the rebel army es-
capped Seven different roads diyerge and run
northerly from Leedsville and intersect to n. W.
Pike within that Gap The "Horse- shoe-run-
road" running northerly through "COrricks
Ford, and inteFseeting the n W. Pike at the
Red House." cones in on she gladss," where |
the surface and appearance of the country is a
good deal like that around Bellevue, Huron |
Co., gohio, -sIearedi farms-long stretches of !