Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-04
WHEELING. va WEDNESDAY MORNING. IARCH 4 1863 -

and Black horse Va. cavalry, and many
others of minor Importance
June 9Th, 1862, Major B. F. Ohamberlin,
with one hundred aud thirty men of the
lst Virginia Cavalry led the advance of
General Shields Division; swan their
horses across the South River at Port Re.
public, four miles in advance of the Brig
ade of Infantry which was to support them,
and took possession of the town and bridge
across the Shenandoah river at that place,
and held it for three-fourths OF an hour
and could have burned it till it would have
fallen into the river. Our men repeatedly
asked for an order to fire it, but the Col.
onel who was in command OF the expedi-
ton, positively forbade them TO burn il.
and ordered them to hold it, which they
did, till they were driven of by ten or
twelve regiments of Infantry, aud eighteen.
pieces of ARTILLERY in position. On the fol.
lowing morning, June 9th, the battle of
Port Republic was fought, about one aud
half miles from the town, between two
Brigades of Shields Division and Jaekson's
whole army. 1t was one of the most hotly
contested battles of the war. The battle
ragged with indescribabIe fury, on all parts
OF our line, for over four hours when we
were obliged to retreat in consequence of
the overwhelming numbers, which were
brought to bear against US. tIfthe bridges
had been burned by us, the result would
have been vastly differently At Kelley's
Ford of the Rappahannock river, General
Buford ordered Colonel N. P. Richmond to
take his regiment, and pass through a
dense forest of pines, on the right of the
road, whilst the balance of his Brigade
kept the road aud felds to the left After
passing about q mile, we came upon a
Brigade of Infantry, the advance of Long
streets corps, who rose up about twenty
yards from us, and delivered yolley of
musketry at us, but fortunately fer the
most part their aim was too high
In the face of this fire our brave bows
eheered that you might have heard at a
distance of three miles-charged upou the
rebels and drove them in confusion in eY-
cry direction When Col. Richardson re-
turned from the charge, he and his horse
were both dripping with the blood of his
brave men, two of whom were killed on ei-
ther side ofhim. The one on his left, Cor.
poral Miller, of company NJ, had his right
carotid artery severed by the ball, and the
last throes of his patriotic heart baptized
his equally brave Colonel with his warm
life's blood. Gen. Buford pronounced this
''the most gallant achievement of cavalry
on this continent"
In the second Bull Run battle, on Satur-
day afternoon, Gen. Butord's brigade en-
countered the charge of the rebel cavalry
on our left flank. The lst Virginia and
lst Michigan cavalry had the heaviest of it;
and there against double our numbers, we
demonstrated the superiority of our cavalry
in sabre charge over the flower the rebel
cavalry.
There are now four companies of the lst
Virginia Cavalry 10 West Virginia, and of
their condition and numbers l cannot speak
definitely; but this l can say, that when
saw them in Eastern Virginia, last fall,
they were fine looking sec of men, and
their reputation for effectiveness was A No.
l. The ten companies now in the defeuses
of Washington number 673, officers and
men, Lieut.. Col. John S. Krepps command
ing in the temporary absence of Col N. p.
Richmond. Majors B. F. Chamberlain and
j. Steel are with the command. The men
may be said to be in perfect health. Five
comprise the hospital list. Only two
men have died of sickness in the field
since We left camp on Wheeling Island, in
October, 1861. One of them at Culpepper
Court House, during my absence in July
last; and one man of the battalion near
Falmouth, under the care of our able As
sistRnt Surgeon, P. Gardiner, (the Doctor
thinks he could have saved him if he could
have Obtained little whisky for him A
small number have been sent to the Cen
eral Hospital, and nearly all have returned
to duty. A few have been discharged. Our
heaviest loss is from "killed in battle"
Buttwo of these companies were full to
their maximum number when we entered
upon active service, and only about twenty
men have since been recruited for the regi.
ment.
I'VE now claim for the lst Virginia caval-
ry regiment that, in point of health aud
strength, it has but few rivals, aud no su
periors. Ifconsolidated it is the strongest
cavalry regiment in the United States ser.
vice; and if regiments are to be transfer
red from the volunteer to the regular army,
10 view of their effectiveness ia service, i
think we shall stand good chance; tor
feel confident that all the numerous Cen
ernls under whom We have served will give
the lst regiment Virginia cavalry hearty
endorsement. H. O.
New state Meeting I'm District No. i,