Battle of Allegheny Mountain
Wheeling Intelligencer
The Battle of Alleghany Summit
Full Account from one of the Wheeling Boys who was in it
December 24, 1861
Wheeling Intelligencer
The Battle of Alleghany Summit
Full Account from one of the Wheeling Boys who was in it
December 24, 1861
Camp Elkwater, Va., Dec. 18.
Editors Intelligencer:
Since my last I have been waiting, Micawber like, for something to "turn up," which something did turn up on the 9th inst. An order was received from headquarters at Huttonsville for a portion of the Second Virginia to report at Cheat Mountain Summit immediately, or as soon as the weather and muddy roads would permit. About two o'clock P. M., of that day, detachments of companies A, C, D, G, H, I, J and K, in all about two hundred and ninety men, under command of Maj. Owens, took up the line of march for the Summit, where we arrived at nine o'clock, and were joined by detachments of the 25th and 32d Ohio, 9th and 13th Indiana Regiments, making a column of 1400 men at the Summit. The object of the expedition was explained to us, it being to clean out Camp Baldwin, situate on top of the Alleghany mountains, distant from Cheat Mountain Summit about twenty five miles. On the 11th instant we left there (the summit) and marched to the old Camp of the rebels at Greenbrier, and there halted long enough to get supper and rest, where our force was divided, 700 going up the Greenbank river and a like number up the turnpike towards Staunton, where the two columns were to make the attack at 4 o'clock in the morning, but owing to the roughness of the road and three miles of it up the mountain, much steeper than any part of Wheeling Hill, the column which our correspondent was with, could not get up until about 8 o'clock in the morning when we commenced the fight, on our side, by wounding two of the rebel pickets and killing one, our lines were formed, and forward charge bayonets given, away we went whooping like devils, within two hundred yards of the rebel entrenchments, when the fire became so hot that all had to take shelter behind logs, trees and whatever else could be found. In this position we kept up a regular Indian fight for our four hours, towards the last the firing became so accurate that if an inch of one's person was exposed he was sure to catch it. At last came orders to draw off which was done in tolerable good order. My opinion is that there were over 3,000 rebels we had to fight, and at no time had we over 250 men in the fight; opposed to this force was at least 1,500 rebel muskets and four or five pieces of artillery, among which was a thirty two pounder.
Our loss in killed and wound[ed], I think, will reach nearly 150, and the rebel loss in killed alone over 200. It was one of the hardest fought battles that has yet occurred in Western Virginia. The fight occurred in Highland county, seven miles from Monterey, from which place they (the rebels) received large reinforcements. I notice that some member of the Convention proposed to include Highland in the new State. I think if he had been at the fight, he would accept the amendment to strike out that county.
The loss in the 2d Virginia Regiment is three killed and ten wounded, some mortally, though they have not yet died, and one missing. Among the killed was Lieut. Sickman, of the Plummer Guards, now Company G in the Regiment. He was highly esteemed and a gallant officer. The rebel artillery was silenced four or five times by some boys of the Second, who annihilated one artillery company.
There were many amusing incidents occurring during the fight, which, as I have spun this letter out to a considerable length, cannot be related here.
From our column, which was composed of the 2d Virginia and the 9th Indiana, all fought bravely, and were deserving of victory, but the odds were too great against us.
I have just learned that the rebels contemplate attacking Elkwater in force. Let them come!
The rebels also had a 2d Virginia in the fight, and they were all fine looking men, and well clothed.
Our regiment was the last to leave the rebels. Considering that this was the first time we had been under fire, the men behaved well indeed.
Major Milroy, of the 9th Indiana, regardless of danger to himself, was everywhere encouraging the men during the fight.
Yours, truly,