Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-01-29
Col. Garfeld's Victory.

The Importance of the victory achieves
BY Col. Garfield, the tremendous Difficult
ties overcome, are even yet scarcely know
to the public. Humphrey Marshall had
large force, was strongly entrenched, ant
the rsbels anticipated that lie would sweel
all before him in Southern Kentucky, anC
drive the Legislature from Frankfort. p
We copy the following from the Louis
vile Journal:
At this juncture, Col. Garfield was as
signed to the command of the Eighteenth
Kentucky brigade, and ordered to this city
for his instructions. Marshall. in the
meanwhile, was sending out predatory
bands toward West Liberty and Mount
Sterling, harassing the inhabitants ofMont.
gomory, Morgan, and the contiguous cOun-
tics. Col. Garfield having reported here,
and received his definite charge, went up
the. Ohio river to the Big Sandy, where he
assumed the command Of one Ohio regi-
men, one Kentucky regiment, a few cavalry
from Virginia, and two companies of Ne
Laughlin's Ohio Cavalry. A column FROM
Paris had been ordered to advance by the
way of Mt. Sterling, to cooperate with him,
which consisted of the Sixteenth Ohio,
Col. Cranox, and a squadron of Col. Wool
ford's cavalry. Col. Garfield, in the mean.
time, was making his way up the Sandy
Valley, encountering great difficulties,
which. indeed, would have been insurmount-
able but for his energy and determination.
Owing to fine dreadful state of the roads,
it wa almost impossible for the animals to
draw the baggage wagons; 50, to relieve
the teams. a portion OF the l5ad was taken
from the wagons and strapped on the backs
of the heroic soldiers, who, "thus accouter-
ed, plunged H." knee-deep in mud, and
accomplished a march from Louisa to Paint.
vile, BY the way Of Georges Greek, which
will always be celebrated in military an
nails. Without waiting for rest, Col. Gar
field Immediately made battle with Mar
shall, forced him from Paintville, drove in
his advance before PrestOnburg, and seat
tered the rebel forces in all directions, thus
freeing Eastern kentucky from all appre-
tensions.
To estimate the important results Of
this expedition, it is only necessary to con-
siisr what a~nnOyanocs would have followed
a check On the advance Of Col. Garfield, or
any failure of MS plans. It would have
cost largely both in time and money to
have sent re-enforcoments to him the pop
ulati n Of the whole region would have
been terrorized, while rampant Humphrey
Marshall and his marauding bands would
have laid waste the entire country. Col.
Garfield, with the eye of a soldier, saw the
necessity for a quick movement, and there
fore, without waiting for the advance of
tho l4th Kentucky regiment-or rather
the main portion Of it, for Lieut.. Col
Monroe, with two or three companies, had
reached him-and regardless of the ap-
preaching reinforcement under Col. Gran
OK from Paris, lie made that bold dash
which diseomftted, routed and dispersed
the Wanted strength of the rebels, and
drove them into the mountain fastness
which skirts the Virginia border line, with
out tents, wagons or provisions. All hon
or, then. to Col. Garfld and his noble off,
GERS and men. His modest dispatches to
Gen. Buell. have made no mention of the
incredible hardships he Oyercame. and 1t
is from other sources that we derive these
particulars of the eagle swoop" of the
Eightceuth Brigade.