The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-10-24

was had, but the rebels proved, as usual,
the Heetest of foot, and escaped without
further harm. Milroy's men picked up
numerous knapsacks, blankets, arms, &C.,
as trophies.
know not how long we halted, but we
had not proceeded much further when
welcome daylight appeared. We had just
made the descent of the Cheat Mountain
ridge, and were passing through small
farm and extensive "deadening." We
followed the valley until we reached the
Gum road, where the Thirty-second Ohio
was stationed, where we made another
halt. Making long but easy descent of
another mountain, we soon came to the
Greenbrier. As we neared the bridge
we saw the body of one of Milroy's men
lying in the bushes, just where he had
fallen when shot by the rebel pickets.
"They had fight on the bridge" was
the only remark, and we passed on.
At farm house near the bridge, we
came across the rear of the column ahead
of us, with piles of knapsacks in an ad-
joining field, left there under guard, the
infantry thus relieving themselves in ex-
pectation of the fight. The General rode
on to near the head of the column, where
he obtained distant view of the enemy s
camp. Soon the order was given to Tor
ward.
The rebel camp is located on a high,
steep elevation known as Buffalo Hill. 1t
is located at sharp turn of the road, and
so situated that an attacking force had to
come directly under the guns and en-
trenchments of the right of the camp to
obtain view of the left. 1t was estima-
ted from the number Of tents that ten
thousand men held the posts. The sole
attack contemplated was directly in front,
with artillery, the infantry to be used
merely to protect the batteries. 1t was
discovered that the rebels had placed a
large infantry force three fourths of a
mile in front, to dispute our approach
They lay in ambush beside a fence thick
ened with small trees, to the right of the
road, and in the timber on the hillside to
the left On making this discovery, Col.
Kimball was ordered to clear the way for
the artillery with the rugged Indiana
Fourteenth The boys received the order
with shout, and firing volley into the
ambush, rushed upon it with wild cheer.
The concealed enemy took to their
heels, some rushing across the valley and
others up the mountain on our left. The
gallant Fourteenth, its ragged breeches
tapping in the air, started up the noun
tains with cheer, popping over the reb-
els at every crack The Ninth Indiana,
its colors Haunting beautifully above the
green grass, rushed after those across the
valley A cheer went up from the whole
line, as the abashed rebels took to flight,
the Hoosiers in pursuit.
The Fourteenth made sad work with
the rebels on the mountain; eighteen of
them were found dead in one pile, and
seven in another. They also captured
several prisoners, and took care of few
wounded The Seventh came near the
retreating rebels or the opposite side of
the valley, and poured raking fire into
them as they sought laurel cover. How
many were killed and wounded there the
enemy must=tell, for our boys did not
search the laurel. In less than ten min
utes the rebels were driven into their en-
trenchments. Loomis Immediately moved
rapidly forward, unlimbered his pieces and
gave them an invitation in the shape of a
she'll The enemy Immediately responded
with Founders, all of which fell short of
our battery.
The enemy's camp was in full view
His terraced battery was belching forth
fire and smoke. Shot from our batteries
were tearing up the ground all through
the encampment, and shells were scatter
ing destruction and insuring death. There
was no cessation of the internal roar of
the artillery. Sometimes half dozen of
our pieces would send forth simultaneous
roar, making the earth tremble, and the
return fire seemed spiteful, as it whizzed
the shot mostly over our heads. For
thirty-fv minutes every gun on our side
was worked without cessation. Now a
shell would go ringing through the air,
making beautiful curve, and dropping
just on the spot intended, burst and de-
stroy everything for yards around. Of
all the internal inventions of war, it is
these shells. They tear men and horses
to tatters in an instant, as they fall whiz-
zing among them. And, as you hear their
unmusical Miss coming toward you, if as
green in military matters as ], you will
try to dodge the screeching devil. With
the shell flew the round shot into the en-
emy's camp, and all about their batteries.
With a whack they would strike the earth
and bore themselves into the ground like
moles operated by steam. Such was the
distant view of the picture.
The ambulances were not long idle
First came man carried on blanket,
writhing with pain. He had received a