Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-30
THE RAID INTO WEST VIRGINIA.

From the Wheeling Iuiclligcncer, Of 'ruesday.l
The city was filled with excitement yes.
terday about the rebel raid. Early in the
day it was reported that more fighting had
been going on at Rowlesburg, and that our
men had again repulsed tho rebels. About
five in the evening train came in from
Grafton. The passengers reported that u
dispatch had been received at Grafton from
Rowlesburg stating that the rebels had been
repulsed there and were then on the way to
Grafton by way of the Northwestern Turn
pike. The agent of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company Immediately had the
machinery and other property of the com.
pany loaded up preparatory to moving. The
post Office was boxed up, and all who could
began making preparations for leaving
Everything was excitement there; the peo-
sion. This train brought away all the pa
pers of the post office and all the mails then
lying there, accompanied by the Deputy
the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, When
it left Grafton the force Of rebels approach.
ing from Rowesburg were reported to be al
Fellowsville, about eight miles distant :
Mullignn, who had advanced in the morn.
ing towards PhilIippi, had encountered 4
superior force, and fallen back, after somt
severe fighting, to Webster. Il was said
he had lost two field pieces, and recapturet
them by "a brilliant charge. The freight
engine and trains lying at Grafton were al
on the way to this point.
About an hour later another passenger
train came in. l. proved to be the trair
off the N. W. Virginia Road, which RAJ
right across upon the main stem and came
on to Wheeling. 1t brought the Parkers
burg mails accompanied by the other rout.
agent. Passengers by this train reported
the rebels ut Thornton, small station or
the Railroad some six miles east of Grafton
Col. Mulligan's force was at Webster OF
the N. W. Virginia Road when they pass
ed, and the only remaining train on that par
OF either road was lying there awaiting hi,
movements. Everybody who could ge
away were leaving and the train brought
great numbers Of refugees. The report by
this train was that Latham had fallen back
on Buckhannon. The rebel force was essi
mated at from 1900 upward to 1000.
Information Of a reliable character was
received late in the evening to the effec,
that Col. Mulligan with his force was il
Grafton and prepared to hold it. 1t doe.
not appear, as reported, that he encou nter
ed any force in the direction of Phillippi
but that his backward movement was in
obedience to telegram informing him OF
the approach Of tho force from ROwesburg
Ii this force was not sufficient to take oul
four companies at Rowlesburg there is bu
tt'e danger, we imagine, Of their taking
Mulligan.
Contrary to previous reports concerning
Col. Latham, it appears that he is not Gu
of, nor captured, nor at Phillippi, nor a
BuckhannOn, but between these places fight
ing his way to Buckhannon, the same fore,
that attacked him at Beverly following hin
up and harrassing him. 1t would seem thai
he first fell back from Beverly to phillppi
and then changed direction and undertook
to cross over to Buokhannon and join Gen.
Roberts. A dispatch published in the
Parkersburg Gazstte from Capt. Over, al
Clarksburg, to Col. Frost, states that the
troops ut Bulltown and Sutton had been or
dcred to Buckhannon, 70 that when Latham
makes the junction our forces will then bt
strong enough to change the direction O.
the rebel advance.
There seems to be total lack of any ac
eurate estimate of the number of the rebe
force, it being enlarged or diminished nc
cording to the strength Of imagination il
the informant. We would been glad to lay
before our readers the simple facts in regart
to this matter as known in official quarters
but as it has been thought best not TO max,
them public we are obliged to content our
selves with repeating the various aud con
| hlctlng reports OF unofficial parties.