Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-04

w SpuAA NlG4ls QOUTlI-'bH
Description OF the Mig sandy coun-
try, and OF the recent Fight there.
We are permitted to publish the follow
ing private letter from Wheeling boy
down on the Big Sandy, to his father ia
this city:
MIDDLE CREEK, KY, jan. 10th, 1862.
The possession of the Big Sandy. srna.
rating Kentucky aud Yirginia, is an object
very much TO be desired by the rebels. as
they suppose by that means they would be
enabled to obtain supplies from the Ohio
tor their forces in Western Virginia and
! other points, and at the same time carry ON
active military operations against Ohio.
10 defeat project of this kind, Colonel
J. "A. Garfield, of the 42d Ohio Regiment,
was semitic this valley in command of tho
18th Brigade.
A month agO the 42d Ohio landed Al
Gatlettsburg, At the mouth of the Big San.
dy, where the 18th Regiment were await
lug for reinforCements. In two or three
days we were joined by 200 cavalry under
eammand of Major Mclaughlin. i've then
began to ascend the river. The rebels
were reported coming down on US, but still
we eaaVanced, and Christmas day tho rebels,
i s+.NtA So EGlEGhtBu miles Oes
yond. and fortified themselves.
On january 7th our forces reached
Paintsvillc, dnd that evening the cavalry
made charge ON ono of their encanitj-
ments, killing seven men, our loss being
two. Tho rebels fled in hot haste, leaving
behind number of knapsaps, blankets
and other traps along tho road. Tho next
day VIC were reinforced by the arrival of
tue 10th Ohio Regiment under Colonel
Lindsay, and on January 9th, Colonel Car
field, with about 1900 men, went in search
OF the running secesh, and late that night
sent despatch for the remaining forces to
join him Immediately. Accordingly on
January 10th We were out long before day
light, and amid mud, rain and darkness
marched fifteen miles over great hills.
across deep raTines and through mud to
tue knees in many places. At / o'clock,
T. NJ, we reached tho brow OF. mountain,
from which could be seen tho dirty, shah.
ey, little secesh town of PrestonburR.
There, while resting, the sound Of musket.
~ aud the roar of cannon was heard. In
stantly we were on our feet and off ON
"dOuble-quickn for the scene of action. vet.
three miles distant. When within mile
| OF the place, We unslnng our knapsacks,
threw OF our overCoats, hRversaks and
canteens, and the whole reserve force star
ted on full run for the battle ground.
When Col. Garfield saw us coming, be
shouted t'thank God,n and the boys filled
the air with loud huzzas. BY the time we
reached the ridge where our men were
stationed, the firing had mostly ceased,
and the rebels had retrated to the ton of
high hill beyond the range of our guns.
We were ordered to rest while, butin the
meantime two Divisions of our troops had
been sent around, one each side Of the en-
emy, and in few minutes they began to
pour death and destruction into the rebels
ranks. For an hour or more the firing
was incessant, and the reserve of the 42d
was ordered across the creek. Three cheers
Tor the 42d Ohio rang among the hills, and
then down we went, plunging through the
water more than knee deep, and began
scaling the mountain, but before we were
half way up the secesh gave way and lcft
us in possession of the hill Darkness soon
closed tho battle. In short time great
light appeared occasioned by the rebels
burning their camps.
Next morning no rebels were to be found
except the dead left on the field, for dur
ing the night the cowartlly scamps had re-
moved themselves as far as possible from
Uncle SANS boys, having concluded, from
a few hours experience, that close combat
with them was not at all desirable. It is
fully ascertained that the rebels in this ac-
ton lost So men, aud probably more than
100 were killed, besides the number of
wounded must have been great The Union
forces only had one man killed on the field
and II wounded, two ofwhom have since
died. Certainly this was n remarkable
victory. God has been on our side aud
brought US of victorious aud safe, and on
1 ly through his divine interposition can we
account for the fact that no more OF our
men wero killed. The battle lasted four
hours and ten minutes, the rebels had the
choice of ground and four cannon; they
threw grape and she'll, but not q man
was burt by them. The rebels are report.
ed to have been 3 or 1000 strong but
1 1900 was most probably their true. force.
Among their killed are Geld officer and
two Captains. We also took seven pris.
ouers, ten horses, twenty boxes of stores.
nearly fifty stand of arms, Que box oflead.
and one of she'll and round shot. KHAN.
sacks, blankets, cartridge boxes, canteens.
hayersacks, corn bread, &C., were found
scattered over the field. They burned a
large house contaihing their stores, be.
SIDES several wagons tents, &c, and shot
'Ee gaty head; of hogs, TO prevent them from
falling into our hands. Many of their
4 dead were left on the field, but 4 large
number had been hauled down the hin
/ and concealed IN deep ravihe t5s
Col. Brown, of the 18th, Col. Orayner,
! Of the 10th Ohio, Maj Pardee, aud Col.
Garfield, Of the.42d Ohio, are deserving Of
1.-THE highest praise for the cool judgment
land bravery with which they conducted
themselves on the field. Col. Garfield Is
tJust the man for the place, and is beloved
by all his men. The boys fought like
tigers, and did glorious execution.
One instance Of individual bravery de-
serves notice, It was OF q Inera boy from
90. &, AID Ohio, who was foremost in the