St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-02-08
RICH MOUNTAIN, Va.,o
Ion Ol,h 1QcE :

= Jan. 2Olh, 1866.
DEAR DEMOURAr.-Rich Mountain is IA:
nous mo. as the scene where the first decisive
battle bat was fought in West Virginia, between
General Mcclellan and General Garrett,
Rich Mountain range, as it is sometimes
called, is in Randolph County, sixty mile.
from Glenyille, one hundred miles from
Parkersburg, and twelve miles; from Beyer-
", the county seat Of Randolph County.
y Is long, narrow, and high and, except
the summit, whereon is Mr.. Hart's farm, it
is covered with timber densely, save a mar
row strip on one side, which is thickly
covered with laurel. The Parkersburc and
Staunton Pike winds round the mountain,
and passes, by The heads Of ravines, direct
ly over its top. The soil is black and
rich, differing from that Of all adjacent
mountains, and it is from this circumstance
that it's name is derived -;
The Typographical formation of the
mountain top is admirably adapted for the
erection Of strong military dcfences and on
this account Gen. Garrett hnd selected it
as stronghold for his army. He had
erected formidable Notifications, rendering
an attack fatal to the assailing party, OIL
the ToHd Leading up the mountain, which
was deemed the only route by which the
enemy could possibly reach his position,
General Mcclellan was advancing with an
army Of 5000 men from Clarksbury, ON the
Parkersburg and Staunton Turnpike, in
tending to attack Garrett early in the
morning where his works crossed the road
not deeming any other route up ,Ie noun
tain practicable. Had he carried his plan
into execution, subsequent examination
showed that no earthly power could have
saved him and his army from certain de-
feat. The mountain was steep in front of
the Notifications, Reconnaissance except in
force was impossible. and Mcclellan had
determined to risk battle directly on the
road, where Garrett without McClellau's
knowledge, had rendered his defenses i'm
pervious to any power that man could
bring against him.
Mr.. Hart, whose farm is on the noun
tain. was Union man, knew the ground
occupied by Jarrett, and had carefully ex-
atnined bis for,ifications on tie road COM
ing up the mountain. Hearing that Nc
Clellan was advancing, and fearing that he
might attempt to scale the works at the
road, he sent his little son, Joseph Hart.
III the night, to meet Mcclellan and
inform him Of the situation of affairs on
the rountain: Joseph being but d boy,
got through tie rebel lines without difficult
~, anu travelling the rest of the night and
part Of the following day, reached the ad.
vanced guard ofthe <Uniou army, informed
them o; The object of. his coming, anu Was
taken nn:ler gr.rl to- Tic Generals quar-
tcrs. Young as. he w.s, the Federal COM
mander Looked upon him with suspicion.
tie questioned him closely. Joseph re-
lated in simpie laheuage MI his FATHER had
told him Of Garre't's POSITION the number
OF his force, the character of his works aud
the impossib. sitys Of successfully attacking
him on t}.c a,Ju,ia:G ID Tie direction he
proposed. The General listened attentive.
iy to his simple story, Occasionally inter-
.up1inS. A4M w.>l--;.:Terl the truth, nv
boy" A:At each -intcrsuplion Joseph earn.
estly bu.; quietly would reply-"I an: tell
ing you the truth. Ge,.er.ls.i ."But,'' SAYS
the latter do ycu know i. you arc not,
you will be Shot us ~. 7 III am icilhng
to- be shot it all say is not true" gently
responded Joseph. '.Well,,' Says the Cen
eral, after being satisfied of the eulire hon.
es,y OF his litllc visi;er, s.if | cannot 90 UP
the mountain by the road. in what way am
| to 60 up?': Joseph, who now saw that
be was believed, from the manner cf his
interrogation, said there acas a way up the
other side. leaving the, turnpike just at The
foot, and going round the base to where
the laurel was. There was no road there
and the mountain was very steep, but he
had been up there there were but few trees
,sand none fallen down to be in the
way The Narel was very thick up the
side Of the mountain, and the top matted
together so closely that man could walk
on the tops. Tie last Statement of Joseph
once more awakened a slight suspicion Of
Gen. Mcclellan, who SAID. sharply, ..Do
you say men can walk on the tops. of the
laurel?' Eyes, sir" said Joseph. edo
you think my army can- go up the NOUN
tain over the tops Of the laurel 20 s.No,
SIR" promptly answered Joseph ;2'but I
have done SO, and a man n,iyhs,aif he woeld
walk slowly and had nothing to carry
''But, my boy, don't you see have a great
many men and horses and cannon TO take
up, and how do y>Iu think 5wc-could get up
overthat@laurel !se '"Tke trees are small;
they are so small you can cut them down
making any: noise, with knives and
hatchets, and they will not know on the
top of the mountain what you are doing or
when you are coming," promptly and re-
spectfully answered Joseph, who 9was now
really to be tile leader9of the little army
that was decide the political destiny of
est Virginia. sI.3 s2f*51Ena&t faseeII
The Federal commander was satisfied
with this, and although he had marched all
day, and intended that night to take the
easyI way ups the mo4ptain.sby the road,
changed shis: plan of attack.
and suddenly the army tor the Union were
moving away in the-direction pointed out
by Joseph Hart. When they came to- the
foot Of tLeymountain,, hay i left, the smooth
aud easy track of the turnpike, and with
difficulty wound round the broad base of
the mountain, through ravines and ugly
gorges. to the1point. Indicated by the little
guide. Here the drihhy sshslteti, = Met Clellan
and some Of his staff, with. Joseph, pros
ceeded to examine the nature of the
ggouad and the superincumhen laurel
covering. the mountain from its base to is
summit. AL was precisely as Joseph had
described it in the chiefs tept 81 the
Pike, and the quick eye of the
hero Of Rich Mountain saw at a glance the
Of the attack i was past mid
the mountain: Thoash floating I Clouds M i'd d
the stars, the night was not entirely dark,
and more than thousand knives and
marvellous laurel. Silence h ss fsisasd through
out the lines, save the sharp click Of the
small blades and the rustic Of the falling
laurel. efOre day. hreak the narrow and