Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-12-02
lFoR TIE SPECTATOR !

+. Mr.. EDITOR 81 have observed in a valley n
per an account of the attack upon the infant
s part of our regiment Partisan Rangers) and the
4 Iretreat, sin good order,' under command
d Lieut.. Col. Robt. L. Doyle duriug the absent
! lof COL Imboden with the cavalry of the reg
/; ment; but have looked in vain for detale
,ccount of the adventures, sufferings and escape
fof said cavalry during these eight days march
the Alleghanies. Believing that true stat.
1 ment of the facts would be interesting to thos
! who have friends in the command, I have con
!; lcluded to furnish the materials which you ca
dispose of as you see proper tits not necessar
that should state the grand object of the expe
Idition. 1t is enough to say thar if it had n,
been thwarted by circumstances over which ou
brave and indefatigable Colonel had no control
lit would have resulted in as much advantage t.
our cause and inflicted a blow upon our enemie,
from which they would not have recovered fol
many months.
The cavalry of the regiment, 250 strong and
commanded by Col. Imboden in persoa, left oul
camp on the South Fork. in Hardy county, or
the evening of the 7th-of Nov. in a violent snow
Storm; horses and men in good keeping and fine
spirits, the latter carrying 2 days rations OF
beef, bread and salt. At 8 O'Clock in the even
ing we halted at Petersburg to feed our horses,
carrying the unhusked corn covered with snow,
from the field and preventing our feet from freez-
| ing by running up and down the pike. In an
hour we were in the saddle and marching at a
trot up the South Branch, the fall of snow ceas-
ing and the weather becoming colder every mo-
ment. AT O'Clock on the morning of the 9Th
we halted near the eastern base of the snow clad
Allegheny, regaling our tired horses with corn
from neighboring field, the property of one Of
those vile traitors, called ssUnion men, and
throwing our wearied selves upon the snow slept
soundly, if not sweetly, until the peep of day.
On arising, we found the snow storm had again
resumed operations, and the prospect on every
hand looking so gloomy, that our commander for
moment entertained the idea of relinquishing
for the present the grand idea, and turning his
attention to some other point. But all who know
Colonel John d. Imboden are well aware that
naught but impossibilities turn him from his pur-
poses. Again we are in the saddle and making
short turn to the right are soon lost to view in
the dense undergrowtha that covers the eastern
SIDE OF the Allegheny Mountain. Up, up stretch
es the long line of horses and men along the mar
row path, some leading, some driving their un-
willing stock, with an occasional hees-over- head
performance by some unfortunate trooper in the
cool refreshing % snow.
Some OF our valley boys not knowing the mag
nitude of the mountain we were ascending con-
ciuded to ssride up,' but after an hours climb
ing IN the slippery path, we heard one of this class
remark that as it was turning out to be quite a
large hill ne would walkiup the remainder. Two
O'Clock found US on the top of the mountain, in
tne region of the fir tree the beach and laurel,
the snow hanging in clusters from every limb
ana failing over men and horses until they were
drenched as by days travel in hard rain.
And now commenced our difficulties in earnest.
The path descending the mountain on the west
sioe Is the worst imaginable. Narrow. steen
rocky, with roots twinng and Intervening in ev-
cry possible. direction with frequent esinmnino
or places from to feet high. II presented
IN that Wretched snow storm, to our iaded hor-
ses an almost impassibie barrier. But we toiled
oh' ana near sundown stopped at cabin in the
nils where our Quarter Master succeeded in pro
curing some corn for our stock. There we learn
cd, as the rear of the command came drudoino
IN, that part of the rear company had turnad
BACK, the path being rendered impossible by the
passage OF those in front of them.
Aiter resting an hour We started about dark in
the direction OF the ssDry Fork of Cheat River ),
by narrow path that winds around the side and
end of mountain, slippery, precipitous. and
dangerous in the extreme. At 10 O'Clock at
night we reached the Dry Fork, and giving our
horses little hay (there was no grain) we laid
down to restfor two hours.
IL seemed as though we had scarce bepnn to
siumDer when the loud notes of the buple called
again to horse, and in few minutes we were
threading that far famed dangerous path that
winds around the mountain whose base is laved
oy the waters Of the mss-named Dru Fork of
oneat. on our right was the steep, abrupt noun
'aln AN siue within reach of our hands as we sat in
our saddles. On our left precipice 500 feet
hign' with the river rolling and dashing at the
bottom. 1t was along this path that Colonel I'm
Doden passed in August last, when one of the
mules bearing mountain howitzer on his hack
MADE mlss-step and tumbled head long over
the precipice, but fortunately was stopped in his
rapid career about rs feet from the starting
point oy fallen tree, where he was found living
Oh MS sloe, the cannon still strapped to his back
ana his lmperturbable muleship cropping the
leaves from the bushes within his reach. How
ne was conducted back into the path never
nsard, nor have the most distant idea unless
tney RATED him down the river.
Along this path we continued to feel our way
Ior miles when early dawn found US in prin-
atlVe sort of a road leading to st. George, the
county seat Of Tucker county.
On arriving in the vicinity of the latter place,
the Colonel immediately made such disposition
OF his command as to surprise the town and cap
ture the garrison of 40 or so men stationed there
having ordered Capt. Beall's company down
along the bank Of the river to surprise, and, il
possible, capture the enemies pickets at tina,
point, the Col. with the main body of the COM
mand surrounded the upper part Of the town,
, when squads of tue enemy were seen running to-
, wards the Court House, not hawever without re-
ceiving few notes of recognition from Captain
Beall's company they passed. On receiving
information from citizen that they had securely
barricaded themselves within the Court House
E and were determined not to surrender except il
the last extremity, we prepared to storm then
castle, when they very wisely, though somewha
Ito the regret of our boys caved in and surren
J dered their precious carcases with all equip
ments and appurtenances into our hands. And
here we regret to say it was decided in council
: and wisely too, that the main object of the expe
i dition had better be relnquished and we make