The New York herald., 1862-08-11

and nsd every Asns ever which ho passed by telling
the largest trees into and across il.
The night Of the rebels Laurel Hill took plscc o"
Thursday evening, July IL but was not discovered
by Gen. Morris until the following morning. Orders
were given for immediate pursuit. Following with
somewh larger portion himself, he Capt Benbam
forward with the advance DIVISION giving him orders TO
press forward the rebels far ssdsve
the ford at that place and await his arrival Clp Ben
ham set instantly At rss with caution, for might
have been only fsint to draw into attack
on reashiag ntrenchments they found entirely
and Captain had the pleasure to be the s
officer within the abandoned works This order 10 halt
unfortunate Had Captain Benham been authorized TO
advance further q more electual pursuit might have
been made but held back BY positive directions no WAS
compelled to wait-his under arms and ready TO 70
sumo tho pursut-tn General Morris arrived, at lon
O'Clock r. NJ It then too late to till morning.
the men wanted rest, and they were allowed brief
sumber Of three hours-rom eleven in the evening until
two A. M-when the pursuit was eagerly resumed Tho
pursuit was memorable Captain Bsnham led with
800 men, composed Of Ohio Indiana troops. Gene
raj Morris followed with the Up and down the
mountains, through dehIss and over rugged
ridges, everywhere impsded by the obstructiaps
thrown in tho way By the flying enemy the pursuit
pressed with ardor. Many fell behind from hunger
and exhaustion. At length after crossing OF the
branches OF Cheat river troops discovered tho pro
vision train of the rebels at rest but soldier firing his
musket apprisod the enemy OF approach, and tbs
train in full retreat two rebel regiments coming
to the protect 1t, before first regiment could
roach the ford This caused further pursuit OF three
or four miles, when the train was again over
taken half across the stream and here General
Garnett made vigorous stand for its defcnoe The 10
caity afforded Ane position repel assault Cheat
river Of its numerous bends winds here around
bluff fifty sixty feet high, the lower portion Of which
covered with dense growth Of laurel through which
1t Is almost impossible to penetrate. On the top Of the
bluff he placed his cannon which swept approach u
tho ford; while his troops drawn up in line some
four hundred feet In length, with the remainer Of his
forces within mile Thsy were all projected from our
nre by fence which showed only their heads above it,
and by numerous trees which afforded them cover.
On coming up the Seventh Indiana regiment, Colonel
Dumont prossed into the stroam crossed and attempted
TO scale the bluff in 'front.' In face of the enemys fire Of
musketry and artillery but the stecpness OF the ascent
rendered impossible. When Captain Benham camo
he found the climbing the steep ascent almost on
their faces aud seeing the difficulty Of success, he or
deEed the down again into the stream At right
was depression in the bu just where ravine came
down TO river and he directed them try the ascent
there They did but found the way steep and 30
obsructed the dense cedar that they found
this too impossible. The troops then ordered TO
cross the stream keeping in its bed, Immediately under
the bluff pass II to left where they could gain the
road. This Immediately executed The mon passed
down the whole front part Of the enemy protected go
eectualy by the stsspness Of the bank from his 6rc
that they emerged the right Of the rebels without
losing man; and the head Of the column showed
itself on their flank the rebels fed, leaving one or
their guns and q number OF killed, wounded and
prisoners in hands. About quarter Of q mile
in advance the river makes another turn; and hero
the enemy again attempted stand Gen. Garnett him.
self bravey stood, aud tried to rally his around
him. but in vain He then begged for thirty skirmshers
go back and pick on the federal officers. few dd
with him to the bank of the stream; but IS our
troops came up the rebels fired voIsy and again aed
leaving Garnett with only q single companion. Our
troops forward to the bank Of the stream and fired
upon the rugtves. General Garnett struck, .
Mnie bullet piercing the heart aud coming out at the
right nipple He fell dead or about Eve thousand troops
which Gsrnett bad in his ntrenchmsGts only about
two thousand escaped in disorganzed and demoralnsd
condition Colonel Dumsnt continued the pursuit Ten
miles, and bivouacked the battle ground In tho re-
treat the road strewn with all sorts OF military
eqapage Our troops captured forty loaded wagons,
risd and two stand Of coors and several hun
dred prisoners. The fight turned ato disastrous
The rebels lost all their tents, camp equipage, army
chests knapsacks aud large quantities Of ammunition.
They retreaied up the Horseshoe.
GENERAL AcLELLAN's REPORT OF THE AFFAIR.
General Mcclellan, learning the Of the defeat
OF srnett the following report 10 the War Depart
ment at Washington =
Col L. d. TOWNSEND, Washington, d. c.
General Garnet and his forces have been routed ana
his baggage and one gun taken His army oom-
pleiely demcrazed General Garnett was killed Wills
ST. George We have completely annhilated the encmy
in western Virginia. Our loss is but thirteen killed
and not more than fourteen wounded while the snemys
oss far from hundred killed, and the number
o prisoners we have taken will amount TO at least one
Thousand We have captured seven Of the encmys guns
in all. portion Of Garnetts forces retraated; but
look their capture by General Hill who is in hot pur
suit The troops that Garnett had under his command
by Georgans, Tennesseeans aud Caronians Our sue.
cess complete, and firmly believe that secession 10
killed in this section Of the country; ,,c,u,
Major General United States Army
GENERAL HILLS OPERATIONS.
The rebels Garnstt their retreat partially slip
ping through the fingers General Norris who failed
match and defeat his eneny contemplated in the plan
General Mcclellan The Commander in Chief provided
another Of meeting the rebels in their Az
contemplated in the general plan Of operations General
Ill., with his brigade, to leave Grafton receipt Of
the intelligence OF the retreat Of Garnstt from Laurel
Hii and proceed down the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
70 Oakland and march from thence 10 Red House where
General Mcclellan properly supposed tho rotroating
column would be The intelligence Of the retreat o.
the rebels was furnished General Hl and saturday
Afternoon July 13 he left Grafton, with column OF
thousand five hundred men. Red House--the point OF
opcrations-is sixty eight miles from Grafton. Ho pro-
ceeded 10 Oakland, any two miles from Grafton BY rai'
which he reached at about nine O'Clock the same nght
where he halted and encamped his troops for the
night Al this place he received additional rcnforcemsnts
and two pieces Of artillery His column was then com
posed exclusively Of Ohio troops General Hill sent
small detachment 10 place called West Union. in
hopes Of intsrcsptng the rercating rebels a. thas
point. Tho main body Of his brigade remained at