, 1861-07-23
Another Militia HrGkadtef DIstla.
nnfhfoHR HinonaIE.

cuisines Ainase1f.
OF al the covhrdly exploits Of our militia |
hrigadiezs In this war-and they have bcen
but too many-Bdg<dier General Charles ".
Hill Of Toledo, Ohio, furnishes the most dis.
graceful, because the least susceptible Of eK-
planation. 1t is difficult to believe that with
400 Federal troops, favorably located for that
very purpose "and eager for the fray," he
should have let the flying and foot-sore rem
nant Of General Garnett's command slip
through his fingers without SO much Is de.
cent attempt to hinder them The facts In
the case, as ccrroborsted from every source
of il formation, arc briefly these: Attention,
on Saturday morning, tho 18th, Gen. Hill re-
ceived orders from Mcclellan to intercept the
defeated forces Of Gen. Gatnett, who we7e on
the road North to Rcmney via Cheat River
psss. The road they were travelling jained
the direct turnpike between Romney and
| Grafton, at place called Red Hoase, about
| thirty. five miles cast Of Grafton. Here, there.
| fore, The interceptirg fcrce was to be placed.
Immediately Gen Hill, With a portion Of his
| command, took cars for Oakland and
arrived at 9 o'clock the same (saturday}
Rcd House would have cut of the retreat,
| But Hill took up his quarters for the night, at
Oakland, and not until o'clock Sunday morn
| frg, when informed TINT the weary iualtiSes
had already passed Red House, ala ne sraS ssuS
his troops on the march, and snch was the
| taeeruees of the men that they arrived at Red
Heuse by eleven o'clock, and from th5ncs con
tiuued The pureuit east, the road being strcTn
with articles abandoned by the rebels ia their
fhlown tht msclsss Gown BY the roadside from
utter exhaustion. The day was cool and ex.
hilarating, and tie troops excited BY the con-
tinual evidences that they were oEertaking
The enemy. After following them east from
Red Houee about seven miles, the cavalry IN
the advance brought back word that the reb
els we're Only about two miles ahead in tul
retreat. Upon this Gen. Hill ordered halt
| and then march back to Red House. The
cn1y reason given was that the men were toe
: much fatigued to continue the pursuit.. II
this opinion he differed With every one Of tht M
pressed all the way back in curses and Iecrs
) finally ezhaustiDg themselves in the forlorl
joke that 1t WIS all right, for the General knew
i: WAS Sunday, though they had forgotten It,
, To rest his men, too much fatlgned to pu,
= to Red House, seven miles. Leaving the1
r there, he returned the same dsJ to Oakland
!, | where other troops OF his command NJ. had ~
rived. He remained at Oakland TIL Monda
: he thing could be done better next time, b
. seain started the march in pursuit over tn
. ea1ne route but as, by this time, In order t
. ogertake the rebels, it would be necessary
e continue the pursuit into the Valley Of vi
d eiDia, and IS It might interfere With Ge1
a scott's strategic plans to have Gen. Hill carl
- ont such campaign just at that time, it VI
concluded best to restrain his ardor.
e Gen. Hill is three months msn, and Il
:: country can very we'll afford to dispense vii
- his services. BE may be a good orderly &c
eeant, but be makes miserably poor genera