The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-30


Department we find the following letter in
the New York Eveming Post:
FRANKLIN, Va, May Is, 1852.
The battle of Bull Mountain proves to
have been an engagement of more impor-
tance than the first reports indicated. 1t
appears that on Thursday morning, the 9th,
Gen. Milroy, who is called the "fghting
bulldog" sent message to Gen. Schenck
that the enemy we're crossing the Shenan-
doah in force, and that be would be obliged
to fall back from Mcdowell. He asked for
help. Schenck, who was already nine miles
on the route from this place, pushed on,
and, by forced march OF thirty-two miles,
reached one end of the town of Mcdowell
just as the advanced guard OF the Confed
crates appeared on the slope of the noun.
tain at the other. The situation was
critical one, for the enemy had the power OF
outfarking US on both sides.
THE BATTLE.
In order to gain time for safe retire
with the wagons and stores--for our Gene
, rails had by this time discovered that there
was large body of rebels in front resolved
upon an attack-we opened the ball with
artillery, which was followed by bayonet
charge upon their right flank by the Ohio
25th and 82nd. For two hours they strug
gled up the face of the steep mountains,
beating back the foe, Colonel Cantrell com-
manding the latter; and that there was q
handto-hand fight the character of the
wounds of our men in hospital will bear
witness. The object of the attack having
been gained, our troops fell back in the
most perfect order to this place, fighting
the swit-fOllowing enemy every foot of the
way, killing and woundiDg large numbers
1t is thought that our forces could have
held this place, but that is doubtful. Most
fortunately for our gallant little army, Gen.
Fremont, who since the retreat from York.
town, had anticipated an advance of Jack.
son with large reinforcements, had already
moved his army forward from Petersburg
by rapid marches and arrived here while our
artillery were shelling the enemy in the bills
through which the road runs towards Nc.
DOwell and Staunton. In the fight, which
from its location is called the battle of "Bull
Mountain" we lest some two hundred kill
ed and wounded. send an official list of
our losses herewith. The retreat was GOV.
eered by squadron of Connecticut cavalry
whose great hero is the captain command
ing, named Fish whose GOODNESS and brave.
ry have won him great favor at headquar~
tiers.
CUR POSITION.
The encampment here presents one of the
most picturesque sights imaginable. From
the north the town is approached over
level plain, which breaks of over high
bluff to the east. From the base of this
declivity the meadow, through which runs
the south branch of the Potomac, stretches
of to the foot of precpitous mountains. To
the south lies the town, and on the west the
hills rise gently, crowned with forests.
Over all this lovely natural scene are scat.
tered thousands of tents, men, horses, wag-
0ns, and cattle. Gen. Schenck's headquar-
tiers is an old house on the outskirts of the
town. On the slope of bill side, near the
bottom land, is pitched the small round
tent of the Commanding General. No
waving standard or display marks the head~
quarters.
FREMONT's MOVEMENTS.
The General has distinct plan of cams
paign, yet it is absolutely impossible to
move in advance without forage and prOvis
ions. The movement to this place from
Petersburg was made no withstandng the
necessity Of supporting Schenck and Mlroy
admitting no delay. Fremont has ordered
forward only hard bread, sugar, coffee, and
salt, yet you cannot conceive the labor and
difficulty of transporting provisions from
forty to one hundred miles through noun
famous and an enemy's country. 1t takes
four days for train to reach here from
New Greek Station, forty six miles. What
then must be required to answer the neces
sites of an army of twenty thousand men
1t is useless to talk of moving forward ar
tillery or cavalry, to say nothing of soldiers,
without subsistence. Last night there was
not forage for one hundred horses in the
place today they are securing the country
unsuccessfully for it, have just seen a
document from an officer asking for hard
bread for his men, they having eaten their