The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-01

il q L PHELPS,
LIS 8. Lieutenant Commanding. o. 8. n. ,
TAK.sKInMIsM AT DLoomIN0 oAP.
lCerespondencs Of the New Hssh fhp@s,
4 "a 4 small PARTON Of Gen. Laadss's force bsina
and Ohio Railroad, half way between Hancock
and Cumberland, Joined Il from New Greek with
. portion Of the force there, and ordersd tho
construction Of the Great CacApon Railroad
bridge, This was completed on the evening Of
| the 18th inst. At O'Clock p. 10. on the 18th
inst, Gen. Lander started south with small
cavalry forcs. At O'Clock the same evening.
word came back for portion Of the command
70 move. .,s,.. !,
This was the first intelligence We had Of 8
march being intended, although The command
had been turned out twice day, with blsnkets
slung, inspected, marched short distances, and
ordered to keep two days cooked rations on
hand. Il was soon covertly whispered among
o6hcers that Il was the intention Of Gen. Lander
70 move on Bloomington Gap, strong pass In
the mountains, reported 70 be held BY Gen. Gar.
sons Brigade, 1000 strong For this purpose
he had called ID all his cavalry force, number
ing nearly 900 men, and led BY Col. Anastanssl,
| of the 1st Virginia Regiment. They bad bsen
arriving for two days previous. II appeared
afterward that IL had been intended to bridge
the Cacapon river the next day, but the enemy
having discovered the small party Of scouts led
by General Lander, he concluded to mako the
march that night. Twenty wagons we're placed
in the river, planks we're hauled, and In four
hours bridge improvised st point about seven
miles south Of the railroad.
The bridge, 1870 feet 10 length, was built BE-.
tween and 10 o'clock at night. Il Was about
seven miles to Bloomington Gap from where the
river was bridged.
| Gen. lsndsr's intention was To charge thro'
the Gap In the night, a. tho position of the enc
~ on the east side of the town, and check their
retreat toward Winchester until the infantry
provided for support arrived. II was believed
that, whatever tho force of the rebels, in the
darkness and confusion the quarters of the on.
GERS could be surrounded and the officers taken
before their men could form II was one Of
those dashing exploits for which this officer hes
been 80 Justly celebrated. But the enemy bad
retired beyond the town, and when led by the
General and his staff the cavalry dew through
the Gap and rallied beyond IL, the birds had
down. COL Ansstsnzel was at ouoe ordered TO
push forward on the Winchester road with the
cavalry, reconnoiter, and, If possible, overtske
and capture the baggage Of the enemy.
Gen. Lander meantime brought up Col. Car
roll With the 9th Ohio regiment, and the 7th
Virginia, Col. Evans, for support. Col. An.s.
tanzel encountered the enemy at the head OF the
pass, two miles from Blooming. He was met BY
sharp fire, and halted his command, instead
Of pushing through it to the front. On hearing
the firing Gen. Lsnder came up and ordered
Anastanzel forward. The men faltered before
the musketry of the enemy, when Lander saying
"f0llow me" halting at the head of the column
only long enough to tell the men to remember
sneir holy mission and follow their General TO
victory. His appeal was answered by one pri.
yate named John Cannon, Virginia refugee.
Gen. Lander charged, followed by Major Arm
strong, Assistant Adjutant General; Fits James
0'Brien, the well known poet, of bis staff and
Major Bannister, Paymaster q. s. A., who had
volunteered for the expedition. A group of
rebel officers were distant about 800 yards, en-
couraging their men. Gen. Lander being mount
ed on his celebrated horse, outran the rest Of
the party, and cut off the retreat of the rebel
officers. Surrender, gentlemen" he said, and
coolly dismounting, extended his hand to receive
the sword of Col. Baldwin, whom an instant be-
fore he had appeared, to outside observers, to
be riding directly over. Five of the rebel OH.
cers surrendered to Gen. Lander, and four more,
Immediately afterward, to the officers of his
staff, among them the Assistant Adjutant Gen.
eral of Gen. Carson.
small number of their adversaries, commenced
. heavy fire from the woods, but the cavalry had
recovered from its panic, and now poured up
the bill. Gen. Lander once more ordered An.
astanxel TO charge up the road and capture tho
baggage Of the enemy. The cavalry dashed for
ward; the advance guard soon overlook and
turned out Of the road fifteen wagons and hor-
ses, but the main force Of the cavalry seemed
paralyzed, and would not face the fire. Two Of
the gallant privates in front were shot by the
enemy, who had again rallied, and there was
another check. Col Evans now came up with
his regiment Of infantry, and captured many
more of the rebels Gen. Lander shot at one of
his own cavalry men who refused to 60 forward,
saying, "The next time I'll hit you, and if you
don't clear the road this regiment shall deploy
and FIRE upon you." Col. Carroll now came up.
"Go on" said Gen. Lander to Carroll, I'VE need
you now-clear them out, and take their bag.
gage" Col. Carroll cleared the road as he went,
both infantry regiments behaving admirably,
following and engaging the enemy to the last,
until ordered back. The pursuit was continued
eight miles.
The result Of this affair was the capture of Is
commissioned officers and As non. commissioned
officers and privates Thirty of the rebels were
killed, with q | oss on our side Of seven killed
and wounded. Col. Carroll drove the enemy
beyond the limits Of Gen. Lander's department
and returned.