Rosecrans' Address to his Troops. GENERAL KELLEY'S DESCENT ON ROMNEY. tucky, Rosecrans had resolved to retire from the field for the winter. He reached Wheeling early in December, where, under date of December 11th, he published this address: "OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA : "You have closed an arduous campaign, with honor to yourselves and satisfaction to your country. None but those who have been with you, as I have, can fully appreciate your trials and privations. "Your triumph has been threefold-over your own inexperience, the obstacles of nature and the rebel forces. When our gallant young commander was called from us, after the disaster of Bull Run, this department was left with less than fifteen thousand men to guard three hundred miles of railroad and three hundred miles of frontier, exposed to " bushwhackers," and the forces of Generals Floyd, Wise and Jackson. The northwestern pass into it was fortified and held, Cheat Mountain secured, the rebel assaults there victoriously repelled and the Kanawha Valley occupied. "A march of one hundred and twelve miles over bad roads brought you upon Floyd's entrenched position, whence the rebels were dislodged and chased to Sewell. Finally your patience and watchings put the traitor Floyd within your reach, and though by a precipitate retreat he escaped your grasp, you have the substantial fruits of victory. Western Virginia belongs to herself, and the invader is expelled from her soil. In the name of our Commander-in-Chief, and in my own, I thank you. "But the country will expect, your Commanding General expects, still more from you. A campaign without a defeat, without even a check, must be eclipsed by deeds of greater lustre. "To this end I now call upon you for your own future honor to devote yourselves with energy and zeal to perfect yourselves in all that pertains to drill, instruction and discipline. Let every officer and every soldier be emulous to teach and learn the firings, light infantry drill, guard duty, company discipline and police. 461 "Your enemies are implacable in their hatred of you; there is no measure of falsehood to which they have not resorted to blacken your good name; and their leaders-Beauregard and Jeff. Davis-have dared, even in solemn proclamations, to calumniate you, charging you with crimes you abhor-from these men you have nothing to expect, You must prepare to teach them, not only lessons of magnanimity and forbearance towards the unarmed and defenceless, but to thrust their calumnies and their boastings down their traitorous throats. "Let not a moment be lost in your preparations for the task before you. W. S. ROSECRANS, "Brigadier-General United States Army, "Commanding Department of Western Virginia." At a later date (Dec. 28th) Floyd addressed his army from the camp near Dublin Depot. It was a singular document considering the results of the campaign not only to Southern arms but to Floyd's own reputation as a military commander. He said: "At its (the campaign's) close you can review it with pride and satisfaction." Nobody but Floyd could have had the hardihood to write in that strain; but, he was equal to the occasion, and declared his men to be covered with glory while their garments were yet covered with the mud of their last wretched retreat. The General afforded the clue to his pious ejaculations in his announcement to the troops that they were detailed to another field of operations-to Kentucky, where they were expected to drive back the invaders and establish constitutional liberty. How many of his men followed him to Bowling Green we have no means of knowing-probably not enough to have constituted more than a body guard for the ex-Secretary of War. General Kelley's Descent on Romney. The operations of General Kelley should here be chronicled, forming, as they do, part of the Western Virginia campaign, although they were not prosecuted by direc tion of General Rosecrans. Kelley, from his position at New Creek, determined to make a descent upon Romney, then a fortified Confederate camp and depot of supplies, under command of Colonel Angus McDonald. It was arranged to throw forward two columns-one from New Creek under General Kelley, and one from Cumber "Your Commanding-General proposes to procure for you everything necessary to prepare you for your coming work, and will soon organize Boards of Examiners, who will rid the service of the disgrace and soldiers of the incubus of incompetent and worthless officers, who hold the position and receive the pay without having the will or capacity to perform the duties of their positions. 'Remember, you are fighting for your country, land, under Colonel Thomas Johns, in command of the Md. Volunteers West Virginia for your flag, for your homes. General Kelley's De scent on Romney. That little diversion annoyed the Confederates greatly. They beheld in it new plans for their subjugation, and for two weeks hurried regiments to and fro within their lines along the Upper Potomac, in expectation of further disasters. But, the enterprise was Kelley's own ;* and, having no connection with any more serious movement, amounted to nothing further than a gallant dash and the occupancy of the enemy's post as Federal winter quarters. The Battle of Alleghany Summit. volunteers. Colonel Johns | against which it was supGeneral Kelley's Dewas to make a diversion posed Kelley had designs. scent on Romney. by way of Springfield, to That post was, therefore, hold in hand all the infantry known to be strengthened, while Loring's command ai located at the Chain Bridge, beyond Spring- Lewisburg was despatched to reenforce Lee's field, on the road to Romney, while Kelley forces at Greenbriar, fearing a simultaneous carried Romney. Johns' part of the service advance of Reynolds to form a junction with was well performed; he retired, after the af- Kelley. fair, to Oldtown, Maryland. Kelley, calling in all his disposable forces on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, west of Cumberland, started from New Creek on the night of October 25th. After a rapid and well ordered march of fifteen miles, the enemy's outposts were reached, five miles from Romney, at Mechanicsburg Gap. Having one gun in position the rebels there made a stand, but Kelley's flanking skirmishers and a single shot from a brass twelve-pounder sent them off in haste to alarm Romney. The Federal column pressed on through the Gap, coming up to the bridge over the South Branch (Potomac) in dashing style to receive the enemy's artillery fire. This was returned in kind, for a while, when Colonel Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, led his men to the bridge on a charge, while the Ringgold cavalry, Captain Keyes, dashed through the river. Keiley's whole force, rapidly filling the road to the bridge, advanced with the charge. The enemy stood but a moment. Their entrenchments were abandoned and a rush made for Romney (one and a half miles away). The Federals pursued as rapidly as possible—the cavalry scattering, all before it. But the enemy was fresh -his pursuers were exhausted. Most of the troops occupying the post, therefore, escaped, leaving behind their property of every kind. except what was on their backs. The captures consisted of horses, thirty wagons, two cannon, ammunition, camp equipage for seven hundred cavalry and five companies of infantry (the rebel force then holding the post), several hundred stand of arms, a mail, and stores of clothing, provisions, &c., designed for the future use of forces operating in that region. The Federal loss was remarkably small-only one killed and twelve wounded. The enemy's loss never was ascertained. Eight killed and fifteen wounded were found on the field. Only about sixty prisoners were secured. The enemy retired to Winchester, Early in December General Milroy conceived the plan of an attack upon the enemy's entrenched camp on Alleghany Summit, where the mountain is crossed by the turnpike leading west, from Staunton through Monterey to Cheat Mountain. The point aimed at was, in distance, from Cheat Mountain (Reynolds' position) twenty-two miles and ten miles east of the Greenbriar camp, "Bartow," which Reynolds had "reconnoitered" on the 3d of October [see page 316]. To that entrenched camp the rebels had retreated after the affair of October 3d. Most of Lee's command had then been withdrawn. The Summit was held by two Georgia and one Virginia regiments, two battalions Virginia volunteers and two field batteries under the general command of Colonel Edward Johnson. The Federal commander arranged, by two descents on the position, to carry it, and thus end the only menace on his front. * General Scott ordered the dash "if Kelley deem ed it feasible." The old chief delighted in these spirited diversions, and very properly regarded them as a very effective means of worrying and distracting the enemy. Those who came after him, acting upon the principle of a grand compression,' rarely resorted to these detached assaults. Seeing this, the rebels, under Jackson and Stewart, adopted Scott's tactics and worried the Federal commands very materially by their "raids" and unexpected appearance at unprepared points. THE EXPEDITION AGAINST HUNTERSVILLE. The Battle of Allegha men. ny Summit. 463 The Battle of Allegha ny Summit. of Colonel Moody, detain- The want of artillery, total inability to use the cavalry, the unexpectedly great force of the enemy, the failure of the two columns to conjoin attack, were offered as reasons for the miscarriage of the adventure. General R. H. Milroy assumed command of the expedition. His force consisted of detachments from the Ninth and Thirteenth Indiana, Twenty-fifth and Thirtysecond Ohio, Second Virginia and Brocken's cavalry-in all three thousand two hundred The advance was made to the enemy's old camp, "Bartow," Dec. 12th, where a halt was made, at dusk. The force was then divided the Ninth Indiana, Colonel Moody, and Second Virginia, Major John B. Milroy, being dispatched, at 11 P. M., to reach the enemy's left, by way of the "old" Greenbriar road. The rest of the force remained at camp Bartow until one o'clock on the morning of the 13th, when it advanced direct upon the Summit, by way of the Staunton pike. Time enough had been given, it was supposed, for Colonel Moody to reach the mountain from-probably equal to that of the Federals. the south, thus to render the attack from the right and left simultaneous. The right attack was led by the Twenty-fifth Ohio, Colonel James A. Jones, who, deflecting from the pike, led the advance up the teep mountain side and came out near the e emy's work at day-break, to find them quite ready for the assault. Johnson was not surprised. The Federals halted their command, proposing to await the signal of Colonel Moody's appearance on the left; but, doubtless divining the plan, the rebel commander threw his forces at once into the fight. The entire Federal infantry was soon under a severe fire of musketry and artillery. The conflict was at near quarters for awhile, when the rebels retired to their works, evidently to draw out their antagonists. The Federal lines closing up, again the rebels advanced, pouring in a murderous fire. The lines wavered for a moment and some of the men showed symptoms of flight, but were held firmly by the excellent example of their officers. The rebels were a second time compelled to withdraw, when they immediately attempted a flank movement. In this they were repulsed. They then quickly flew to the Federal left and assayed to turn it, but were foiled and pressed back to their works in a gallant manner. Three more attempts were made to break the lines of Milroy, but in every instance, the Confederates were unsuccessful. The column The Expedition Against Huntersville. This affair was followed by a descent upon Huntersville. Learning that the enemy had a valuable depot of supplies in that place, Milroy determined upon its destruction, and thus place the rebels in the mountains on short allowance. He detailed Major Webster of the Ohio Twenty-fifth to the work. With four hundred of his regiment, three hundred of the Second Virginia, and thirty-eight of Bracken's Indiana cavalry, the Major put out on the afternoon of December 31st, passing by way of Elk mountain. Huntersville was fifty-two miles away "Virginia miles" as the troops said; a thick coat of snow lay on the ground and the weather was intensely cold. It was the very time for a surprise. The Federals pressed on, suffering much from weariness and exposure, but keeping up joyous spirits at the prospect of "a brush." In three days the point was reached, to find the enemy aware of the approach. Their scouts had discovered Webster's camp the previous night, and had hastened to alarm the post. But, the force there was too small to offer any material opposition, and Webster, after a gallant dash and The Expedition Against Huntersville. skirmish, found himself in | and as many taken prisoners. A herd of catpossession of the place. It tle was secured and driven into Romney, towas, as reported, a heavy gether with all the wagons, stores and amsupply depot. Six buildings were filled with munition of the rendezvous. Colonel Blue stores, chiefly provisions-flour, beef, groce- did not persecute his neighbors of Union prories, forage, &c. These were all fired and de- clivities any more that season. The Federals, stroyed. The assailants retired the same in returning, disgraced their cause by firing afternoon, as the alarm had spread to other several houses on the way-an act for which posts and lhe rebels were hurrying up to Kelley was justly indignant, but for which save their precious possessions. They came no one was punished. too late their winter food was in ashes, and Staunton, thirty miles away, had to be resorted to for supplies. Expedition Against Blue's Gap. Kelley's troops in Romney broke the ennui of picket and guard duty by an expedition to Blue's Gap where Colonel Blue had gathered a considerable body of "bushwhackers" who annoyed the country much by their operations. The Federal force consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana and First Virginia, with two companies of cavalry, Danvers', and a section of Howard's battery, in all about two thousand five hundred men under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. It moved out just after midnight January 6th. The night was very cold but the march was rapid and the vicinity of the Gap was reached just after day-break (7th). The rebels were not entirely surprised, however, for Dunning's advance skirmishers found them tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the stream coming in through the Gap. The Fifth Ohio rushed on over the bridge, secured Blue's house and obtained a negro woman as guide to the enemy's stronghold up on the mountain. No delay occurred. The entrenchments on the hill were carried by assault-the Fifth Ohio doing the work. The rebels stood for five rounds, then broke and ran, as the Ohioans began to swarm in over the embankments. The Fourth Ohio was at hand to catch the flying ragmuffins, of whom thirty-five were secured-as hard looking creatures as the mountains could produce, their ugliness only inferior to their ignorance. Blue's property was burned to the ground. Forty of the enemy were killed Governor Letcher's Fulmination. We cannot close this chapter of Western Virginia history without adverting to Governor Letcher's fulmination (January 6th, 1862) against the Federal Administration for its "unconstitutional" course in recognizing the Western Virginia (Union) Government, and for its other acts of violence toward the "Mother of Presidents." We give the document in the Appendix. It is at once the Southern indictment of the Administration* and the Southern Declaration of perpetual enmity of the North. Those who plead the cause of the South will find, in this message, the bads of their discourse manufactured to order. We therefore append it, that none who wish to judge from a hearing of both sides of the question may be without the proper data. If we have, from our own stand-point of loyalty to the Union-the Union even before the Constitution, it may be-severely judged the course of the Secessionists in Cabinet and Convention, it shall not be said we have made an exparte exposition of the questions involved. We have given (some readers will say to an immoderate extent) every "representative" Southern document, and can hope for no fuller justifi cation of our views and inferences than will come from that class of dispassionate and discriminating readers who first read everything the Southern leaders have to say in their own defense. *The reader will remark a striking similarity between this document and those emanating from the "opposition" Governors in the Northern States, elected in the fall of 1862. A sequent of the likeness would naturally be an assimilarity of. sympathy as well as of constitutional views. CHAPTER IX. MCCLELLAN'S COMMAND IN CHIEF. OPERATIONS OF OF THE POTOMAC FROM NOVEMBER 1ST, 1861, TO 1ST, 1862. THE ARMY FEBRUARY McClellan's Repudia tion of Stone's Move. ment. ment. MCCLELLAN, in his sub- I was, therefore, held closely McClellan's Repudiareport (Nov. 1st) to the along the Maryland line of tion of Stone's MoveSecretary of War regarding the river opposite, with the Ball's Bluff disaster, and referring to his headquarters at Poolesville and Darnestown, orders to General Stone of October 20th, ex- having an army quite sufficient to keep the pressly stated that he "did not contemplate enemy at bay until such time as McClellan's an attack upon the enemy or the crossing of advance should compel the enemy to concenthe river in force by any portion of General trate his entire strength to the south, to cover Stone's command." This is confirmatory of his own menaced capital. This is the simour statement [see page 343] that Stone alone ple history of that long, inactive campaign was responsible for the movement in force in camps along the Upper Potomac. Why a over the river. In that report McClellan also portion of the "grand army" was not spared declares the advance upon Dranesville made to press down the Shenandoah valley, or why by McCall, October 19-20, was but a recon- Rosecrans was not so strengthened in the noissance, from which he was ordered to re- Kanawha valley as to threaten Richmond tire again to his old camp at Langley's, Oc- from the west, are among the unexplained tober 20th, and McCall so did retire, October | matters of the fall of 1861. Bad roads and 21st. The gradual withdrawal of the enemy want of transportation were the excuses offrom McClellan's front was not followed by fered at the time by apologists; but, that exa corresponding evacuation of their positions cuse lost its popular effect when urged as the on the line of the river above Washington, sole reason for the loss of every campaign or and the General sought by his diversions heavy movement which ended disastrously to either to drive the rebels back from Leesburg our arms. and Harper's Ferry or to give them a chance The key to General Mcto show if their intent was to try and retain Clellan's movements during the line of the Upper Potomac. The result the four months succeeding of the battle of Ball's Bluff was such as to in- his installation as General-in-Chief is found duce a recall beyond the Potomac of all the in the mere fact of his appointment to that forces ordered forward to sustain Stone's position after what had transpired between movement, since it demonstrated the imprac- Scott, McClellan and the War Department. ticability of holding ground in face of the Under date of October 4th, 1861, the Generaladverse concentration indicated. The en-in-Chief, complained of Mc'Clellan's insubortrenchments thrown up at Leesburg indicated dination-citing evidences of glaring breaches the enemy's design to retain their positions above Washington. McClellan's Supremacy of Command, of military usage and of the Articles of War. After citing the evidence Scott wrote: This retirement, and the falling back of "Has, then, a senior no corrective power over a Geary from Bolivar Heights after his gallant junior officer in case of such persistent neglect and action on the 16th of October, gave the Con- disobedience? The remedy by arrest and trial befederates the entire possession of the country fore a Gourt-Martial would probably soon cure the from Harper's Ferry to Leesburg. Banks | evil; but it has been feared a conflict of authority |