Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-06
Enr tbe Eu1nircI.

To the Editors ofthe Enquirer.
MONTEREY, August 10, 1851.
There are still some regiments at this
place, but some of them expect to move in 9
few days, though in what direction perhaps it
is not proper that I should mention. There
was q great mistake in my first letter which
ought to notice at this time. In Gen. Gar
ne!t's order to Col. Scott. it is published that
Col. S. was directed not 10 take position on
the road, on which Pcgram requested Col.
Scott to take position, whereas it should be,
Col. Scott was directed by Gen. Garnet to
take position on that road. In my former let.
ter | gave YOU an account Of the connection of
| Col. Scott's regiment with the affair at Rich
Mountain, and having brought ii back to
Beverley, promised TO give you al account In
a future letter Of his retreat from that place to
| Greenbrier river, at the foot OF Cheat Mountain,
where the command passed out OF his HANDS.
On reaching Beverley, late in the evening OF
the battle, he drew up his regiment IN the
street and retired to a room in the hotel, with
Two gentlemen OF intelligence and standing, to
consult with them, rs to the best course
to be pursued BY him. One Of ;aem all
vise,l that he should 80 to Laurel ii!!, and
the other declined giving any positive opinion
on the subject. He therefore determined to
ioin Gen. Garrett, ifpoSsible, that night.
But on going into tie street, be found tina.
his Regiment, by mistake Of orders, anu nj!
the train of wagons, had moved IF in the dl.
rcct;on Of Hu:tonsville. He strained after
them. o7ertook thcm two miles from Beverley,
turned them back, and told them he vas going
that night to Laurel Hill; dashed On, he overlook
the wagons, and had them turned back. On
returning 10 his Regiment, then in the night,
he found his commissioned officers drawn up
together in the road, who informed him that
tney had done so fer the purpose Of protest.
| in. against going to Laurel Hill, believing as
they did that General Garrett himself would
be compelled to retreat. and that II hoy nj
tempted to Join him, the whole Regiment
would be CIT eff. He did not argue the cues.
ton with them, but ordered them to return
towards Laurel lillian order which they
promptly obcycd. lie returned to Beverley
with his Regiment, and almost Immediately
after reaching that place, he was acco3tcd by
two lnen, who informed him that tk@E under
stood he was on his way to Laurel l'iil-'hat
they had Just come from that place, ard that
when they left, Gen. Garnet va; himself pre-
pairing to retreat. This changed Col. Scotts
plan, and he Immediately determined again To
retire towards lIutsQnsvillc. Having asc@r-
tanned that Capt. Coles and. Col. Armstrong
had filled many wagons with The munitions oil
war, military stores, az, which had been
stored Mt Beverley, and sent them in the dircc.
ton of Iluttonsville, he took all the prisoners
out Of the jail. and retired in the same clrer-
ton. Orcrtaking Capt. Coles, that officer
asked rim il lie would allow his Regiment to
protect his wagons to which he replied, Ger
tainlY! And from that time Colonel SCOTS
wagons, and the wagons under the charge Of
Capt. Coles, went along together, ami we're
equally protected By Col. SCOTS H%"gimart,
which marched in their rear ST. long a tie
command continued ii his hands.
That night Col. Scott 60! pore s!laa one
order from General Garnet directing him 10 60
up the road on which he had beer requested
BY Col. Pegram, and ordered oy Gen. Garnet
that day to take possession and to block & Up
By telling trees across il. The order was net
to block np.;he turnpike. leading from Colonel
Pegranis camp to Beverley, but TO block up the
road which comes into that turnpike ! or -
the sign board says, II miles from Beverley,
and with the order camc 4 diagram irom which
that | sent you in my first letter vas taken,
showing by dotted lines the path by which
the enemy was expected TO come into the a;orc-
said road, around the right flank Of Colonel
Pegram's CAM This order Col. Scott did not
obey. Why? Because he was satisfied that
Gen. Garnet was laboriag under The delcs;on
produced 10y Col. Pegrar's letter TO him in the
forenoon, an extyac. CT which is given ii ny
former letter, that the enemy had got mo
Col. Pegram's rear by the path and road atorc.
said, and would continue To come that way,
when Col. Scott knew from the united test.
mony Of all who had joined hin from lac
battle that the enemy had never made list OF
that path and road at all, but had come around
Col. Pegram's left flank. He ducmed, there
fore, that it would be an act OF extreme io!iy
for him to discontinue his retreat and go hach
and block up the road in which IN: enemy 81!
never put their leet, and in which, N I'll P:o
liability, they would never pu- their loct, for
he knew that the enemy in large numbers had
possession Of the turnpike leading from Col.
Pegram's camp to Beverley, onl: seven miles
distant from there. And again ne knew il, IN
telling the trees, he should be discovered by The
enemY,s scouts, SIS he undoubtedly woIll Layc
been, the enemy, who held possession Of the
top OF the mountain and the turnpike, could
COM down the turnpike and entcr the road or
his rear in which he was cutting; and then
what would have been hjS situation? Book
AIDED in front by the falling trees, blocked
I'D in the rear b the c7cmy. There is
no doubt if he had ohcycd that order, the
whole Of his command would have been cut
off. That Gen. Garnet: vas under the belief
that the enemy lad gotten 10 the rear of Gel. Pc
grams camp by the road which he ordered Col.
Scot, 20 blockade and would continue 10 come
that way, has been si;.t; admitted by Capt. Cos.
By, Gen. Garacll's aid, who wrote his orders.
I have but little doubt tina. he still labored
under that dclusion until he was killed. From
the best Information ! can gain, il WAS about
II O'Clock at night when Col. Scott finally left
Beverley, and he reached iIuttorsvi!lc, IL!
miles distant, next morning TO breaklaSL.-
Here he was Joined by AIaJor Tyler, witt! Sew
eral c%ornptr; Of the GOTH Regiment, u large
number OF persons, however, who had been in
the battle having previously joined him; indeed
thcr continued 10 jGi: him from the time he
started from Rich Mountain. At Hut:oasviile
he received 4 dispatch from Gen. Garrett, il
forming him that he, Gc:. Garnctt. mad con-
cillded 70 retire through Hardy county, and
towards Cheat bridge. and directing him 10
take position b.:Ond !Iu.tonsYillc, and draw
his s~uppl;r; Ir0in Rich,uCHd, and report for
orders there. This order did nos direct him,
rs has been stated, to take position IN Cheat
mountain, but left it to his discretion where
to stop. lie did intend, however, to stop on
Cheat mountain, and being informed hy one
of his officers that Major Tyler and Captain
Coles had ridden ahead for the purpose Of Sc
lcc,ing n good place to for,ify, @hen on OF
near the top Of the mountain, he sent his adj
~jutant, Lieut.. Stcptoe, 10 Major Tyler 70 know !
if he had selected a place, and on learning
that he had not, be determined 10 30 . or 10
miles from the top Of the mountain to Green
briar river, its eastern base, ard form a juno
ton with Col. Johnson, with 1 Georgia rcsi-
ment, who were due at that place IN that
night, from the time he had understood they
had left Ssaunton, and then to allow Ct..nnDl
johnson, who would have the command, To
use his discretion rs to the point Mt which po.
si,ion should be taken. There was another
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