The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-01-09
The Late Battle Of Allegheny sum
init in Western Virginia.

~ law O1gb4O VI AA1Jk ukLN DuUl@
init in Western Virginia.
The best account we have seen
of the late battle at Allegheny
Summit, Western Virginia, is con-
tanned inthe following letter tothe
Woodtield (Q) SpSr1 Of D Democracy,
from an Ohio captain, WHO says:
lIUTToNvlLLE, Va, Dec. II, 1861.
DEAR SPIRIT: On the 18th in
slant occurred the bloodiest battle
that has yet been fought in Wes-
tern Virginia.
A number of deserters from the
secesh camp came in a few days
before the affair, and reported that
there were about 5000 secesh at
Baidwin's camp, on the Allegheny
Summit, about eight or nine miles
beyond the old Grecnbrier camp;
and stated further that half Of
them were sick, and probably not
more than 1000, to 1900 were able
for duty. Upon this representa-
ton, General Milroy determined
to attack them. Accordingly de-
tachmcnts were taken from the
Twenty-fifth and Thirty-second
Ohio, the Ninth and Thirteenth
Indiana, and the Second Virginia,
in all about 1900; about 500 Of
them from our regiment-the
Twenty fifth Ohio; all under the
command Of General Milroy, Of
Indiana. Upon arriving near the
secesh encampment, the detach-
ments from the TwcLty-ifth, Thir-
teenth and Thirty-second under
Colonel Jones were to attack 0 II
the right, while the Ninth and
Second were to attack in the rear
When within a few hundred rods
Of the campthe force under Colonel
Jones was fired upon from an am
bustado, which threw the men into
some confusion, and a portion
made a stampede, some of them
never returning to the ranks.-
This unmanly flight was greatly to
be deplored. -n";|'.a 'Ha' elt
Colonel Jones pursued his way
up the mountain, and just as his
men were formed in line of battle
a force of not less than 1000 secesh
arose within six rods and fired a
most terrific vol!ey upon our men.
Here, again, some Of the men from
each of the dctachments fled the
field, Most ofthem, noble fellows,
stood their ground manfully, and
fought like tigers. After firing
three or four volleys, in reply to a
perfect hail-storm of buckshot and
balls, our men fixed bayonets and
charged upon the apparently over
whelming force of the seoesll. On
they went, and the whole secesh
line, with the exception of II COM
pany Of Georgians, hurriedly fell
back to their intrenchmonts. The
Georgians stood their ground until
the bayonets of our men almost
reached them, when they followed
their comrades. This occurred
within from forty to sixty yards of
the sesesh intrenchments.
Having secured themselves in
their nt'enchments, the seceSh
forced our men to fall back near
their former position. The secesh
followed them back some rods,
and the battle ragged with fury.
The number OF our men in the
mean time falling off one-half;
some ingloriously fled, some were
wounded, others were carrying
them off, and others nobly died at
their posts fighting like heroes.
The total loss in our regiment
was six killed, fifty-fve wounded,
and seven missing-siXty-eight in
allan unusually neavy loss for
so small a force. being about one
fifth of those who assembled the
mountain.
The total loss in killed Oh our
side was, l believe, between TWEEN
ty and thirty. Our men took
twenty-cight prisoners.
This engagement may be con-
sidered Il defeat on our side, be-
cause we failed to accomplish the
object Of the expedition; but it can
not be regarded as success on
theirs, for the reason that they
lost much more heavily than we
did, and did not feel themselves in
condition to pursue our men when
they retired.