Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-01-23
The Late SkirmiSh at Bath and
Hancock.

that those who have given correct verba
accounts Of the engagement may be relieved
from the unpleasant position in which those
inaccurate reports place them, forward you
the following official report for publication
THOMAS o. OSBORN, Lieut. Co.. Commanding
39M Regt. III. Vols.
! SIR have the honor to submit to you
at your request, the following report
| Should have made it earlier but for the
pressure of more important duties.
Obeyins your order, took possession OF
the village OF Bath, Morgan county, Va,
about the Goth of December. ! had under
my command Companies d, and X, Of our
regiment, and few days later Lieut.. Z. D.
Muhlenberg, Of Capt. Bcsts battery, reported
to me with two pieces of artillery. They
were planted on Warm Spring Ridge, in a
position 10 command three Of the four roads
leading into Bath. Nothing unusual occurred
until the I'd Of January, when vague rumors
of an approaching enemy reached Inc. ] at
once sent parties to reconnoiter, but nothing
was discovered that substantiatcd the report
until the afternoon Of the 3D. At that time
l detailed Capt. Linton with thirty Of his
best shots, and five mounted cavalry men
from Capt. Russcll's Company, and Lieut..
Belchcr, also mounted, from Co. X, to make
reconnaissance with mo in the direction of
the new grade leading to Winchester. We
had proceeded but about three miles when
we discovered squad of the enemys cav
airy. They soon halted near the advance
line Of their approaching force, which have
since learned from several different and tho
roughly reliable sources numbered not less
than eighteen thousand, including one rogi
ment of cavalry and twenty-five pieces of
artillery. A brisk engagement cnsued be-
tween our men and fifteen or twenty rebel
cavalry and about one hundred and fifty in
fantry. Discovering the great odds against !
lis ! ordered retreat, which the most Of our |
men accomplished under great difficulties,
but with much cred TO themselves and dis
appointment to tho enemy. Lieut. Belcher,
the five cavalrymcn and several of our in
fantry, retrcatcd under vollcy Of not less
than a hundred guns from the enemy, that
evidently tried to cut off our retreat; and
strange to say, no harm was done except one
horse wounded.
We lost in the skirmiSl eight Of Captain
Linton's men, who, | Lave since learned,
we're taken prisoners, and three others were
wounded. ! am credibly informed that we
,illcd five Of the enemy, including one LIST
lieutenant, and wounded nine.
l can but speak i'll high terms Of COM
ncndation of all engaged with me III the
'kirmsh Our position WAS at one time
critical one, and nothing but consideration
md courage saved us from falling victims to
rebel led, or being booked for Richmond.
Returning to Bath, ] strengthened my
picket guard and applied to you for rcn.
'orccmcnts At midnight the Pennsylvania
Saith, Col. Murray commanding, and a por-
lion Of Captain Russcll's Cavalry company
arrived.
We all left the village about 4 o'clock,
A. NJ, and took our position on Warm
Spring Ridge, noar our artillery.
The enemy appeared in the wood, OF our
light, early in the morning, and from that
Time unit. Col. Murray ordered retreat, a
risk skirmishing fire was kept up by de-
.ached companies of the Pennsylvania slth
md portions Of our companies. But so per-
feet was our position Of defence that none Of
our forces were killed, while the enemy must
have lost as many as fifty or scventy-Gve.
The guns with which the Pennsylvania Saith
we're armed were new, and many Of them
we're at first very Inefficient, otherwise still
moro destruction would doubtless have been
lealt out to the enemy.
Lieut.. Muhenberg did good execution
with his artillery, enabling us to hold the
enemy at bay much longer than we other
very efficient in scouting and attending to
picket duty.
Late in the aftcrnt on the enemy appeared
u full force from several directions, with
cannon and artillery. Col. Murray, fearing
VIC should not be able to hold the place dur
ne the night against the heavy force that
opposed us, ordered retreat via Sir Johns
Run. Near the Potomac we met the 18th
indiana, Regiment, which We had been as
ured would reach lis at . o'clock, a. NJ.
70 return and attempt to regain our position
vas deemed hazardous. The companies of
he 39th, with artillery and train wagons,
therefore, retreated across the Potomac, in as
,ood order as could he expected, with no
means of forriage at our disposal the s4th
passing down the railroad to Alpine.
deeply regret the loss of our brave boys
whom the enemy captured, but notwith-
tanding this regard our skirmish op the
evening of the third very fortunate affair.
t evidently thwarted the plans of the enemy,
which were to surround Ills under the cover
# night and take us all prisoners.
have the honor, sir, to remain,
Yours, very truly,