Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-28
[FRoM OUR OWN ooRREsPoNDENT.l
CAMP AT EtKwArrR, Sept. q,


was the sententious order of the Adjutant to
the Lieutenant in command, on the evening
of the 18th inst. The Sixth Ohio had been
in the trenches all day, and our company (G)
| together with X had been sent forward to
reConnoiter the enemy, who was then ad-
vancing on us, and within two miles of our
position. A turn in the road, where the
Elkwater joins Tygart's Valley River,
brought us in full view of the advance-guard
of the rebels, whose bayonets were glisten-
ing in the sun at long Mimic range. 1t was
deemed prudent not to make any demonstra-
tion with the small force sent out, and we
therefore Tetreated in order, crossing the
valley diagonally, and taking a position on
| the extreme left of the intrenchments, sup
| porting q section of Loomiss Battery. 1t
may therefore be supposed that no one in
the two companies alluded to was in any
danger of accumulating flesh from lack of
exercise when the order above referred to
wRs promulgated.
At five o'clock in the morning Companies
E, K and G, together with five companies
| from the Ohio Third, the whole under COM
mand of Colonel Marrow, of the Third, pro-
| ceeded on their way TO Cheat Mountain
| Summit where it was rumored q strong de-
tachment Of the rebels, numbering three
thousand, had made sudden appearance in
the rear of Kimbalps Camp, cutting the
! wires and preventing communication with
| the Elkwater Camp. Our errand was said
! to be to cut our way through their lines,
replace the wires, and restore communica-
ton. Here, then, was O "sure enough" fight
| in prospective and the spirits of the boys
| were correspondingly buoyant. We took a
narrow path up the mountains, impossible
to horses, and of so steep grade as to make
| it fatguipg in the extreme to men. You
can form no idea of these mountain passes.
). A slippery path, winding around hillside,
obstructed by huge powders and fallen
l,oN-- h. L. -
erect on it; rendered inaccessible to the sun
by the immense chestnut, oak, pine and ash
trees that overshadow it, and fringed by a
| thick underground of laurel, elder, sassafras
and hazel bushes. Six or seven miles of this
is enough to dampen. most any ones mill
tary ardor; but, like the man who carried
| the calf until it grew to be an OK, we have
| got accustomed to it.
Reaching the summit of the mountain, we
discovered that the rebels were at their old
game; the bushes were covered with blan.
kets, and, in short, every imaginable species
Of military toggery, of the very inferior ma
terials with which the Secessionists are
equipped. There is hardly a doubt that they
had accidentally stumbled upon spot on
the hill summit from which our camp-fres
were discernable, and, laboring under the
impression that their force was not strong
enough to Withstand an engagement, had
suddenly decamped. The path, though de-
vious, was easy enough to follow after that,
} for it was literally covered with clothing. A
} rapid "trot" down hill soon brought US into
pleasant little valley, near the center of
l which stood::a lonely log house, now deserted
by its former tenants. Standing in groups
around it. was the Second Virginia Rsgi-
ment, Colonel Mass, which had preceded us
+ on the journey, having left Beverly the night
, previous, without blanket for cover or
even ''sheet-iron cracker" for sustenance
The former want they had supplied from. the
plunder left by the rebels. al tne latter was
, literally met hSv our boys from their haver.
, sacks.
A short rest, which the boys improved by
attacking row of bee-hives, bringing out
Q the bees, and scattering the "forlorn hope
3 that had made the sally, and we again started
through the forest. An hours climbing
: brought us to the base of clearing, wher'
!, a skirmish had taken place the day previous
and where 1t was supposed the enemy was A.
position to receive US. The approach was
: made with great caution, our three com pa
nies, which were in tine advance, being de,
| ployed as skirmishers, with the Third Ohio
I ans as reserve. Stealthily the men crept
up the abrupt declivities to the right and left
a of US, while another company made the ad-
4 vance in front. The summit reached, moth.
ing unusual was to be seen-a Lighthouse an
orchard, and the surroundings of Virginia
5 mountaineer's home was nothing much to be
as onished at. Not gray coat was visible
:, much to the chagrin of the men, who were
=. sure that this was the tide, &c. Approaching
q the house we were met by Fourteenth In,
diana man, who came limping along, over.
joyed at finding out that friends were at
. hand, and that he would be released from the
e custody of the rebels, who had left him there.
t He had been shot through the thigh with q
l squirrel-rihe ball, and taken prisoner by the
l rebels in the skirmish of the previous day,
and with tears in his eyes he informed us
that the rear guard of the enemy had left
q there but an hour before, and were retreatine
by the StuaTts Run Road; that they had
been informed of our approach, and that they
dared not risk an engagement; that theiI
t men were almost starved, and were so much
g fatigued that their officers could not contro
|, them, and were forced to follow the men, who
had decided TO retreat. Their force wa:
three thousand men, principally from Ten.
i, nessee, under the command of General Frank
Anderson, of filibuster notoriety. Andrew
T. Jackson DonelsOn is said to have been il
y command of one of the Tennessee regiments.
Colonel Marrow, whose desire to pursue
them was overcome by the orders he haC
d received to simply restore communication
o was forced TO deslst, and giving the men
e rest, we entered the house. Another suct
scene feryently hope l may never see. Ly
ing upon the floor of the only room in thu
!, cabin were seven wounded rebels, left thert
Dy their fleeing comrades. Two sick men hat
= been left to care fol, them, which they were
/ either not able or unwilling to do, so tha
: the entire burden fell upon poor woman
a | who with her five children were tenants O
4 the hut. Her husband had been taken pris
a oner. He was q Jealous Secessionist RnC
: had made himself useful to che rebels by
i visiting our camp in the guise,ofa a mountain
[ eer, vending vegetables and gaining sucl
:. information as he could respecting our fore
: and intentions He was punished and prop
Q erly enough; but what crime had the limo
q cent children committed, and the poo
mother, in that lonely mountain glen2
D, With winter fast approaching, and what
a remains of the crops unguarded and left t
: rot the orchards and fields devastated, rail
l. burned, her house converted into hospita
N with men fostering and rotting beneath he
A. roof and without medical aid, what fortitud
Or will it not require to bear up under her al
of Fiction; and yet she moved about with tbs
g. quiet, noiseless step so peculiar to intens
sorrow, handing this one water, bathing tbs
es ones aching temples, and attending to he
a. household duties. The children stood aboU
the horrid scene, the elder ones in mute de-
pair, the younger prattling away, uncoI
10 seious of the terrors of bella, hOTTida bella
l- May He who is the Father of all extend th
10 egis of His protection over that desolat
| household.
o NY reflections were disturbed by the bug
> sounding the Assembly" and shouts of Il
"a forward" and in afeW.moments the colum