Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-21
FRAEKLTR. Ve. Nav h. 1852.


oath that In less than sixty days he wOEld |
break up the Baltimore an2 Ohio Railroad Il |
it cost the lives of eO0@S men, himself iu-
cluded.
Since then Stonewall has met with many
obstacles, and just now is being circumvent.
ed by Generals Schenck and Milroyg 3 y
While Mcclellan was held by the afny In
Yorktown, nearly all the rebel forces in Vir-
sinia were concentrated there. When the
evacuation became necessary, these armies
we're at liberty to select other lines Of opera
ton, and jackson was furnished with u 900
Of the very best on hand, and told that he
execute his great cath above stated. The
only obstacle IN his way was Gen. Milroy,
with about 4, 900 men at Mcdowell. Gen.
Banks warned Gen. Fremont of the pro-
posed move some days in advance, but Ere.
mont had only Gen. Schenck In command
of asmall brigade st NoorReld, engaged in
making ferries and building bridges destroy
ed by bushWhackers to facilitate Jackson's
design. Gen. Schenck was ordered to push
on to the relief of Milroy as rapidly as pos
sible. The prospect wss not hattering. TO
cress the south branch of the Potomac ct
Petersburg looked as If II would take up all
the time necessary to make the reserve
available. Gen. Schenck Is not the man to
hesitate. he might lose few lives and some
wagons, but that was better than the loss of
Milroy's entire brigade. So he tumbled his
command into the only ford that seemed
available.
The water was three feet deep, the current
furious and bottom covered With huge stones,
over which the poor horses stumbled and
wagons jolted. To miss the track either way
was to get into deep water, and saw three
wagons fast at one time; the horses were
struggling and kicking, while the drivers
and guards were either elinRing to the wsg-
ons, or doing their endeavor by q swim shore
ward. The scene, which lasted through a
day, wss picturesque and exciting. It re-
suited, however, in no great loss. .l.I
Gen. Schenok pushed on, and when be-
yond Franklin, while about selecting 6
Csmping-ground, he received dispatch from
Gen. Milroy, informing Us that the enemy
some IA 600 strong, had made their appear
snee in his immediate neighborhood, and
would undoubtedly attack at daylight next
morning. This was received at o'clock,
and ct a place some "a miles from Mcdowell
Gen. Schenck ordered on some 1900 men,
with the cavalry and DeBeck's artillery de-
ternined to reach Mcdowell to take part in
the fight, If he could not relieve Milroy.
There is something very impressive in 8
nights march. The solemn tramp Of the 81,
lent men, made musical BY the regular olicH
Of the canteen, as it strikes against the bay
onet; the ugly, obstinate rattling Of the ar
tilsry, IS il jolts along, as If conscious of III
power and scorning to be quiet; the dim out
lines Of hills on either side, between which
the masses move on; all 60 to make up {
scene one does not readily forget. Hour af
ter hour Wors on without Interruption, Othel
than short rests on the roadside, or the dash
ing by of staff. officers carrying commands Of
encouraging the men. These last were il
light marching order. The heavy knap
sacks had been laid aside, and the good fsl
lows stepped regularly along, IS if fatigue
were impossible. At daylight they Weri
within ten miles Of Mcdowell, and by 10 A
II. entered the town.
As our troops emerged from the gorge up
on the plain of the town the long lines o
the rebels we're seen fling down the road o
the mountains opposite. The scene was ex
hilarating. The little army, expecting 70 b
overwhelmed by superior numbers, hat
watched out the long hours in weary ankle
~, and now when the dear old flag appeared
cheer after cheer went up the mountair
sides, to which our men responded heartily
while falling to the right and left, the artil
lerY ratified Ia on the double quick to the
strains of the "sJar Spangled Banner" from
the band. This was not without effect
The rebel army checked its march, taking
possession Of the mountain brow, where i
looked impudently down upon its proposed
victims.
Generals Sehenck and MilroY agreed tbs
with their small army and entire lack o.
forage Mcdowell was not tenable. How tC
get out in the face of superior force was
the question to solve. They determined up.
on bold move, and that was, instead oi
waiting to be attacked, to march out and as.
sail the enemy. After fighting long and
hard as they could, they determined to with
draw ct dark. The prospect was not prom.
Using. To fall back before the foe with volun-
teer force is difficult; but TO retreat after q
defeat looked impossible. But the enemy
had to be checked, and bold attack was IN
the estimation Of these two fighting charac-
tsrs, Bob Schenek and Bob Milroy, the only
means.
To this end the tents already struck were
packed In wagons, the trains sent of, and at
2 o'clock four regiments, consisting Of the
10th, s2d, s2d, and Virginia entered the
pass up which the road winds, and soon re-
appssred, marching up the bare slope, upon
the crest of which the enemy had formed in
tack. So soon as our friends emerged from
the laurel and pine that covered tWo.thirds
of the mountain, the rebels opened upon
them From the length of the enemy's line,
! gathered that there we're about Z, 600 10
position, and their 6re was rapid, heavy and
continuous. TO use common phrase, the
fire was murderous. At every volley men
fell, killed and wounded. had seen 7olun-
teers under FIRE, and know how difficult it
was to keep them to their work, andexpect-
ed every moment to see these break and run.
But they did not. For two long hours they
stood out boldly, and returned q fire when
nothing could be seen but st intervals the
head and shoulders Of some rebel loading
and firing at viii.
For two hours these brave fellows worked
their way manfully up the mountain side
without once finching. They were much
relieved duriog the last hour by piece of
artillery which Capt. Hymen had in posi-
ton upon an eminencs that gave him COM
mand Of the right wing Of the rebel forces.
No battle was ever fought with such SUR
rOundings. This long range of lofty noun.
tains overlook the plain upon which stands
the town Of Mcdowell, ct the foot of 1.-The
one known es Cow Pasture Mountain, and
as the high hills and mountains rise on the
three other sides, the whole makes up an
amphitheAter on the eastern slope Of which
this deadly drama was being enacted, az If
for the entertainment Of the thousands above
and below, who chesfed as either side SEEM
ed to gain the advantage. saw the dear
old flag slowly winning its way up the slope.
l saw my old friend Col. Nat, Mclean, con