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for near two hours before I could possibly reach the top of the mountain, I having been sent with orders to another point.
The Seventy-fifth and Twenty-fifth Ohio regiments, their combined force numbering less than one thousand, drove the enemy, whose numbers doubled theirs, from post to post, till they joined the main rebel force at the point of which I have spoken.
Having driven the rebels to this point, they fought the whole force till reinforced by the Thirty-second and Eighty-second Ohio, these regiments coming up and taking position near that occupied by the Seventy-fifth and Twenty-fifth, while the Third Virginia, commanded by Col. Hewes, and Lieut.-Col. Thompson, moved up farther to the left, and from that point poured a galling fire into the rebels, compelling them partially to change front.
The Third Virginia, in taking its position, placed itself between two fires, but the men held their ground, and fought with coolness and determination worthy of veterans.
During the early part of the engagement Gen. Milroy was superintending both the battle and planting a section of Capt. Johnston's battery on a hill which partially commanded the position of the enemy.
The guns were planted and handled by Lieut. Bowers, and did good execution.
Capt. Hyman also got two of his guns in position, but the position of the enemy was such that his shells would pass over their heads.
Our troops cannot be too highly praised for their heroic conduct in the battle of “Bull Pasture Mountain.”
For near three hours they contended successfully against four times their own number.
Several times the enemy broke, and as often were rallied on the reserve and brought back to their places.
Once their reserve broke, but fortunately for them, reinforcements coming up, with bayonets, drove them back to their places.
All our officers and men behaved nobly, eliciting the warmest praise from Gens. Fremont and Schenck. Gen. Milroy who admires bravery, has issued an order thanking the men for their gallant conduct.
In mentioning the conduct of an officer or regiment, I of course do not disparage that of others.
All fought well.
Lieut.-Col. Richardson commanded the Twenty-fifth, and acquitted himself nobly.
Lieut.-Col. Sweeney the Thirty-second.
I suppose the Colonel, with his regiment, would have been there till this time if he could have had his way. Lieut.-Col. Thompson, whose coolness every one admires, was, during the battle, writing a message, having the paper against a tree, when a bullet pierced the paper, sticking it to the tree.
“Thank you, I am not posting advertisements,” said the Colonel.
“and if I was, I would prefer tacks.”
Cincinnatians may well be proud of Col. McLean and Major Reilly, and the regiment they command.
Where the fight was the hottest and the men seemed to waver, there you would see Col. M. and Major R., cheering their men, and by their own daring and coolness inspiring confidence and courage in the men. They say the Major actually became excited, and got to making stump-speeches to his boys, telling them to “wipe out the stain that had fallen upon the name of Ohio on other fields.”
The fighting ceased about half-past 8, it being then so dark that they could only see the flash of the enemy's muskets.
Our entire force engaged was two thousand two hundred and sixty-five men, while that of the enemy consisted of Gen. Johnson's entire force--four thousand strong, re-enforced in the early part of the action by three regiments of Jackson's army, making their force not less than six thousand; and I may add that Jackson's entire force was fast coming up. Our loss is thirty killed and two hundred and sixteen wounded. Of the loss of the enemy I am not informed; it is certain, however, that the Colonel of the Tenth Virginia was killed, as this report is confirmed by several prisoners we have taken.
Our men were withdrawn at half-past 8 or nine o'clock, and we at once prepared to fall back toward reinforcements.
We found it necessary to burn a quantity of “hard bread” and some ammunition.
Many other things were lost.
Our sutlers, Anderson and Harper, lost all their “traps.”
I am sorry to say that, owing to some mismanagement on the part of Lieut.-Col. Constable, of the Seventy-fifth Ohio, (who had gone on to a house in advance, to await the arrival of our troops,) and his cousin, who was to notify him of the moving of the troops, but who failed to do it, he (the Colonel) was left behind and taken prisoner by the rebels.
Of our retreat to this point and the incidents connected therewith, I will speak in my next.
volunteer.
Lynchburgh (Va.) “Republican” account.
On Monday, May fifth, we left camp at Valley Mills, Augusta County, six miles north of Staunton, with five days rations, without tents and baggage, save blankets, under the command of Gen. Ed. Johnson, and the next day the advanceguard under Col. Letcher fell in with the outposts of the enemy--one cavalry company and a body of infantry, near the forks of the Jennings Gap and the Parkersburgh turnpike roads, twenty-one miles from Staunton.
Letcher fired upon the enemy, killing three, wounding several, and taking one prisoner.
About this time “Old Stonewall” passed up the road and had a consultation with Gen. Johnson.
Soon after the consultation, Johnson's army pushed up the road in pursuit of the enemy toward Shenandoah Mountain, followed by Jackson's. When we arrived at the foot of the mountain, on the east side, we found that a regiment of Yankees had been camped there, but had left on hearing of our appearance, leaving behind all their tents, clothing, commissary stores and a number of small arms, most of which they broke the stocks off, but several cases were left unopened and in fine order.
After scouting the mountains thoroughly, we found that three regiments had been camped
