The National tribune., 1901-03-21

ened him, returned to his camp and, hasti-
iy spiking his guns, he abandoned all his
stores and equipments, and endeavored to
| escape by marching northward along the
mountain, intending, if possible, to join
| Garnett at Laurel Hill.
! For the time being he was successful
! in Guiding the Federal commanders. and
after most laboriOus march of IS hours,
found himself within three miles of
Leedsville. Here he was doomed to dis
| appointment, for he learned that Garnett
| had also retreated, and that strong
| Union column was in close pursuit. Thus
! he was again caught between two Union
armies, and despairing of effectng his es-
cape, he sent proposal to Gen McClel-
Ian, Offering total surrender of his COM
| mand. The Union General accepted the
/ proposition, and on the following day the
| half-famished fugitives laid down their
| arms and became prisoners OF war, only
100 glad to receive once more comfortable
quarters and hunger-appeasing ratons.
The fugitives who had escaped from
the battle Of Rich Mountain carried the
news of that disaster to Beverly and to
Gen. Garnett, at Laurel Hill. and an i'm
was closely pressed by the advancing
Union armies, and when Gen. Garnett
reached Leedsville he heard that Gen.
Mcclellan was at Beverly, thus cutting
off cffectually his further passage south
ward. He now resolved upon the desper-
ate attempt of turning to the north and
reaching st. George and West Union by
a rough and difficult mountain road Dur
I ing this retreat his trOops bccame
very much scattered and disorganized
Although he was nearly Is hours in ad-
| vance of his pursucrs. they gained rapidIy
| upon him, and Notwithstanding every eff
| fort was made by the rebels to impede his
| progress by Telling trees in The narrow
mountain dehles, the Union advance over
| took the rebel wagon-train at Carrick' s
| Ford, one Of the crossings of Cheat River.
| about 26 miles northwest of Laurel Hill,
Here Garnett resolved TO risk an cncoun-
| ter, and facing about his troops he took
| 4 position on n favorable and precipitous
elevation on the river bank, and planting
his guns so as to command the ford and
the approaching road, he prepared to de-
fend his retreat n brisk engagement at
! once ensued, and after a sharp contest
the rebel lines broke and fed, abandoning
one of their guns.
Retreat and pursuit were once more
| commenced, and at the next ford a quar-
| ter Of mile farther on, during a desul-
! tory skirmish fire between small parties
| OF sharpshooters, Gen. Garnett was killed.
! Here the Federal pursuit was discontin-
| ued, and the rebels left in the hands of
the victors their entire bagga ge-train, one
gun, two stands of colOrs and so prison
ers.
| Estimated according to mere numbers,
these battles Of Rich Mountain and Car
rick's Ford appear somewhat insigni6-
cant in contrast with the great battles of
the rebellion which occurred during the
| succeeding three years. Hundreds of en-
| gagements OF greater magnitude, and at
+ tended with much more serious loss of life.
| followed these encounters, and decided the
mighty problem OF Northern success. hut
this early skirmish with the rebels on Rich
| Mountain, and this rout of Garnett's rear
| guard at Carrick's Ford, were speedily
| followed by great political and military
| results, which exercised a powerful infIu-
ence upon the after-conduct of the war
They closed campaign, dispersed a rebel
army which had for a long time been
| harasslng State whose sympathies were
with the Union, and they permanentlv
| pushed back the military frontier TO tbe
| borders OF rebellious territory. Now. II
Is too much to say that the brilliant spc-
cess which attended this first aggressive
| movement of Gen. Mcclellan had n
marked effect upon the public mindP That
| they gave general impression of his mil.
itary skill is not to be doubted. and ba
was from that time the hero of the bonr
Certain it is that a train of circumstances
started from these achievements which
eventually led to his being called to Wash.
lngton after the reyerses at Manassas and