The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-07-26
From Capt. Eirby.
LAUREL HILL, July 10th, lSf


FATHER Being too much of cripple
from a long march, to busy myself in any
other manner, will write you short ac
count of our doings for the past few days.
AS you are already aware, one week ago
last Sunday morning, We took up position
within one mile and a half of the rebel en-
eampment here, there to await a proper time
for general attack After much skirmish-
ing, and some fighting on Friday afternoon,
news was received at headquarters that the
enemy was vaeating their position. The
General issued orders to go forward at once,
and in five minutes cur forces We're moving
on double quick time"
When we got into their intfenchments
we found every one gone, and indications
of their having been gone for some time
We halted for several hours and amused
ourselves by examining thair position, and
wondering why they should ever retire from
such a stronghold; for It seems to me that
1000 fighting men could hold it against
5000. is.Ta
At 6 O'Clock P. NJ, we got orders to push
forward in pursuit of the enemy. Then
commenced long, tedious and wearisome
march. We reached the top of the noun
tains at dark, and began the descent thro'
heavy thunder storm. About 10 o'clock
we were compelled to halt for the night on
account of the bad roads and darkness. AT
daylight next morning, we resumed the
march on quick time through drenching
rain storm and over the toughest roads
ever heheld We crossed Cheat Mountain
and overlook the enemy at Carrack's Ford
four third crossing of Cheat River) They
made a stand at that point, behind ridge
and opened fire on our forces as they were
crossing little valley. The l4th Ohio welt
the first to engage them; the fight was soor
over, and ended in the entire rout of the
enemy, and capture of their guns, wagons
horses and provisions The loss on our side
was small, not more than Or killed, ant
several wounded. On their side, Genera
Garnet, their commander, was killed, togeth
er with quite a number of men. A grea
many prisoners We're taken, | cannot tell ex
actly how many. My Company was il
position, guarding our two pieces of artil
iery 5 -
l will not attempt to describe the marcl
we made, nor the quantity of food we hat
to sustain us, for it might seem incredible
but that You may be convinced that we don
our aohole duty, | will merely refer you t,
a copy of a note from Gen. Morris to Lieut.
Col Dickey, who had command of us.
We learn that Sen. Mcclellan engage
the ether rebel forces near Bevely, complete
ly routed them, and captured 700 or 80,
prisoners ard ard everything they had. l thinl
our mission in Western Virginia IS IS ;;;ia>w end
ed, and before the expiration of our term Q
service. No doubt we will soon be at home
probably next week.
Boys are all well as could be expected al
ter such hard ser"ice. We expect to 90 t
Grafton in few days. to join our Regimen
from which, we have been so long separated
l. M. KIRBY.
The following is the note referred t
by Capt. KIRBY, In his letter: -
AR1GADE HEADou ARrER's,
Cam .cK's FoRD, Va, July 18th, 1861. J
To Lieut.. Col Dichey, 18th Ohio:
SoLD1ERs--In the name Cf our country an,
our cause, I thank you for your conduct, i
the pursuit of the enemy from Laurel Hill
and for your gallant hearing when overtakin
him at this point. Your cheerful enduranc
of the privations you have undergone and ar
now undergoing, from the necessarily scant
supply of provisions and the hardship Of III
march of yesterday over roads almost impas
sable, and the storm of rain and of battle is
in the language of the immediate commando
of the advance column Capt. Benham, in hi
report to me, ''nost heroic and beyond al
pcaise of mine" and such as your eountr
| n,l, f,,11 1afa ord
[Signed, L. A. NORRIS.
| Brig Gen. Commanding.