Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-23
THE MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati oaze,ts.)
-. " = IL =


Correspondence of the Cincinnati 0azetts.)
f. FRANKLIS, Va. May IL.
Our forces are now all cncamped on the
| hills, aud in the valley around this town.
Their camp fires at eight, viewed from an
emtnence, present beautiful sight. The
position is II very strong one, and General
Schenck was confident of his ability TO
maintain it, without reniuforcemenrs,
I against any force the enemy could bring
| The enemy has fallen back soulhward for
some miles, and are telling trees and OBJ
strncting the roads in every way The
skirmishiug in the vicinity of this place has
resulted in IL loss of about dozen to the
enemy and one or two on our side. 1t is
now ascertained that Gen. Johnston was
not killed, but was wounded in the ARM
The great. difficulty in making an advance
is the want of transportation to bring for
ward forage aud supplies.
The whole country has been exhausted,
SO that no forage can be obtained within
fifty miles around. The whole supplies
must be brought from New Greek, dis
itance of seventy miles. The number of
teams ut our command is very limited, and
nearly all the teams in the country between
here and New Greek have been pressed into
service, and the farmers have been left
without means to put in their crops.
The officers of the army all express great
satisfaction at the result of the fight near
Mcdowell. All concur in saying that new
er did men exhibit greater pluck, or fight
more bravely, than did our men on the 8th.
General Schenck, on arriving at Mcdowell
found that it WAS situnted in II valley, sur
rounded by mountains, and that our army
could not hold the position against anY
considerable number.
l. In addition to that, MiIroy was entirely
out of forage and had scarcely any rarions
and that alone would have compelled them
to leave in a day or two. he therefore re-
solved merely to feel the position of the en-
emy and prevent the planting Of batteries
that would have inflicted great injury upon
our troops, General SIilroy with four
regiments OF his brigade, the 10Th, 25th
and 32d Ohio, and 3d Virginia, were or
dcred to ascend the mountain in one di-
rertion, and the SD Ohio, of Schenck's
| brigade and two guns Of JOhuson's bat
terry, were ordered to ascend by another
route, SO as to approach the flank Of the
enemy. General MilrOy, whose bravery is
such that he would not fear to meet all
rebellion combined, Whenever he got'the
sight of AN enemy, could no longer restrain
himself, but WAS determined 10 pursue anil
destroy, and forthwith the whole brigade
opened Ere against an enemy which was
double their own in number. And for two
or three hours they fought them hand To
hand driving them back from point to
point, although they we're constantly re
intorced, until the want of ammunition
and the darkness of the night compelled
them to retire to their quarters at Mellow
ell.
The Eighty-second Ohio came up to apo
sitiOn in which they were exposed 20 a cross
fire of the enemy. and hence their loss was
TART ~
brigade.
Although it was not designed originally
to bring on a battle, the officers all express
satisfaction that it occurred. IL staggered
the enemy, and enabled our men r1l fall
back in order, whereas if the fight had not
occurred our forces woul.l have been ex-
posed to deadly fire from the enemy 8 bat
teries and thrown into confusion.
Att place IL miles this.sde Of Mellow
ell, Gen. Schenck could have made IL sue
Cessful resistance; but being destitute of
forage, and nearly out of provisions, it was
impossible to remain in the position over
day orltwo, aud Gen. Fremont having is
sued orders they fell back to Franklin
The enemy shot high. Our wounded
were nearly all struck in the upper pOr-
tion of the body. Consequently, one.half
of the wOunded were able TO walk on the
retreat Ito Franklin. General Shenck
/ thinks that men never did better lighting
than was done by our forces on the 8th.-
he compliments highly the bravery of Gen.
| Milroy, and mentions Col. Mclean and Ma
jor Riley OF. Cincinnati, as having display
ed the highest braYery and contributed
| greHtly to our success by the manner in
which they brought forward their men aud
drove back the enemy during the severest
part Of the engagement.
-iaLisutenAnt-COlOneI Il "A. Constable, of
the 10Th Ohio, being sick, was sent to Nom
terry before the fight began, and has since
been taken prisoner by the enemy. Five
Privates Of the 55th Ohio, Colonel j. C. Lee
commanding, while acting as pickets, COW
ering the retreat, were captured by the en-
emy.l, fssi.. ....=r.I.T.
General Fremont compliments highly
General Schenck for the manner in which
lie extricated our men from the position in
which this combination of Jackson aud
Johnson's forces had placed them.
Il has been now raining steadily for the
last twenty-tour hours, making the situl-
tiOn n=of-Our troops very uncomfortable.
T7fs77--='s -
Guerrilla Warfare.In West VIrgtnIa a.
| .=-r=-- TPrOnl tI,R CinCfnDnti C,nU,u,nrrinI.l I