Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-03
From Camp BealInglon.
CAMP BEALISGrox, Va, Dec. %. T,

Gus. 4HtetE9eHefT: While the movements
OF the "Grand Army our relations with
England, and other great matters, are en-
crossing the attention of athe Million it
may not be oct of place to record one OF
the most during exploits aud extensive
scouts of the season, considering the mum.
bers engaged, the distance travelled, the pO-
sition of theeountry, the ineIemency of the
weather and the nature Of the enemy whose
country was invaded.
On the morning of the 9th inst, Capt
Latham, Co. B. Second Virginia Regiment,
stationed at this place, having obtained in
formation of the position Of rebel s'EIome
Guard under command OF Capt. SAmson
Eliza, on the Dry Fork of Cheat river, In
Randolph county, started thirty eight men
under command of Lieuts. Gather aud
Wilson, to surprise them if possible-to
disperse them al any rdts, and punish them
for their depFadations upon the Union men
ofahat vicinity. The gallant little party
travelling by a eireuifpus tiiute-the better
TO surprise the ehemy-ofi istxty-fVe miles.
through the most hostile peighborhood at
night, from midnight till daybfeak, reached
and surrounded their placeof eucainpment
hA az Ol NuG VI kllG su lllAL.,
but, lOl upon closing mp around tb3 prem
ises the "birdsn had flown. Somsarticles
of small importance were found in Capt.
Elias quarters and brought away as tro-
phies-RmOng them some of the Captains
General Orders which are curiositles in-
deed. The .King's Engliih" suffers most
severely. One fite, two fiddles and dull
elmer constituted his musical bureau.
Daylight coming on, tue cowardly rebels,
or as they call themselves, the "Mountnin
Tigers commenced brisk fire upon our
party from the mountain sides, concealing
themselves behind the trees and rocks, and
taking very good care to keep either out of
sight or out of range of our i'Off hand can
non (riied muskets). The balls whistIed
thick and fust around Opr party, which,
nothing dauuted, played the ZOHdre beau
tifully, and returned tue FIRE promptly
whenever scalp could be seen behind
hind their lurking places. The "HOme
Guard, consisting Ofsome forty odd noun
taineers, was finally completely scattered
and driven of without the slightest casu-
atty on Ourpart. 1t was impossible to ascer-
tain the damage done to the enemy, it being
impracticable and useless to pass over the
rugged mountain sides and laurel and pine
thickets, after the skirmish was ended.
One man is known to have been severely
wounded, so that he could not be brought
to camp.
The party went into the edge of Pendle-
ton county, within thirty-f five miles of Mon-
terey and within twenty-five Of the rebel
camp on Allegheny, the scene of the late
fight. They disArmed number of the
rebels, took the horses OF the most noto.
rious and returned to camp on the 9th
inst, rs merry Us though they had only
been preparing for Christmas frOlic.-i
The weather, during great portion of the
time, was most inclemeut, the snow falling
thick, the wind blowing g perfect hurri-
cane, and so cold thab,tliS metl,s breath
froze in icicles on their 'bsGrds.
But do not suppose, Messrs. Editors,
that our gallant Captain was idle during
this time. Feeling deeply the danger to
which his men were exposed, ho obtained
a detachment Of thiTty-six men, under
command of Lieut.. Coplin, OF Co. F, Sd
Virginia Regiment, to go by q nearer route
through tho county, to join and CO. operate
with them. This detachment proceeded
to within some eight miles of the place
designated for meeting, heard that there
was an enemy on the road, faced about aud
returned to their camp; upon hearing
which the Captain determined to 60 to his
men If they were still in the mountains.-
(IIe could not accompany them at FIRST,
though it was his earnest desire to do SOL
Consequently he took twelve men from his
company, started in the afternoon of the
22nd instant, and by forced march of
day and a half came to the neighborh0od
OF the rebel head quarters when the skir-
mishing had taken place, Gut the first party
had idst started for camp, and the Captain
and his little party-the smallest body of
Union troops ever in that vicinIly-could
find only few scattered rebels lodging
through the woods, choosing rather to ruk
and hide than fight. They spent one day
IN the neighborhooi and returned to camp
on the 18th, enjoying Christmas along the
road.
This bold expedition struck perfect
panic into the rebels of that region, who
had considered the mountains all their
own. We Travelled fifteen miles above
where any Union soldiers had ever been
before, and there were two hundred in the
party that even went within that distance
oflhe scene of our operations. Long will
Company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment
be remembered in those hills and noun
tain fastnesses. Our Captain thinks his
company cannot be whipped, and with our
Captain at their head his company thinks
the same. Yours, II.
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