The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-06-30
Misrellaneons.
RICH MOUNTAIN.
YOUNG HART AND THE LAUREL

Rich Mountain is famous as the scene Of
the frst decisive battle in West Virginia.
The battle was fought by General McClel.
Ian for the Union. and General Garnett,
commanding the Rebels, in the early part
o. the war
Rich Mountain Is IL Randolph couiy,
eight miles from Beverly, the county seat,
aud is reached By the Parkersburg aud
stanton turnpike. /; is sixty miles from
Glenvile. and about the same distance
from Clarksburg. where Mcclellan was at
the time lie determined 20 make the haz.
arlous attack.
The stanton aud Parkersburg turnpike.
winding round tie heads Of the rayines,
passe, over the summit % the mountain.-
j. i tao miles 70 the top. by the turnpike.
il Is long. blgh and narrow. and covered
with heavy timber. save the summit. Q small
area Of level ground cleared and cultivated
a. q farm by 20 elderly gentleman named
Joseph Har'-aud narrow strip up the
south side q the mountain. which IS COW
cred With dense growth of laurel. The
soil ot this mountain is rich. OF black col.
OF. different from auy other mountains 10
Virginia. and from this II has derived its
name.
The topography of the mountain il ad-
mirably adapted FOR the erection Of strong
military defeuses Gen. Garrett held il
with force e aboat Eve thousand men,
ana had throw Up works which were in
pfeguable - e.ttes SIDE where the road
crossed the mountain
General Mcclellan advanced by the
Stanton AID Pafke'sblrg Pike, intending
20 make The attack early u the morning
upcl tie wcrGs whore they crossed the
road. The ros1,aia was steep and rug.
ced everywhere else making reconno.ssace
dangerous. aud. as BE supposed. impossible.
exc,p: 20 force. aud be had eoneluded 70
+ r.sk = battle directly on the road Had
be deIe s0. sub.e queu; examination Of the
enemies drleBces al that point showed
that no earthly power could have saved
hin from certain destruction.
Now. cid Hart who lived on the noun
;a.r. vas Ua.ca man. aud bad made him.
self thoroughly % .ua.1ied with the Rebel
Generals position AID ioriiseaiions He
had somehow sot information Of the CON-
lng 81 iae Ivdel.l forces. and was certain
that the attack from aat direction. would
prove disastrous 20 the ass4.ling party
lie dreaded this and determined 20 ge;
word 20 General Met lel!au ofihe situation
OF atari co The mountain before be arrived
az the .c-.. when j. would be too late He
could lot 80 A.mse.l-;ha; would excite
suspicion. aaI be would be stopped al the
Rebel outpusis His little son Henry. a
lad Of uncommon energy aud courage. born
oa the mountain. and acquainted with all
is DARK -orges and ravines. was selected
ioF the ficult'and dangerous mission
His years forbade suspicion. and be passed
the Rebel lines without difficulty. leaving
ffa FF.a stf a ~ frsr ~ - "a
After travelling all night and pari OF the
following day. he came TO the advance guard
OF the Federal forces. informed them OF the
object Of his journey. and was taken under
guard 10 headquarters Even his extreme
go-H did not screen him from suspicion
here /; was believed be was there for no
other pggposo then 10 decoy into ambush.
At Ggsi the manner Of Mcclellan was cold
and severe. and his questions hard and rig.
orous. Henry nothing daunied. related all
his father had told him Of Garnett's position
on the mountain; the strength Of his force.
the nature Of his works, and the impossible
~ Of successfully attacking him on the road.
The Federal General listened attentively
aud with increased interest. a. Henry ad.
vanced, with his simple story, occasionally
inierrupiing him With. Tell the truth. my
boy.
At each interruption. Henry would earn.
es,ly, hut respectfully reply am telling
the truth"
But" SAYS the General. do you know
IL YOU do not you will he shot -
Il am willing 20 be shot if what | say is
not all true. was the Grm answer.
Well. questioned the General. now sat.
/ isfed Henry was a true boy, if cant 20
up the mountain and attack the Rebels on
the road. by what way can go upg'
/ Henry. who was quick 10 see change in
! the Generals mind. said he knew Of a way
/ up the side. striking the road on the top OF
the mountain and leaving the road at the
base. There was no track that way. aud
the mountain was high aud steep; but
/ there were few trees growing. and no logs
lying down to be in the way OF going up
lie had travelled up and down there often.
over the tops Of the laurel. looking for his
fathers sheep in the ravines. The laurel
was very thick and grew together so close
| ~ and so strong, that q man could walk
over their tops.
This statement Of Henry's reawakened
the suspicious Of Mcclellan, who said
sharply, DO you say n man can walk on
the tops Of the laurel q
ayes, sir" persisted Henry.
do you think my army can go up the
mountain over the tops Of the laurel 2" con
tinued General Mcclellan.
No, sir" was the prompt answer. "but
Ihaye. and a man could, with care, and
with nothing TO carry"
But, my boy. don't you see ! have got
great many men. and horses aud wagons,
and cannon, and how do you think can
get up the mountain II the laurel Is 50 thick!
The trees are small aud low so small at
the bottom that you can cut them down
with q knife or hatchet, without making
any noise. and tho men on the mountain
will not know what you are doing or where
you are coming" was the brave response
Of Henry, who II was plain, would soon be
the leader OF tho gallant little army which
was to decide on the heights Of Rich Noun
tain the fate Of West Virginia.
The Federal commander. content with
this plain and manilestly honest narrative,
changed his orders, abandoned the easy
route on the pike TO the mountain, and soon
the army OF the Union was In motion In the
direction pointed out by Henry. Leaving