The New York herald., 1862-08-11

Sixth 0hio and Fifteentn OHIO eomposad ihe canie
/ Other troops we're IL reserve. A# ~
MOVEMENTS or THE MAIN ooLuss.
roseorans with colurau, rsashed bachanen July ),
and WIS joined by Gem Mcclellan on the ith. The
country which troops marched was dihca''.-
The mountain sleeps, deilcs zgzag roads,, sf
ahdfreguAr mountain gorEes.at times seemed
almost mpassabe The risk 10 man and animals was
often of the hazar nature. and the march al All
times. e,ty harasstng and extremely laoorious
From tue 4th uut the 10th Of July Mcclellan had his
headquarters al Buchanan lie employed himself ifips
! the intcr~ strengthening his line Of comm'n sioa
with his at carksburg garrisoned several mpor'
the routes. aud placed strong guards a.
every suspicious path byroat The presence OF SO
numerous body troops among the people Of Western
Virginia 3 experience TO them. Al nrst they
startled, then curious and at last frightened Tne
ntcrnecine had yet been felt In this section OF
country and the sparsene OF the population render
cd tho OF intelligence irregular and d'mcus
Mcclellan desired, before proceeding further INTO
the country to reassure these people tnaI nis
mission was peace to al peaceable citizens, and
thai he came to afford them the mos. ample
pre- their persons aud property, 80 long as they
we "a TO the federal government. This policy was
cmincnty wise; had the desired effect and its opera
oa won many doubling hearts 70 eaity % the old
flag. a4s
parties sent out daily 70 obtain correct Information
and full details Of the topography OF the country tho
strength and approaches to the enemy's position On
the 9th Of July part OF the Forty fifth Ohio regiments
while scout fell in with several hundred rebel.
near Middle Bridge, one Of the approaches to Rich
Mountain After desperate fight our troops cut their
way through and returned TO camp. The next morning
the Fourth and Seventh Ohio regiments under Colonel
AcCook, marched and took possession OF tho BRIDGE
BATTLE OF RICH MOUNTAIN JULY IL, 1851.
Cen McCleans corps darmee, consisting Of the Eighth
Tenth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth regiments Of
indiana Volunteers the Third, Fourth, Ninth and Nine
teenth regiments Of Ohio Volunteers Company Fourth
regiment United States artillery, Capt Mack, serving as
infantry; Compan G. Fourth regiment United States ar
tIery Capt. Howe, with battery Of six pieces Of can
nom Codwater (Mchigan) artillery, Capt Loomis with
battery Of six pieces Cincinnati Cavalry, Capt Bird
SAIL Chicago Dragoons Capt. Barker, and the Sturgs
Rifles Capt Steele Of Chicago; Company A, Capt Hayes
Second Virginia Volunteers Company +, Capt Phillips
Third regiment Virginia voldntcersin all about 5000
arrived at Roaring Run creek from Buchanan on the
9th inst The rst incident that occurred and which pre-
faced extended operations was the capture OF
four mounted rebels Roaring crossing, who were
evidently the lookout for the approach Of tho Union
troops When Of the column OF the Uuon troops
reached creek crossing the main road from Bachanan
Rich Mountain, and thence TO Beverley, it was disco
vered that bridge crossing the stream had been de-
siroysd by the rebels The troops being tgued by their
long march from Buchanan they encamped under the
immediate direction Of General Mcclellan and in such or.
der as TO be ready for any emergency that might occur
| during the night,
On the 10th inst General Mcclellan ordered the bridge
crossing the Roaring Run creek to be REBUILT and when
this completed reconnaissance IN force in front of
the rebels position Rich Mountain. The party con-
sisted Of several regiments under the direction OF Lieu
tsnnrt o. II. Poe, the Engineers assisted by Colonel
Lander volunteer aid and Judge Advocate Key, of Gen.
McCleans staff As the party approached the enemy's
position detachmcnts of Union skirmishers were de-
ployed woods to the right and left Of the main
road driving in the encuys pckets before them, and
moving forward until they mad full view Of the front Of
tho eney's main works AS the enemys pckets retired
they Hrcd the Union troops and joined BY alter
nate discharges Of grare and canister from the rebe
works the neghbofing heights Notwithstanding the
Gre Of the enemy the reconnaissance complete and
satisfactory and the party retired in good order with
the loss of killed aud two wounded Of the Ninth
Indiana Agmeut. AZ the party about TO return
they were by General Mcclellan and staff, with the
main column troors advancing to their support The
united erces then returned and much to the chagrn Of
the troops who supposed they moved forward to attack
the enemy front From the information derived by the
reconnos auce and OF the captured rebel pr
soncrs Gen Mcclellan derived positive data of tho
Il
4 and the numerical strength OF The enemy.
On the night Of the 10th inst. Gen. Mcclellan assisted
by members Of his stan, matured his final plan for
the enemys position and in pursuance thereof,
carly morning the 1lth he detailed the brigade
under command Of Gen Rosecrans, consisting OF the
Ninth Ohio and the Tenth and Thietsenh Indiana voun
tesrs TO from the main road point three and
| half miles fromths enehys principal works. and pro
seed up inclined ridge TO the summit Of range Of
mountains for distance Of eight miles at point front
ing the rear the enemy's works Gen McCallans
ders with hearty response, and the movement WAS
commenced by daylight, The route through dense
| woods, in which a heavy undersrowih. Working
parties forward with to clear the route
and facilitate the passage OF The advancing column BY
three oclock 10 the afternoon the work completed
| and the Union column sight OF the ensmys de-
fences From the time Gen. Rosecrans commenced the
OF The mountain he despatched eoriers at short
Intervals reporting progress TO Gen. Mcclellan BY one
OF these messengers Gen. Mcclellan sent dispatches
to Gen. Rosecrsns giving him General R) the orders
and plan to attack the sncny's Through
toward circumstance this messenger mistook the road
leading TO Gen -Rosecraps' position and, instead fol-
lowed up the main road fred upon, taken pri
soner, and his dispatches sczsd by the rebels, The
nrst indication that General Mcclellan received OF the
capture Of this courier the return of the atters
horse covered with blood into camp. The information
thbs obtained BY the rebels did not alter the plan Of
attack for another courier despatched, conveying
| the same orders 10 General Rosccrans. The enemy,
thus early informed in the morning Of General Rose
Grams movements prepared himself Cor defence
in the rear and when ,hs Union forces made their sp
pearanse they found themselves in front Of log breast
works lined with rebel troops. At a time when Gen
Mcclellan supposed Gen Rosecrans ready TO attack the
enemy in the rear he ordered seven regiments from the
main column at Roaring creek TO proceed up tho main
read leading the enemys front. oen. Mcclellan
manded person. At three O'Clock in tho afternoon
rapid discharges OF muskcy and artillery were heard by
General Mcclellan the direction oA where General
Rosecrsns supposed 10 be stationed indicating that
/ he was engaging the enemy suddenly cessation
tl1a arnn ensind which