New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-20
The Rout OF Gen. Gnrnetf,
CorctpolEshee Of Tho n. Z. Tnburr.
u. s. CAsP, BEVERLY
Randolph Co. Va, July lG, 1861. (

Randolph Co. Va. July IL, 1861.
Before this will reach you you will have heard by
telegraph Of The rout of Gen. Garneu the commander
Of the Virginia forces in Western Virginia. the attack
upon bic rear and the death OF the General himseh
The facts, AS have gathered them from The courier
who brought the dispatches 70 Gen. Mcclellan, and
othen aro these. Gen. Garnet, finding the Rich
Mountain army under Col. Pegram killed, captured
and roned literally alt these, and finding his retreat
by the way Of Beverly cut Off started with his whole
force for the mountains 20 the East, taking mere
bride path which had been wilened little 10 allow
Of cattle being driven on t. As il passes along the
ssep mountain side, one wheel Of wagon OF gun
carriage would necessarily be over tie brink. OF
courfe il must be wdrned with shovels and picks, and
.he prcgress must be Glow. In The battered condition.
however, Il was not any great engineering triumph
for the courier, with emphasis than reverence,
called il a lost hellirh road.' To enable the amy
20 escape Gen. Garrett with 800 men, kept behind
filling the road in the rear with trees rocks, sc.
when overiaken, be attempted to defend bmself and
hold his position long possible that the main body
might gain time lie had two guns, but fortunately
they were aimed too bigh, and did no harm. One,
and perhaps both guns wero takeni Gen. Garnet
killed with about 30 others, and about 30 prisoners
taken.
wheibes the res Of Gen. Garne,ts force the 900
were able TO yet away in order or fed in dsrder,
did not learn but Gen. Morrs il after them and ss be
has no heavy train with him. he will probably be able
% worry their lives Of them before they have toed
through the mountains. Il is probably better thst they
go into Eastern Virginia as painting vagasonds-as a
routed and demondized army than that they be cap
tured killed. There is thing very certain, that
il they live 10 fight anotherdsy' they will not come
into Wesiern Virginia TO do their fighting. IL ia
amusing 10 contemplate what inordiuate running thess
| boaelfu Eastern Virgnisns have done. A landlady
here az whore house the chivalry often stopped told
me that il was their consant witicism more spicy than
true, that lone Virginan with a pepper-box could
drive three Yankee When they came into battle
the order Of the pcpierng was Iuad reversed. hear
every hour Of new indiguities 70 which Union men
were subjected. Two Union men here were made 10
work on the roads with chains and ba to their ankles
have met with many men who were arrested and
held for a time
am writing in the camp at Beverly, and near by is
the large body Of prisoners Of the Rebel army defeated
at Rich Mountain. learn that Col. Pegram, imme.
dately after the defeat Of that part Of his force which
was ported ut the btreuchmsnts the bills ga,h cred
out at tue lower fort his choice companies iuto line,
made them speech, declaring tuat the enemy had
been defeated the top ofhe BILL aud be proposed ~
take fore and 20 and surround them and take them
prisoners. This speech mOst yocicTousy cheered.
lt was this cheering which was heard IN Gen. McLel-
AL caup, and which led to the suppositon that Gen.
RosencnIz had met with repulse. After The cheering
Col. Pegram marched his elite companies into tho
woods Having taken them of into comparative safety
be cane back in the night and conducted oil the rest or
sent tlem away. When COL Peyram came down the
road towrd tpe lower fort on bis return he was taken
ior an enemy, and guns were fired at hlm-says
piisoner This accounts for the guns which were heard
m tue night Many OF the prisoners Say that they were
forced 10 enter the army. They belong to the Virginia
State Militia aud their companies were ordered into
service, and they were obliged TO come. There has
been great reluctance In many parts Of Virginia % obey
,hi order to bring tie militia into this wsr In letter
dropped in the Rebel camp at Rich Mountain, which
fell into my possession, dated Mount Crawford June
80 the excuses of various kinds OF iegned lines given
by the reluctant militia were stated, and are most
amusing. In one company, "Cspt. Wise's, all wero
sict but eighteen aud another company, Captain
Brighfs, all were SICK but fye." Tney shrnk from
being drafted. Their fear will be greater when they
hear nom the Rich Mountain and Laurel Mountain
armies
An order has this moment come from MsjorGeneral
Scott hat all the prisoners except the differs be re-
leased paro IL s probably the wises, policy TO Ie-
lease the Pirates all that have talked With nre
ready TO take an oath not to fight ans morei indeed
they say they twill do anything TO be released, and
souie Of them want to see Governor Letcncr hung
Their release will make nearly all Of them good Union
for the rest Of their daye But to release such men
.; ". ..lis.a Prssssnt Vi EaGplel Sidney College,