The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-01-29

ons and Col Crook, returned TO Sum,
mersville. Parts of companies, nun
beriug 167 men, were placed under my
my command and ordered up Birch Riv-
er, to the Upper Glades, thence back to-
Summersville. through Webster county,
with orders to return without prisoners,
and to lay waste the country in retalia.
tion for the burning of Sutton. as it was
well known the Inhabitants of this section
had been engaged in the burning of that
place. . ..,..., 3.
From every indication during the day
we were convinced that we were in the
neighberhood of body of rebels, and it
became necessary to travel with caution.
| About 4 o'clock in the evening the ad-
vance guard commanded by Lieut.. Ford
game suddenly in sight of some 30 or
or 40 rebels who were advancing towards
US. but on discovering as TUNED and fed
lup the mountain side. Supposing them
to be the advance guard of much larger
patty. and that they should not ont flank
US. 1t was evident that our position should
be on the same side Of the mountain and
above them if possible. Our forces were
ordered up. but we found NO foe. and
after carefully examining the mountain
lside for ! of mile, and night coming
on we descended again to the banks ol
Birch and camped. ss-.., s.. .- 80 !.
In the morning we pursued our way
very carefully sending out skirmishers or
| both sides, and very soon the clear tone
of the Eu6eld told us that our skirmishers
were driving 10 the rebel pickets W.
continued our way up Birch and through
the giades with continual skirmishine
fight until We came to Gardner's store
, Here the enemy were In force and deter
mined to give Us battle, and of course
had taken an advantageous position o.
the left was a mountain side cut through
by deep ravine. over this mountain sid'
behind the trees and rocks the rebels hat
taken their position; on the right was alst
a mountain side, but cleared of it's timber
, on the right was Gardner's store, in th
some 80 or 40 rebels we're posted, ant
had we followed the road. as have ne
doubt they supposed We would. it woult
have brought us precisely between thei
ires Instead of falling into this trap
t we left the road turning off to the righ
{ and ascending bluff came upswith tn
, enemy ID rear of the store. whereupo'
J the enemy fed from the store like scarce
rabbits. our boys firing voley after voley a
| they ran up the oppos te mountain side
The battle now become general. 1t wa
, evident the rebels had the advantage il
3 position. We we're oRa cleared bill sid
aud they were in the woods aud behiu'
trees. t. tcs
i Capt Palmer and Lieut. Kelley o
Company g & F now made charge a.
the mountain covered by the Ere of Com
!, pany E Il D. the result of which was
> complete success; e'rebel line was bro
! ken and their forces divided, and turning
upon their left dank. we drove them lik
sheep down the hill side aud across dec
, ravine. We were'now on equal groun1 1
, on opposite wooded hill sides, and agail
? the conflict was renewed on our side will
redoubled vigor, aud continued ten o
: fifteen minutes, when 'he rebels again het
in all directions up aud over the noun
tain. 90 Jo le fltsF
| Our loss was four slightly and one bad
RI ~ wounded John w. Dolman of m
company was shot through the wrist an
: right breast, the ball passing through hi
| body. Dolman lives in Lebanon, Mon
roe county. The wound was believed t.
be mortal, but from present indications
is believed he will get vel. .aissd o
: The rebel loss was six killed., the wound
|, ed we could tell nothing about.
The rebel force was from the most re
liable Information about lS6. and was th
same band who had attacked and burned
, Sutton. A single occurrence in the Ggh
J, will serve to illustrate the courage ant
daring of all who had the opportunity
: So completely did the charge conducted
by Capt. Palmer take the rebels by eur
prise that private by the name of Price
after having fred his piece, found him
self in the rear and very close to rebe
of giant size. The rebels rife was no,
only loaded, but he had colts revolver
10 the same condition in his belt. Price
sprang like tiger knocking him down
i with bis empty gun and setting his foot
!, on his breast. drew the rebels own revolv'
er from his belt, shot him through the
head. es@ s.ss s-iei .
4 Lieutenauts Ford & Patton, together
with Company e bore prominent part
\ 10 this fight, aud demonstrated clearly thai
1.-THE Monroe boys will face the music and
stand fire. sea igt
According to positive instructions
was to lay waste aud destroy the country
this was an unpleasant bnt necessary par
of the warfare, consequently for q distance
iof 16 miles there was not left vestge o.
forage or habitable building, and as We
ascended the mountain, could trace our
1path for miles by the cloud of black
1smoks that showed itself in the distance
War is indeed a terrible thing. 's
1nSWe lhavesa drill house constructed 80