Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-06-14


sition for $50 rations; also letter in
dicating that they had very littlesub-
sistence.
brought only one prisoner back
with me. The cowardice of the guard
(not Arkansians) permitted the others
to escape. Spies had evidently COM
municated our movements to the enc
my. The fort was completed as re-
ported by the prisoners, examined
separately, and another in process of
construction. We got near enough to
see the enemy in the trenches beyond
the abatis. The most of my COM
mand behaved admirably; some l
would prefer to be without upon any
expedition
Gen. Jackson requests me to say
that he is in possession of the first
summit of Cheat mountain and hopes
you are doing something in Tygart's
Valley, and will retain command of
it until he receives orders from your
quarters. My own opinion is that
there is nothing to be gained by oc-
cupying the mountain. 1t will take
a heavy force to take the Pass and at
heavy loss. 1 knew the enemy had
four times my force, but for the aba
It's we would have made the assault.
We could not get to them to make it.
The General says in his note to me
his occupying Cheat Mountain may
bring on an engagement, but he is
prepared and will whip them if they
come. 1 see from the postscript that
he requests his note to me to be in
closed to you.
can only say that all human pow
ercould do toward success in my eX-
petition failed of success. The taking
of the pickets seemed like a providen-
tial interposition. Itook the first one
myself, being at the head of the col
umn when got to the road.
In great haste, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
A. RUST, Colonel, &c.
GEN. LORING, Commanding, &c.
The expedition had proved a fail
ure after every command of Lees
army had gained its position, and a
general retreat was ordered.
While Gen. Lee was reconoitering
the Federal position at Cheat Noun
tain Pass on the 18th, Col. Washing
ton, his chief of engineers, while ex-
aiming a position with the view OF
planting battery, ran into an am
buscade, and being fired upon by a
whole platoon of Federal infantry,
| fell pierced by many bullets and died
instantly. Col. Washington was an
able and gallant officer, and a neal
relative of the father of his country
, The whole expedition having failed
Gen. Lee resolved to withdraw his
forces short distance. Having Civ.
: en- orders to the other commanders he
proceeded personally to the position
occupied by Donelson's Brigade, and
came up to the top Of the ridge &C
companied by an orderly. 1t was the
9 first time the Tennessee troops haC
l seen him. AS soon as Gen. Lee ar
rived at the top of the mountain, hi
g ordered Gen. DOnelsOn to withdraw
his brigade into the valley, with hi
d, left in front. The rear guard now be
=. came the front guard and vice versa
A general stir was going on in thu
t whole country below us. The enemy
: was approaching our position and haC
., heavy force near the top of thu
| mountain on the ground occupied by
. Fulton's regiment the evening before
t We were also being approached by {
4 Yankee column by way Of Becky
Run. Each column was closing il
upon us under cover of a dense un
dergrowth which was so thick that i
e was almost impossible to see anything
i before us. We were in complet,
p thicket of brush and tall weeds, anC
e our brigade was in a narrow patti
d that crossed the ridge. A detail wa
made from the 10th Tennessee regi
+. ment to move in advance of the col
umn, and it had scarcely reached tn
# foot of the hill when it was fired upol
= by the Federal advance guard, ant
4 the fire was returned. At this juno
d ture of the proceedings the Federal
7 threw their column into line of battl
d and began to advance up the hill
@ The advance guard fronted the ad
% vance guard of the 10th regiment, bu
e their main line diverged from Don
i elson's line at an angle of about fit,
V degrees. The brigade proceeded dow
"a the hill RAPIDLY, and in q few minnie