Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-13

| SASu Sluo VI. bue NhPI nHNF 4HOu lups Cllus
to the front aud sides, while the cannon
commanded the approach. Our force, thus
suddenly, aud,, as it would seem, over
whelmingly met, had been reduced to
1000 men, 500 having beer, on, the 9Th
day dispatched to REINFORCE Gen. Crook.
Scarcely bad the rebels, thus impregnahly
ensconeed, been revealed IA 'front.', ere tSo
heavy lines of skirmishefs, strongly yaSup-
ported, we're discovered raj idly advancing,
and in splendid style, oyyr d eieating and
on to our right flank. The tRo discoveries
were almost simultaneous!h Gen. AYerill
at once took in the peEilons Animation, to
retreat was ruin, to advance certain de-
struction, 10 surrender was never thought
Of. Nothing was to be doue but to hold
his ground, make desperate. stubborn re-
sistauce, and during &c t0sAwait the cover
of the night. The gailAu Col. Sehoonms-.
kerfeommsuding the 1pd brigade, was.
with, the l4lhs PenpsStS, ,e and 1st Vir-
70 the right of the road on rise, there to
meet the approaching columns, which they
nobly did, receiving the FIRE ofthe enemy
presenting front of twice their own-at
close range, Aud returning it SO rapidly and
With such deadly effect, that repeated at
tempts to charge upon them failed Uol.
SohoenmAker make no attempt to advance,
but held his position under q constant FIRE
for one hour, when, upon threatened flank
movement on his right by the rebel caVal-
ry, Gen. AVerill ordered him to fall back
across the road, aud on the right OF the
second column. which had been formed
there, consisting of the Thirty. .fonrth Ohio
and Second aud Third Virginia, all dis
mounted, under the command OF Brig. Gen.
Dufie. he had suffered considerably, and
la Lao nd hoa
wounded on the Iiue where they had fallen.
The movement was made leisurely and in
excellent order. 1t was greeted with exul-
taut shouts by the rebels, who pressed
rapidly forward as far as the abandoned
line, but the now united columns, present
ing a solid and uufiinching front, delivered
with rspidIty aud Withering precision Ere
which prevented further advance, and tenn
poraily staggered into confusion the oppos-
ing ranks. From the outset of the fight
both columns, while holding in check the
vastly superior force in front, were sub
juected at easy musketry range to the cross
ire Of the infantry aud artillery at the Gap.
The terrible position of Gen. Averill's
command no description can convey the
correct idea of. They were on cleared
section, with q force double their own to
the left, aud another double their own to
Au6 lEOukt Wlku uu CuhCE VI AllA1 VI HUOu9
to fall back to, and with but the one thing
to do-to maintain their position under
the heavy and continuous FIRE of shot and
shell. The gallantry of Gen. AVerill and
his staff shone conspicuously during the
terrific ordeal, as did that every ofofficer and
man in his commaud-not one was seen 70
falte. The Second Virginia, on the left of
the second column aud in close Iange Of
the Gap, constantly under murderous FIRE,
extorted the admiration of the enemy and |
won that Of its own command by it's splen-
did conduct. 1t was firm Rs a rock; every
movement was executed with the ease and
precision of a dress parade, aud the moral
effect Of its splendid bearing Infused the
strength of another regiment. On the
field, as in general orders, it received from
Gen. Averill the warmest praise.
Gen. Averill was constantly at the front
Of the first column, and on its falling
back, at the front of the command, en-
cuuraging and stimulating it to the noble
heroism displayed, by his own fearless ex
posure and dauutless courage. About
midway of the fght he was struck in the
middle of the forehead by O musket ball,
which, glaucing, passed of over the left
eye, inflicting q deep wound; with the
blood flowing profusely, his face undis
tiuguishable from gore, he continued in
his saddle until, by weakness, he was COM
PEELED to retire to the rear. Here the
blood was staunched, tho wound dressed,
and after few moments rest he was again
in the saddle and to the front, there re.
manning until the close of the fight. His
escape with life was miraculous. For Eve
long hours did this desperate fight con-
tinue; not one inch of the second line
had been yielded; Morgan, on repeated at
tempis to force it, which were made with
rush and amid hellish yells, being
repulsed, and when night came he seemed
glad to seek repose from the obstinate and
bloody contest, aud to his stubborn foes
that night was indeed welcome. Gen. Ave-
rill's loss in killed and wounded was 1876;
six prisoners were taken, and from them it
was ascertained that the rebel loss Was far
in excess OF ours. The killed and badly
wounded were necessarily left in the hands
of the enemy, there being no conveyance
for them, and at dark having placed the
latter in farm house near by, and leaving
a surgeon in charge, the command hastily
got away without any attempt by Morgan
being made to pursue them or even feel
their position. A rapid march of thirteen
miles was had for Walkers mountain, with
the design of crossing it aud reaching
Dublin, where Gen. Crook was expected tU
be met.
Special mention, erc concluding this
portion ofmy letter, should be made of
the associate officers Of Gen Averill, few
of whom escaped uninjured, for gallantrY
never had nobler examplars than in Brig.
Gen. Dutfie and Col Schoonmaker, and in
the small but devoted staff composed of
Assistant Adjt Gen. Rumsey, Capt
George 7. Castle, Capt. William II.
Brown, Capt L. A. Myers and Surgeon
Fred Elliot; or than in Col. CapehearG.
First Virginia, Col Powell, Second Yirgi-
MIA, Mai. COngers commanding detach~
rlentI Third Virginia, Maj. Daily, Acting
Colonel fourteenth Pennsylvania and Col
Shaw, of tho ThirtY-Fourth Ohio. Du-
ring all the fight the posts Of danger were