The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-11-08


Of the enemy at about CT o'clock of the 18th.
L Immediately put my command In motion,
and marched Eastward on the n. W. Pike to
Red House, where i learned the enemy had
left al o o'clock a. NJ. | followed, crossing
Backbone Mountain, and halted to rest my
men TWO miles West of North Branch bridge,
where was overtaken by you. My command
had already marched fourteen miles, most Of
them without breakfast l had but few ra-
tions to send forward i'll had transportation,
hut had not q single wagon to carry any
thing. AT the consultation then held, full
statement being made by the respective com
manding officers of their condition and of
yours, in regard to want of transportation, 1t
was determined to abandon the pursuit, in
which opinion there was u unanimous con-
CurrenCe, with, ] believe, q single exception
amongst over twenty officers At that time
the enemy were at Stony River bridge, which
they subsequently destroyed, before even
fresh troops could have reached them from
where we then were. Subsequent operations
being conducted under your own eye, sup
pose are not called for in this hasty report
made under circumstances forbidding acct
racy Of date and detail.
remain your obcdicnt servant,
J. IRVINE,
Col. Commanding 10th Rcgt, o. V. NJ.
i. S.--On Saturday 18TH, | had mounted
scouts at fork of the road, where road
branchcd East from st. George Pike, suppos
ing it TO be the road leading to Red House.
RED lIorsE CAMP, july 20, 1861
BRIG GEN Hill. sir In compliance
with your order dated July 10Th, 1861 rcquir.
ing me to transmit you full account Of my
proceedings with my command, TO pursue and
intercept the rebel forces rcircuting from Lau-
rel Hill. by way of II. George and Red House
Corners, on Tuesday, July llth, 1861, with the
number Of my foiccs, The amount provis-
ions on hand and means of transportation,
herewith present the following report:
| arrived at West Union from Oakland
with four Companies of my command on Sat
uday morning. July 18Th, at \. NJ, in a
violent rain storm, having been compelled to
leave two Companies at ChishomS Mill to
guard all Of my team, which had given out
They arrived at West Union at 81 \. NJ,
making my force Companies of SIS men
At . \. VI. July 18Th, | waited on Col lr.
vino, OF the 10Th Ohio Regiment, and we pro.
cccdcd to examine the country for five miles
in the different directions which we supposed
the enemy would take. On our return Col
Irvine received despatch from you inform.
inr him that tn enemy were rctrCating lV
way of st. George As yet not knowing but
that West Union would bc the route they
would be compelled To- take owing To the I'M.
pas.ablc slate of the other roads leading from
-. George across The country, and intcr.cct.
ing he Western Turnpike.
!, with Col. Irvine and Maj Bailey, mmc-
diptcly selected two positions, one South oi
West Union one hulf mile, and the other one
mile West, either Of them strong enough 10
have defended y,- from any numbers. | or
dCrcd my men 10 lay upon their arms in readi-
ness to take position at n moments warning.
s...- 4 =
scouts came in and informed me that the rnr.
my were rctrpating by way of Red House
Corners We Immediately rot under way and
gavc chase arriving at thr Corners at s AN.
distance Of 3 milcs Here we learned they
had passed at , \. W., with the execution 0l
regiment or two still hack We nmcli.
alcly selected two Companies of rifles, one
from the sth, Capt Dacgctt, and one from the
18th, and ordered them to proceed Southwarl
| toward Texas Corners, and meet them. il
possible, upon advantageous grounds Tho
| main body, supposed To he from what We
| learned from prisoners, about 5000 strong
having got q hours the start, We continued
the chase until we were within miles oI
them. Having travelled ,iX miles, we halted
% make reconnaissance. when vc were over.
taken 10y ten. Hill. The balance of the
march va, made under the supervision of llit
Commanding General.
When | started on sunday morning in pur.
Nuil, many OF my command had taken no
breakfast, and made the entire march that
day with hui halia biscuit We had not ono
days provisions on hand, and our means OF
transportation were so limited aS 70 cut oil
the hope oian immediate supply Nv com.
mandhad ul that time received no horses or
wagons from the government, and my ONLY
means o! transportation were teams pressed
into service from !nrmCr, in and about Oak.
land. H. G. DErUY,
trl S''l Rcgt.. q. =.