Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-22
FROM GEN. FREMONTYs COMMAND.
The Battle of Bull Mountain.

correspondence OF the New York Evening POst.1
FRANKLIN, Va, May l5.-The battle of
Bull Mountain proves to have been an en-
gagement of more importance than the first
reports indicated. 1t appears that on Thurs
day morning, the Sth, Gen. Milroy, who is
called the Fighting bulldog" sent a message
to Gen. Schenck that the enemy were crossing
the Shenandoah in force and that he would
be obliged to fall back from Mcdowell. He
asked for help. Schenck, who was already
| some nine miles on the route from this place,
| pushed on, and, by forced march of thirty
two miles, attacked one end of the town Nc
Dowell just as the advanced guard of the con-
federates appeared on the slope of the noun
tain at the other. The situation was a critical
one, for the enemy had the power of outfank-
ing us on both sides.
THE BATTLE.
In order to gain time for a safe retreat with
the wagons and stores-for our generals had
by this time discovered that there was a large
body of rebels in front resolved upon an at
tack-we opened the ball with artillery, which
was followed by bayonet charge upon their
right flank by the Ohio 25th and SD. For
two hours they struggled up the face of the
steep mountains beating back the foe, Col.
Cantrell commanding the latter, and that
there was a hand-to-hand fight the character
OF the wounds Of our men in the hospital bear
witness. The object of the attack having
been gained, our troops fell back in the most
perfect order to this place, fighting the swift
following enemy every foot of the way kill
ing and wounding large numbers. 1t is
thought that our forces could have held this
place, but this is doubtful. Most fortunately
for our gallant little army, General Fremont,
who, since the retreat from Yorktown, had
anticipated an advance of jackson, with large
relntorcements had already moved his army
forward from Petersburg by rapid marches,
and arrived here while our artillery were
Smelling the enemy in the hills through which
the road runs towards Mcdowell and Staun-
ton. In the fight, which from its location is
called the battle of ''Bull Mountain" we lost
some 200 killed and wounded. | send an Of
fciBl list Of our losses herewith. The retreat
was covered by squadron of Connecticut
cavalry, whose great hero is the captain COM
handing, named Fish, whose GOODNESS and
bravery have won him great favor at head
quarters.
OUR POSITION.
The encampment here presents one of the
most picturesque sights imaginable. From
the north the town is approached over a level
plain, which breaks off over a high bluff to
the east. From the base of this declivitv the
of the Potomac, stretches across to the foot
of precipitous mountains To the south lies
the town, and on the west the hills rise gently,
crowned with forests. Over all this lovely
natural scene are scattered thousands OF
tents, men, horses, wagons, and cattle. Gen.
Schenck's headquarters is an old house on
the outskirts of the town. On the slope of
a hill, near the bottom land is pitched the
small round tent of the commanding general.
No waving standard or displays marked the
headquarters. In little place hardly larger
than a sentry-bOX, seated before rough ta-
bic, we found Gen. Fremont, the noble man,
as simple and as unostentatious as his sur
roundings. He has been there only few
days, and it is singular to see the enthusiasm
of thousands of men who never set eyes on
him before.
FREMoNT's MOVEMENTS.
The general has distinct plan of campaign,
yet it is absolutely impossible to move in adj
vance without forage and provision. The
movement to this place from Petersburg was
made notwithstanding, the necessity of sup
porting Schenck and Milroy admitting no de
lay. Fremont has ordered forward only hard
bread, sugar, coffee and salt, yet you cannot
conceive the labor and difficulty of transport
ing provisions from forty to one hundred miles
through a mountainous and an enemys coun-
try. 1t takes four days for train to reach
here from New Greek Station, forty-six miles
What, then, must be required to answer the
necessities Of an army of twenty thousand
men? 1t is useless to talk of moving for
ward artillery or cavalry to say nothing of
soldiers, without subsistence. Last night
there was not forage for one hundred horses
in the place; to-day they are securing the
country unsuccessfully for it. l have just
seen document from an officer asking for
hard bread for his men, they have eaten their
last rations to-day, and the supply is DEEPEN
dent upon the arrival of a train which left
New Creek three days ago, Luckily, by the
foresight of Gen. Fremont, we are provided
with beef cattle. Gen. Fremont assumed the
command in March-time enough has elapsed
to provide for all this. Now, who is to be
censured? Certainly not Fremont for he has
exhausted the vocabulary of demands.
HRefurl, Of Disabled Soldiers,