Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-11
FROM WESTON.
.SkirnlisA 1t Big Brch-Rout Of the Rebels
Surprise Of the ChurcheS-Capt"re Of
Wheeling Boys-4 Motel OHccr.
WESTON, Oct ., 1862.
serve.


WESTON Oct Q, 1862.
Editors IatelHgencer:
We learned yesterday of skirmish be.
tween our forces and the rebels neAr Big
Birch Mountain, but the accounts were so
imperfect that could not furnish the full
particulars until now. This evening Lieut..
Dawson, Of Company X, LIST Va. Cavalry,
arrived here, and from him / gain the fol-
lowing information:
On Sunday evening n force of one hum
dred infantry and twelve cavalry left
Bulltown in command of Adjutant
Bughucr. of the 10th Virginia Infantry,
They marched all night and on Monday
morning the cavalry under Lieut.. Dawson
were seat forward to reconnoitre, after
crossing Big Birch mountain they were
halted By the enemies pickles whom they
captured. From these men they learned
that the rebels were cncumped short dis
tauce beyond aud numbered between forty
and fifty men. As the infantry was some
distance behind Lieut.. Dawson with his
twelve men charged on their camp and cap
tured seven prisoners and twenty SIX horses
and accourrements, also a lot of Sharp's
rifles and other arms.
The party then returned to Sutton where
the Adjutant insisted on remaining until
tiuue the march. AT the Churches "a small
valley which contains two chnrches) he
ordered the men into camp, in spite of
the proteStaiOn of men AMI ollicers-eveu
the rebel prisoners told him he would be
sure to be captured, but il was of no use,
he would camp there, captured or not
Our men who up to this time were elate
with their success, now became down
hearted aud seemed as if they cared not for
| life, but were perfectly discouraged. about
two o'clock the camp WAS surprised by the
! rebels, IA few shots were fired, which made
| three of them bite the dust. But the sur
| prise was so complete that our men
could not be rallied but He'd from the
road as soon as possible. Tue rebels cap
tured twenty-five OF the Infantry aud five
of the Cavalry, also eleven OF Of our horses.
| They also rrgained all the property we
had taken the day before. The five Cavas-
rymen captured belonged to company X.
| which was recruited ut Wnceling. Their
names are Samuel Atkinson, q. W. Baris-
lev, John J. Pierce, Hugh McSweegins, and
John Stewart.
| We had not Il man captured, and all with
| the exception of the above arrived safely
at Bultowu yesterday. Lieut.. james Con-
| Is, OF company G, 10th Va. Infantry, WAS
asleep when the attack was made but he
done good good service with his Colts
Rifle. He received seven bullets through
hIS coat. Too much credit cannot be given
Lieut. Dawson, for his conduct on two &C.
cusious, but certainly Lieut.. Boughner de-
served his fate Ia prisoner) tor his fool
hardness in camping his men when he WAS
within ten miles OF Bulltown-
| From the prisoners taken on :he first
day we learn that they have 1900 Cavalry
ut Summersville, and Intend marching on
the Railroad. From what | can ascertain
of their movements there is no doubt but
their next move will be on West Uniou or
| Clarksburg. Ii they should get to the
latter place they will meet with warm
reception, rs Col. Wilkinson has force
there sufficient for the emergency.
| saw r copy of the Wheeling Press a day
or two ago, in which found communi-
cation from an eye Witness" pitching in-
to me considerably for my account of the
attack on Sutton, in which he makes me out
"A pretty good fibber How the said copy
of the Press ever reached this Union region
don't know, but was much surprised to
see it, us it is not in very good standing
among our citizens. However, my letter
was founded on telegram from AN officer
who lcGS an eye witness and one whom
have every reason to place confidence in.
la regard to his hard names, &C., ! will
only say that my equanimity is not general
ly disturbed by any member of the Dam
phool" family, and am sure it wont be in
this case.
Every thing is now quiet here and l hope
will remain so, but it the rebels should
make their appearance you will hear from
Corn.