Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-02-18
Matters and ThInE. I'm thls. n iIItsry
Department..

Prom the Cumberland Civilian and Telegraph.
10 order that the distant read er may have
some idea Of military operations In this
quarter, We deem it of consequence to give
a brief statement of some of the facts ~
they occurred, and we will say, 10 all in
stances. as far as it could be obtained, our
information is derived from sources un-
doubIedly reliable, and from gentlemen
who would in no instance wilfuIly deLTaot
from the reputation Of those in command.
The outrageous misrepresentation so per-
having control over them, make Il neces.
saty that the truth, though slow, should
find its way after them. We have always
been u strong believer in the old couplet:
.There is none need fear the truth,
| But those whom the truth would lndltO.S
Col. James o. Mulligsn assumed COM
mAnd Of the I'd Division, Department of
West Virginia, on July 9Th, ls63-the
Division consisting OF two .brigsdes, com.
mauded respectively by Col. J. Thoburn,
and Col. J. NJ. Campbell-and on the same
day, the division was ordered to move to
Hancock. Nd, as was understood to watch
the retreat Of the rebel forces under Gen.
Lee, after their defeat at Gettysburg
Upon arriving at Hancock after forced
march. the division was 10 no condition for
| SSAAhe SeENiSei Nue ucu uhNluR t0HTCueu AZ
miles by turnpike in about so hours, with.
out proper supplies, By whose neglect, we
Of course are LETT to conjecture. There,
the division was oVertaken by Gen. B. F.
Kelley and staff. After resting three days,
the whole force WAS marched about is
miles over North Mountain, near Clear.
spring, where they remained, in full view
Of the rebel foraging parties, until the en-.
tire force Of Geo. Lee crossed the Potomac
river into Virginia, when Col Mulligan's
division moved to Williamsport. Remain
ing here over night, the force then fell back
to Cherry Run ford, whore, With.-h few
miserable scoWs. it was crossed into Kir.'
RiuiA, and took up position near Hedges.
Vile. E.es = q
Ou the 10th of July the c5mmkad was
ordered to fail back to Cherry Rnn ford, as
'tIbs rebel Gen. Rarly's Division was com
ing down the North Mountain road to cut
4 OH the retreat OF the Federal forces. Col.
Thoburn's Brigade was there crossed over
Potomac river IN scows before Col. Camp
bells Brigade received orders to cross,
and they made a marrow escape from cap
ture by this neglect. The last mentioned
brigade, however, succeeded in getting
over the river except = regiment of in
fautry, Oath Pa. VoI.) and Moore'a Bat
4 terry of ARTILLERY. THIS battery was placed
would have been cut of with scarcely an
effort on the part of the enemy. So per-
lions was 1t that an aid of Gen. AyeriIl,
seeing tho situation OF one section of the
Battery, took tue responsibility, and or
dtred it to cross the river into Maryland.
II The Rebels fred three shells into the
54th Pa. Vol, and then retired. Had they
attacked this regiment in it's isolated po.
sition, without any support. and the swol-
len river i'll its rear, it could not have es-
4 capped. Providence, and not the tactics Of
n the commanding officer Of the Division,
GAved the regiment as well as the battery.
Il may not be amiss TO state here, that
the wife Uf an officer accompanied him on
bis expedition, aud that during the swift
retreat from Hedgesyille, that officer sent
one Of bis staff to get an ambulance from
one Of the infantry regiments for her to
travel in, leaving the sIek soldiers to get
along the best way they eonld.
In q few days the command again Cross
ed the Potomac river into Virginia, and
!. after some mAneuTeriug marched via
Romney TO Petersburg. Va, leaving Col.
Campbell's brigade At Romney. Shortly
! afterwards email infAutry force (of lst
Va. Vols was sent to Moorefsld, !, but were
soon compelled to retreat before superior
. force of the rebels. They were however,
sent back again TO Mo2refield though that
. place WAS known TO be iudefensible by a
I small force, and on the llth OF September,
, Mai. Stephens OF LIST Va who commanded
at that post, WAS surprised and the most
/, of his force, consisting OF Eve companies Of
: the veterans Of his regiment were taken
prisoners. But n feeble and iruitless effOr
q was made to recapture them.
!. On the 10th OF November, large train
!. of wagons was captured by the rebels
: while on the road, between New Creek anC
I iPetersburg. After the rebels had moved
6H With their booty, some cavalry and in
fantfy were sent in pursuit., but Of coursI
!. too late TO accomplish anything.
81 laelAud here It may be proper TO state thA
l1hs citizens Of this Department, as well a
y Imnny military and officers aud soldier
lhave been at loss to conjecture the mo
live which prompted the authorities Il
sfkeep force stationed at Petersburg, re
uuiring largo wagon trains to haul supple
through the enemy's country some 81
miles, and liable to be attacked and cap
tured so often as has occurred.
To resume our narrative. On the Sd o
January, 1864, another wagon train-th
IN finest mule train probably in the Govern
ment service, was captured on the sam
road, though gusrded by over 500 met
many Of whom were taken prisoners. Th
> rebels again moved of leiSurely with thei
booty, whilst Col. Mulligan In command 6
a considerable force, retired to Fort Fhlle
a. New Greek, fearing an attack from rebG
cavalry. Col Campbell was ordered I
fall back TO Cumberland with bis Brigade
and thus no attempt was made TO folio
the rebels TO recapture the wagon train.
re On Both Of January, about ten day
514a ago, another large train Of wagons, re