Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-20
The sutton Expedition.
Editors JuteYj1socer

Perhaps before this reaches you, you
may have received grnudiloquent account
of the Sutton expedition, as there seems to
be disposition in certain quarters to glori-
fy some parties connected with it, to the
diSparagement of others. propose there
fore, to give you Il matter fact state
ment of the whole affair, in doing which
vii! "nothing eXtenuAte nor set down aught
in malice"
1t is we'll known that few days before
the close of the last year, Il force of seces-
sionists attacked Sutton; aud, after some
lighting lin which no body got hurt drove
away company of Cavalry, belonging TO
the FIRST Virginia Regiment, (Col Anisan-
sePs) and burned considerable portion of
the town. 1t now appears that the at
tacking force was Il party Of BushwAckers,
about one hundred Tor less) strong, that
the Cavalry company was without suita-
| able commander; the Captain and lst Lieu
| tenant being at the time in Weston Lew
is County,; aud there were no arrange
ments whatever to prevent q surprise
of the camp. The attack was made in the
morning, and before night the Cavalry
men were in Weston.
The news of the burning of Sutton
spread alarm through the country. Eve
ry item was exaggerated, and the most
urgent appeals were made for forces to re-
pei the invaders and thus protect other
towns which were exposed. On the 3ls
of December orders were received by Col.
Hewes, OF the 3rd Regement Va. Vol. In
tantry, to send or take forward three or
four companies, to Sutton and recapture
that place,
This order was issued by Gen. Milroy.-
The Colonel made arrangements to obey
IL fOrfhIvitO. O. hut NUbI1n fho f,,yIv
tions were in progress another order was
received, coming from Gen. Rosecr0ns, di-
recting that two or three companies of the
Sd Virginia infantry should be sent for
ward to join similar number of the 1st
Virginia cavalry, under command of Col
AnisRnsel. Accordingly on New Years
day, two hundred men, who volunteered
from companies B, Z, and X, were put
under command of Capt. Purdy and pro-
ceeded towards Bulltown, near which they
joined the above cavalry aud n company of
Col. Harris regiment, under Capt. Darnall,
next day. On the Sd inst. the column came
near the town, early in the afternoon, the
usual order of marching being reversed, as
the infantry were in front. When within
two or three miles of the place the forces
were divided, Capt. Purdy taking about
one hundred and fifty of his men and de-
ployed to the right, so as to come on the
rear of the Notifications, which were said
to be manned by about seven or eight hun
drcd of the enemy. The balance of the
troops kept the road, the infantry still
long way in front, until they had passed
the point where a fire from the breastworks
would have, ,assaiIed them, when the cav
airy came dashiug forward with flourish
of trumpets and rushed unharmed, of
course, into the town, for the rebels had
inco1tinently fed as soon as their inccndi-
Nry work was done, and not one had been
seen in the place for two or three days.
The troops rested on the 4th. On the
5th, Col. Auisansel sent out scouting
party, consisting of one hundred cavalry
and the same number of infantry, to scout
the ''NichoIas Glades," in Webster county.
The other parties-those sent to the
Glades-were resolved not TO be idle
They passed through tue country like a
besom of destruction, burning houses,
killing men, and capturing property. No
doubt they killed some arrant scoundrels,
and destroyed some hideous dens of in
iquity, that had harbored many bush
whacking rebel. But of course they had
no time to determine nice points of ethics