The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-30
FROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.
Vithdraacal Of Troops from Camp Bartor-Serae
Eeather-Rumors Of an Ifpg7oach Of the Enemy


UAKP ALLEGHANY, Nov. "a, 1861.
Day before yesterday our forces st Camp
Barlow withdrew eastward. part stopping 2
here on top of the Allegheny mountains, and
the rest taking up quar- ters in Crab Bottom
and Monterey.
1t is showing the wind is blowing a hurri
cane it is az cold as the North Pole and OF
all the dreary and desOlate places on earth
this is eli titled to the palm. Yet, the boy s
ara in spirits, their loud hailoo, jocund laugh
ter, and occasionally the anlivei' ing sound of
the fiddle bravely throwing off Dixie to the
echo of these hills, break on my ear above the
Tapping OF tents and the Whistiing OF the
tempest.
Yesterday a report flew threw camp that
the enemy were in pursuit of us and within a
mile The troops, though wholly unexpect-
ing an attack, speedily formed in lne-of bat
tie eager for the fray Two companies Of the
4ith were sent down the turnpike, and no.
tced HansoorouEh's battalion of gallant
Northeast boys filing over the hill through
thu woods, near cut to a bend in the road to
get the 1rst crack TT tho ASSISTANTS. But il
was q false alarm. scouting party of the
enemy had followed us, and came within half
a mile of our camp. and then retii ed, on
learning our proximity.
The withdrawal from Camp Barlow was
we'll planned, but badly executed, so far as
concerns the loss OF considerable baggage and
camp equipage, on account OF the snfeebled
condition Of the teams. The retirement OF
our forces was not caused by any apprehen-
sion of attack by the enemy-such attack
Wa Udu Ydlhly dW<oQ LOT weeks, ana were
confident il would never come. 1t was occ =
stoned solely by considerations of winter
quarters, and hauling of provisions over al
most impossible roads. Only one fault was
connli tted-the withdrawal was done in too
much haste. Instead Of taking a week to
perform it, (which would have been proper,
In view of bad roads and Impoverished teams }
it was executed in day; baggage was burnt t,
CONS broken and laid on the road, horses,
falling dead in the harness, tossed over the
bank-eyerything wearing too much the ap.
pearancs Of hurried retreat before our
enemy. was On main-guard duty that day
over the river next the enemy. AT daybreak,
a numb of US went down to the western
branch of the 4reenbrier, under the c m d.
mand of Colonel marlborough, (who was
officer Of the day. and burnt the bridge right
IN the face OF the Yankees. Tney fired seve.
raj shots at us, but double-quicked ont OF
signt when our guns were brought to bear
on them In return. I did not reach this camp
till after dark, Ia the rain, being one of the
rear guard, omposed Of the squads OF that
and the previous days, in number about three
hundred, under the command Of Colonel
marlborough.
could scarcely fad our quarters, which were
generally tens, but occasion ally unfinished
log .huts. Several hundred men had been de-
tailed for weeks In this mountain to bald
cabins but they had done comparatively
little tor our comfort. understand Gen H
X. Jacks has gone to 0sorgia 10 sssums a
command there. Col. johnson will com /.
m md here Col. Taliaferro will comm and At
Monterey. A bleak and disa greeahle winter
Ill we have here, after hard and unfortu-
nate campaign. But 1t Is sweet to suffer. as
Well rs to die for ones country-ss rirs Ia ps-
tvni And yet the country IL fun Of csnsnre
or OF contemptuous pity, for the army OF the
North west, because, fersooth, it has gained no
brilliant victories like those OF Manassas,
Leesburg. and Springfield. Well, it matters
not, 90 our ind Ysndrnea b. gained, rho Ssts tAs
pratss. will, II the ink does not all freeze mp,
some day give You an Ineligible descri ption
OF this waste place IN nature, the Allleghauy
region, and the horrors of its winter storms,
and the ills of life amidst them.
SOLDIER.