Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-19
pSFRoN FREnoSrls coNNarn-T1

WIN Lieut.. Henry H. Fickel. OF
M"nsheld, Ohio, who is direct from Ere.
monts command, and who witnessed the
battle at Mcdowell ON the 9Th. hetwaon
Allroy's and Schenck's forces and the an
envy under Jackson. Mr. Fickel was a
Lieutenant in the 32d Ohio, but resigned
his position some time since and wen,
nome. lie returned to his regiment short
time ago, and was with it during the en-.
sagement, not as soldier but as u civilian
and rendered good service .by assis,;ng -
carrying off aud caring for the wounded.
Our forces consisted ofnine regiments in
all, six under MIlroy and three pnder
Schenck, numbering not more than seven
thousand men. Those under NIilrov were
the 18th, I'D, s2d and 25th Ohio. and ,bs
I'd and Sd Virginia. Those under scbeDck
were the SD and 55th Ohio and the 9Th
virginia" 1t appears that Milroy's force
bad advanced from Monterey in the direc-
ton of Stauuton AS far as Mcdowell ,vo.
! regiments ten miles beyond and one six
teen Just before noon on the 9Th the pick
cts of this advanced regiment were driven
in, and it fell back to the other two. They
all fell back in good order to within a mile
aud quarter of Mcdowell, where tbev
made a stand. Skirmisbing continued mn.
til quarter to six in the evening when the
main fight began. The enemy were posted
along the top of mountain which termi.
mated abruptly on our left. MilrOy's forces
were disposed in front of the mountain
some distance along. with the batteries ON
elevated ground in the rear. There were
five Of these-Capt. Hymen's Capt. De
Beck's, Capt. Ewing's Capt. Johnson's, and
another not remembered by our informant.
Capt. Hymen's battery in particular. did
brilliant execution, being about 4nnon..lo
level with the enemy. His shells ali burst
at the right time and in the right Mace.
each one clearing space of about thirty
feet in the ranks of the rebels. Our In
tormant relates, as an instance of this Off
GERS skill, that, seeing group of rebel
officers on an eminence, about two miles
distant he got their range and sent them
shell, which killed two out of four of
them. This battery was placed on q height
where ittoOk twelve horses aud one hun,
dred men to.take up each gun. The enemy
fred nothing, but musketry, apparently
being unable to get their guns to the top
OF the mountain on which they were post
ed. They, however, rained perfect show
er OF musket balls down the side of the
moup tatn, but fortunately. as is nearly al |
ways the care in firing down a hill, fred
TOO high. Our informant, who was en-
gagged with others in bearing the killed
and wounded to the rear, says the balls
whistled around them like hail, and in |
dangerous proximity
About seven o'clock in the evening
Gen. SchenGk5 brigade came up, having
left Franklin at haIf-past ten in the morn. |
ing. The fight ragged furiously, and lasted |
till niue o'clock ut night. Shortly after
dark, the 32d aud s2d Ohio made brilliant
bHyonet charge up the mountain in the face
Of the enemy's fire, and drove them from
their position, but much to their surprise |
found heavy force in reserve on the other
side of the mountain. They fell back, of |
course. Meanwhile, the enemy had come |
around the bluff termination of the noun
tain, aud fanked our force. The 18th |
Ohio was posted on the extreme left, and |
the weight of this flank movement fell !
upon them. They fought CALAMITY and
were considerably cut up. Their ammuui-
ton gave out, and they stood upon the |
held and waited like heroes till a fresh |
supply was brought them. Upon the dis |
greatly
rior in numbers, our force fell back in good |
order about 8 o'clock, having given the reb- |
els ut least Roland for their Oliver. Our |
loss amounted to 81 killed and l6O wound |
ed. TLatOf the enemy was believed to be |
much larger, from the fact that our men
firing up hill, were more accurate in their |
aim, and on account of the terrible execu-
ton of the shells thrown from our batter |
les Deserters who came in after the fight,
declared that their loss was 400 killed, be-
sides the wounded.
While the battle was going on a couple |
of companies from the Virginia regiments |
LEFT at Monterey to guard baggage and pro-
visions, and who had orders to fall back, |
were attacked with such suddeuness that |
they had to skedaddle on the double quick
and leave everything-eve their own bng- |
gage, clothing, uniforms, etc., in their
trunks. Lieut.. Weaver, of the I'd Virginia,
left behind trunk containing IAluables to |
the amOut of $3.50. There was no fighting,
as they Obeyed the order to fall back as
soon as the pickets were driven in, conse- |
quentlT nobody hurt there, but considera- |
BILE loss of personal effects.
After tue fight our forces fell back to
franklin, the capital of PendIeton county,
and next day this side. The enemy IL, 900 |
strong followed. There, were two or three
days Diminishing batteries playing
on them with she'll and keeping them back
in spite of their superior force. They
came up and occupied our deserted camp at
one time but we'll posted battery soon
made that too hot for them, and they ''felI
back" In this skirmishing three of our
pickets were killed, and.we killed six of
their men in return.
Heavy reinfOrcements from Fremont had
arrived before our informant left franklin.
Bleuker's Bully Dutchmen" were there
eager for fight. General Fremont was
there in person. The General is almost
| idolized BIZ his troops. Il WAS believed that