Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-07-12
The War in Western Virginia.

.fnofasr Fight General Morris attacks y
Diris,on Of Vases Hrmy- Tuenfy three
Killed, Tuo Hundred Prisoners and Sevea-
fv one Horses Vase at Laurel Hill on The
Fourth Of July, &c
GRAFTON, Va, July 3,-Shortly after /
closed my letter to you of yesterday, We re-
ceived information Of considerable fight, at
least 10 It's results, between Genera! Morris's
column of this (McClelan's) army, and the ene-
my, commended by either Henry a. Wise OF
Bob Garnett fate of the United States Armyl
in person. 1t took place TO the right of Buck
haDon. Our troops engaged were almost
tirely Ohioans, the Third and Fourth Regi
mehts that had goue out by the way of Carks-
burg. The citizen bringing the news here says
he could not learn TAT Clnrksburgl whether
Wise or Garnett commanded the disunopsts,
who retreated as hastily possible. with the
loss of twentI three killed, Two hundred
prisoners, and seyenty-one horses, that Morris
captured. On our side not man was killed.
The action took place On Sunday night.
That is, very early Monday morning, presume.
Such is the account of the affair received here,
as explained above. Our troops immediately
after the fight continued the pursuit of the
retreatiug enemy. We have news from across
the country that General Mcclellan expects 10
come up with the enemy at Laurel Hill ton
row. the 4th. A considerable portion of Wises
force is posted there. and as that force will
probably by that time be joined by the force the
Upiouists whipped oa Sunday night near Buck
banon, if Wise willveuture to fight anywhere,
il will be there. He tWise) will do his best
to make his men fight, if but because, after bis
usual fashion, on his way out to this quarter
he abused the Vrginians who rau at Philiipi
recently, most shamefullB for'poltroOns and
towards, not once, but in dozen inpromptu
speeches. II his command therefore continu ues
TO run after be has selected his own ground for
a battle, bis denunciations of his friends enga.
ged at PhilIipi will come back upon him, SO
that be will be the laughing stock of the whole
country.
His total force is about 10000, of who N
but 600 may fairly be called willing enemies
OF the Stars and Stripes: as they are the VII
unteers BIZ brought With him up from Staunton.
The rest are nearly all men drafted 10 the
Valley, and thus seemingly forced into the
service at the point of the bayonet. More
than half of them ars d9ubless Union men
rather than Seoessionsts heart. The force
with which Gen. McCleiIan operates consists
Il learn to-day on what ! regard as good su-
thority) of 1900 men, in three divisions.
under himself, Brigadier General Morris, of
Ind, and Brigadier General RozeDerantz, of
Ohio. The latter is West pointer, who grads
uated at the head of bis class, and is therefore
a thoroughly educated and competent soldier.
ALI here are exceedingly anxious to hear of
to-morrow's expected work somewhere about
Laurel Hill. General Mcclellan, on leaving
Clarksburg with his column, took the precau-
lion to prohibit any private dispatches what
ever from being sent by telegraph from that
point, to prevent the enemy from by any chance
obtaining intelligence of his movements.
Everywhere here there are parties doubtless
10 secret communication With Wise and Garoett
by express any of whom would carry to them,
uuder whip and spur, whatever news Of advan-
,age to thsm they might be able to pick up.
This prohibition, of course, operates to prevent
US here from promptly learning ful particulars
of McClellan's movements.