The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-05-08
RICH MOUNTAIN.
YOUNG HART AND TnE LAeRkt

was laugt d Geaersl Mcclellan iof iae lu.eu,
and General eaincti. eommanding The Rttrls, ID
the ta,ly part ot the Nar
Rich Mountain Is 10 Randolph Coua'F, sghl
miles irom Beverly, ihe o0aniY scas asd is
reached BY the PaTkesshurg and ssaun,oa Turn
pike. ii sixty miles from Glenayille. and about
the same distance from Ciarksburg. whcre Mcclel.
Ian was at the time be determined 2 ma 'hs
hazardous attack.
The staunton and Patktrsburg Turnpike, Wind
lag round the heads oftbe ravincs. passes over
the summit OF the mountain. II is tive miles to
the top, By the turnpike. It's long, high, and
narruw, asd covered with heavy timber, sase the
summit. snaIl area orieyeI ground, cleared ard
oaAi,aied as a farm BY aa eldcily gentleman
named Joseph Har,-aud marrow strip up tbs
south side Of the mountain, which is covered With
q dense growth of laurel. The sell of this mount
ain Is rich, of black color, different from other
mountains ia Virginia. aul FROM this il has de-
I rived its name.
The topography Of the mountain is admirably
adapted tor the erection ii strong military deeu-
ces General Garnet held il with force about
4 ayc thousand men. aud had thrown up works
which were imprc guable on either side where the
road crossed the mountain.
+ General McClellau advanced BY the Stanton
and parkersburg Pike. intending TO make the at
tack carly in the morning upon the works where
/ they cro,sel the road The mountain was steep
aud rugged everywhere else, making rceonueis-
ance dangerous. and, as he supposed, Impossible, I,
except 10 force, aud he had concluded 10 risk d
battle directly on the road Had he done 80,
subsequent examinations Of the ehems's dcenc-
Is at that point showed that no earthly pow
er could have saved him from certain desruc-
lion.
Now old Joseph Hart, who lived on the mount
ain, was Union man. and had made himself
thoroughly acquainted with the Rebel General 5
position aud forlifcatons lie had somehow got
information Of the coming Of the Federal forces,
aud was certain that the attack from that direc-
ton, would prove disastrous 10 he assa!iug par
ty lie dreaded this, and determined to get word
to Mcclellan Of he situnton Of atlails on The
mountain before he arrived at the foot, when il
would be too late. lie could not 60 himself, that
would excite suspicion, aud he would be stopped
at the Rebel outposs. His little son HcDry,a Ind
Of uncommon energy and courage, born on th,
mouutain. and acquainted with all ITS dark gorg
cs and raynes, was selected for the difficult and
dangerous mission. His years forbade suspicion
and he passed the Rebel lines Without difficulty
leaving the muuntnin by an unaceustomed route
After travelling all night aud part ofihe following
day, be came 10 the advanced guard Of the Fed
cral forces, informed them Of the Object Of hi
iouruey, aud was taken under guard TO head
quarters. Even his extreme youth did not screeI
him from suspicion here. Il was believed h'
was there for 20 Other purpose than 10 dccoy iut'
ambush, At first, the manner Of Mcclellan was
cold and severe, and his questions bard and rig
orous Henry, nothing daunted, related all hi
father had told him Of Girnetl's position on ih
mountain; the strength Of his force, the nature
Of his works, and the impossiblily Of successfull
attacking him on the road The Federal Genor
eral listened attentyely and with incr, osed inter
est as Henry advanced, with his simple story
: occasionally in,errupting him wiIb-''Iell th
truth my boy"
Al each interruption Henry would earnestly
but respectfully reply am telling ID
: truth"
.'Bul, says the General, ''do you know ifyo
do not you will be shot ~
IL am williig to be shot Il what have said
not all true" was the 6rm answer.
"wcll,' questioned the General, now satishe
Henry was a true boy, "well, If can't go up Il
mountain and attack the Rebels on the road, b
what way can go upH'
Henry, who was quick to see a change in Ii
Generals mind, said he knew ofa way up u
side. striking the road on the top Of the mountai
and leaving the road at the base. There was u
track that way, aud the mountain was high an
steep; but there we're few trees growing, and !
logs lying down to be in the way Of going up
He had Travelled up and down there ofen, oy'
the tops Of the laurel, looking for bis father
sheep in the ravnes TIE laurel was very thicl
and grew together 50 closely and 20 strong, thi
tnab could walk over their tops.
= This statement Of Ilenry's re-awakened 4
suspicious Of Mcclellan, who said sharply, II
! you say man can walk On the tops Of the lat
rcl9"
+ "Ycs, sir. :" persisted Henry.
''Do you think my army can 60 up the noun
! ain over TIE tops ofihe laurel p continued Ger
!, eral Mcclellan
ono, sir, /" was the prompt answer, "bot 4 hor
!, and man could, with care. anl With nothing
: carry
: But, ny boy, don't you see | have got
great many men, and horses, and wagons, al
cannon, aud hov d5 you think can get ups
II the mountain With all ihese if the laurel Is
h thick Z"
10 "The trees are small and low 70 small at q
d bottom tha, you can cur them down With kns
r or hatcher. without making any noise, aud 4
II men On the mountain will not know vhlt y
le are doing or where you are coming vas q
,r brave response Of Henry, who il was plain. wou
u soon be the leader of the gallant iiilesrny whi'
r was 70 decile 90 the heights Of Rieh Moantal
Is the Destiny Of West Virginia.
- The Federal commander. coHient With this pIa
. and manifestly hoBes, narrative. changed Biz o
b. ders, abandoned the easy route on the pike
re the mountain. ahd soon ,i,s army q The UHia
e ss-...Fs.a y.5iHfad .szsf