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204 Series I Volume II- Serial 2 - First Manassas

Page 204 OPERATIONS IN MD., PA., VA., AND W. VA. Chapter IX.

and prisoners. Their retreat complete. Occupied Beverly by a rapid march.

Garnett abandoned his camp early this morning, leaving much of his equipage. He came within a few miles of Beverly, but our rapid march turned him back in great confusion, and he is now retreating on the road to Saint George. I have ordered General Morris to follow him up closely. I have telegraphed for the two Pennsylvania regiments at Cumberland to join General Hill at Rowlesburg. The general is concentrating all his troops at Rowlesburg to cut off garnett's retreat near West Union, or, if possible, Saint george. I may say that we have driven out some ten thousand troops strongly intrenched, with the loss of eleven killed and thirty-five wounded.

Provision returns found here show Garnett's force to have been ten thousand men. They were Eastern Virginians, Georgians, Tennesseeans, and, I think, Carolinians. to-morrow I can give full details as to prisoners, &c. Will move on Huttonsville to-morrow, and endeavor to seize the Cheat Mountain pass, where there are now but few troops. I hope that General Cox has by this time driven Wise out of the Kanawha Valley. In that case I should have accomplished the object of liberating Western Virginia. I open the general will approve my operations.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.


HEADQUARTERS, July 13, 1861.

General MCCLELLAN, Beverly, Va:

The General-in-Chief, and what is more, the Cabinet, including the President, are charmed with your activity, valor, and consequent successes of Rich Mountain the 11th, and of Beverly this morning. We do not doubt that you will in due time sweep the rebels from Western Virginia, but we do not mean to precipitate you, as you are fast enough.

WINFIELD SCOTT.

HUTTONSVILLE, VA., July 14, 1861.

Colonel TOWNSEND:

Garnett and forces routed; his baggage and one gun taken; his army demoralized; Garnett killed. We have annihilated the enemy in Western Virginia, and have lost thirteen killed, and not more than forty wounded. We have in all killed at least two hundred of the enemy, and their prisoners will amount to at least one thousand. Have taken seven guns in all. I still look for the capture of the remnant of Garnett's army by General Hill. The troops defeated are the crack regiments of Eastern Virginia, aided by Georgians, Tennesseeans, and Carolinians. Our success is complete, and secession is killed in this country.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General, Commanding.

CAMP NEAR HUTTONSVILLE, July 14, 1861.

Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND:

I have just returned from Cheat River, having crossed the mountain with a strong advanced guard. The enemy have no doubt retreated


Page 204 OPERATIONS IN MD., PA., VA., AND W. VA. Chapter IX.