Year: 1866

Rich Mountain is famous as the scene OF
the first 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
OF the war;


Rich Mountain is in Randolph couty,
eight miles from Beverly, the county seat,
and is reached by the Parkersburg and
| Staunton turnpike. 1t is sixty miles from
| Glenville, and about the same distance
from Clarksburg, where Mcclellan was at
the time he determined to make the haz-
ardous attack.


The Stanton and Parkersburg turnpike,
winding round the heads of the ravines,
passes over the summit of the mountain
1t is two miles to the top, by the turnpike.
1t is long, high and narrow, and covered
with heavy timber, save the summit, small
area of level ground, cleared and cultivated
as a farm by an elderly gentleman named
Joseph Hart-and narrow strip up the
south side of the mountain, which is COW
cred with a dense growth of laurel The
soil of this mountain is rich, of black col
or, different from any other mountains in
Virginia, and from this it has derived its
name. 8r


The topography of the mountain is ad-
mirably adapted for the erection of strong
military defenses. Gen. Garnett held it
with force of about five thousand men,
and had thrown up works which were i'm
pregnable on either side where the road
crossed the mountain.


General Mcclellan advanced by the
Staunton and Parkersburg Pike, intending
to make the attack early in the morning
upon the works where they crossed the
road. The mountain was steep and rug
ged everywhere else, making reconnaissance
dangerous, and, as he supposed, impossible,
except in force, and he had concluded to
risk battle directly on the road. Had
he done so, subsequent examination of the
enemies defences at that point showed
that no earthly power could have saved
him from certain destruction.


Now, old Hart, who lived on the noun
tain, was Union man, and had made him.
self thoroughly acquainted with the Rebel
Generals position and Notifications. He
had somehow got information of the COM
ing of the Federal forces, and was certain
that the attack from that direction, would
prove disastrous to the assailing party
He dreaded this, and determined to get
word to General Mcclellan of the situation
of affairs on the mountain before he arrived
at the foot, when it would be too late. He
could not go himself-that would excite
suspicion and he would be stopped at the
Rebel outposts. His little son Henry, a
lad of uncommon energy and courage, born
on the mountain, and acquainted with all
it's dark gorges and ravines, was selected
G. &ho 1iH9 orIkUonI ,ooicc
His years forbade suspicion, and he passed
the Rebel lines without difficulty, leaving
the mountain by an unaccustomed route
After travelling all night and part 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 to headquarters. Even his extreme
yoaub did not screen him from suspicion
here. It was believed he was there for no
other purpose then to decoy into ambush.
At first, the manner of Mcclellan was cold
and severe, and his questions hard and rig
orous. Henry nothing daunted, related all
his father had told him of Garnett's position
on themountain; the strength of his force,
the nature ofhis works, and the impossible
ty of successfully attacking him on the road,
The Federal General listened attentively
and with increased interest, as Henry ad
vanced, with his simple story, occasionally
interrupting him With, "rell the truth, my
boy"


At each interruption, Henry would earn
estly, but respectfully reply-"I am telling
the trasth."


"But," says the General, "do you know
if you do not you will be shots"


81 am willing to be shot if what say is
not all true" was the firm answer.


"Well," questioned the General, now sat-
istied Henry was true boy, " if 1 can't go
up the mountain and attack the Rebels on
the road, by what way can go up?"


Henry, who was quick to see change in
the Generals mind said he knew of 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, and
the mountain was high and steep; but
there were few trees growing, and no logs
lying down to be in the way of going up
He 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
ly and so strong, that a man could walk
over their tops.


This statement of Henry's reawakened
the snspicions of Mcclellan, who said
sharply, "Do you say man can walk on
the tops of the laurel? ?"


eyes, sir" persisted Henry.


"Do you think my army can go up the
mountain over the tops of the laurel ?" con-
tinued General Mcclellan.


"No, sir" was the prompt answer, "but
Ihave, and man could, with care, and
with nothing to carry"


" But, my boy, don't you see / have got
great many men, and horses and wagons,
and cannon, and how do you think | can
get up the mountain if the laurel is so thickY


"The trees are small and low so small at
the bottom that you can cut them down
with knife or hatchet, without making
any noise, and the men on the mountain
will not know what you are doing or where
you are coming" was the brave response
of Henry, who it was plain, would soon be
the leader of the 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 manifestly honest narrative,
changed his orders, abandoned the easy
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