Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-02

4
steady, chilling rain, the clouds pouring
down their burden in such torrents you
are accustomed to in June thunder shower.
W torded Leading creek twice, and by the
time we reached the miserable little viliage
of New Interest, at the foot of LaureF Noun
tains (another range OF the Alleghonies, from
which Laurel Hill range is mere spur, there
was not dry thread in our clothing. Every
hair on our heads became a conduit for the
descending bounty of Jupiter Pluyius. Pass
ing the village few miles, we struck direct
" over the mountains for Cheat RIVER, hy
| bv-road which the rebels had taken. 1t was
of the worst description. At every step the
mud grew deeper and the way more dlthcult,
and one felt as though somebody was tugging
at his heels to pull off his shoes. Now slip
ping down in the mud, now plunging into a
pool knee deep, staggering about i'll the mire
like drunken man. the soldiers, elated with
the prospect of a fight, pushed steadily and
4 bravely on. SO thoroughly was the mire
kneaded by the feet Of the thousands, pur-
sued and pursuing. that it flowed down the
mountain road like thick tar. Every rivuet
too, became torrent, while the creeks, swol
! len with the burden of the rains, became
dashing and foaming rivers. In the Laurel
! Mountains We found more evidences OF the
disoiderly fight Of the rebels. For miles,
tents, tent-poles, knapsacks, everything in-
deed, even to,personal apparel, was strewn in
an indiscriminate litter, and trodden down
under their flying feet Here were more wa
gons upset, and kept from plunging over the
gorges down which it made me dizzy to look,
only by the dense thickets of chapporal ana
the trunks of trees. Every where it was dis
aster following upon disaster. Occasionally
we halted, and those so fortunate as to have
J ,b ,ha1 bai lar wi
satisfaction as You would sit down to ban.
quet at the Gibson House. Others stretched
themselves out along the roadside, and some
were so weary that they sat down in the mid
die of the road TO rest. A few gave out en-
tirely.
| AT last we emerged from the Laurel MoHn
! tains, and came out on the Cheat river at
Kathlers Ford, about twelve miles from and
due south from ST. George. 1t was then
noon. Our advance consisted of the Ohio
Fourteenth, Col. Steedman, 750; Col Mill
roy's Ninth Indiana, 500; Dumonts Seventh
Indiana, $50, and two pieces artillery, with
40 men-the total being $40. The reserve
/ was an hour or more behind, their march be-
/ ing doubly wearisome because of the necessa-
ry halts and roads made worse by those
who had preceded them
The boys were glad to p}ung into the ford
.
purged them of heavy loads of mud, with
which most were plastered to their waist
bands. Emerging from the ford, our advance
came in sight of the rear of the fugitive army,
at the second ford below, where their bag
gage train was at rest and their infantry
drawn mp TO protect it, The advance regi-
ment halted till Dumonts and the artillery
came up to their support, when the unlucky
firing of II gun 10y one Of our men set the
whole body in motion.
The chase now became highly exciting
| The rebels pitched the rest of their camp
eGnpage into the bushes the officers threw
their trunks, containing their personal effects
into the guIlies and raynes, aud the priyates
gave up their blankets, knap.acks and can
teens to the ineXorable necessity of fighting
or rctrcating, and they preferred the latter
Our advance pushed them 50 hard that they
formed into line and commenced scattering
fire, when our artillery opened on them, and
they instantly renewed their stampede. This
stand, however, had gwen their baggage train
time to get under way. The pursuit was
hotly kept up for three miles and they showed
ns wonderful agility in light as Porterhelds
Grmy at PhiiPpi
/ Within a mile OF tie next ford, tEe noun
taius recede on both sides from the river.
/ The most Of this comparatively level bottom
land is comprised in the farm Of Mr.. james
and the iords are known by his name. In
crossing the first of these folds to the right
ride of the river (as we were adyaRcing,3 one
of their wagons mired and those in the rear
had to halt until it could be relieved. The
rebels meantime drew up in line on the oppo-
side in an Oat field and were concealed 10y
/ rail fence and the trees and bushes tringlng
that bank Of the river The bluff is from 80
/ to 50 feet higher than the land on the oppo-
site side, down which the Ohio Fourteenth
was advancing, with Capt. Mow's company
Thrown outas slirflisheIs AS the skirmshers
pressed ON toward the ford, the tcansters
Grid out, Don't shoot don't shoot! We
are going to surrender" The Captain then
c2llcd TO the Colonel, Come on, Colonel
a:eedman, they are going to surrender )" and
/ the regiment was ordered to advance at a
double quick. AS he came opposite the bank
where The rebels were drawn up, General
Garnet cried, Three cheers for jeff DavisW
and that instant the whole line was n blaze of
! light. and they poured destructive vollep
/ upon the Fourteenth. The tnen came to an
/ instant halt, and returned the compliment
without changing position, and then advanced
nearer the river, taking position behind
worn out fence. The rebel battery then
opened Gre, and Garnetts arti!lery was or
dcreI up Miiroy's regiment came up to
Steedman's support, but were compelled 90
deliver an oOlque fire Captain Benham
then ordered Dumonts six companies to cross
the river about three hundred yards above
the ford, pass obliquely up the hill from our
right, and cake the enemy iu the rear. The
bank was exceedingly steep, almost perpen-
dicular, but two companies had succeeded in
clambering up, when the order was counter
manded, and Col Dumont ordered down the
river to the ford under cover Of the hight on
their side, and protected 10y the fire from
Stcedman's and Milroys regiments, to take
them in front at the road The Colonel exc
cuted this order in gallant style. His line
Instantly formed and marched down the bed
of the river, where the water was frequently
waist deep and the moment the head of his
column appeared the rebels ceased firing
along the entire line, and stampeded through
a wheat field down to the second ford, the
officers vainly trying to rally them.
Cen GGrn stt was the last to cross the ford,
which he did on foot and stood by the river
shore waving his handkerchief and callingop
them to come back and dispute the passage
of the ford Major Gordon, of the United
States Army, at this moment appeared on the
opposite side W hich the rebels had just left,
anG seeing them hudlled in the road called
to the advance of Dumonts command, which
as rushing along like whirlwind, TO come
on. Gen. Garnet directed the attention of
Ii etr nj Il 4, tho Major and a