The Rich mountain fight.
Statement of Col. Fulkerson.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
On the morning of the 7th July, our scouts came in and reported that the enemy was advancing upon our position from the direction of Phillippi. The report proved to be true, and the enemy halted and took position about two miles from our camp; but he drove back a Georgia company, which was on picket duty, and with an advance party took possession of a thickly-timbered hill, near the village of Burlington.
Colonel Ramsey, of the Georgia Regiment, with two or three companies of his regiment. was ordered down and gallantly drove the enemy from the hill, and held it till about two o'clock, when he was relieved by the 23d Virginia Regiment, under the command of Col. Tallaferro. The 23d and the enemy kept up a sharp skirmish till near night, when I was ordered down with seven of my companies to relieve the 23d, and to hold the hill during the night. My companies were Capts. White's, Graham's, Wood's, Gibson's, J. L. White's, Terry's and McElhenney's. The skirmishing was renewed as soon as we got in position, and was kept up till dark. During the night an occasional gun was fired, but things were comparatively quiet. The firing was resumed again at daylight, and continued pretty brisk till 8 o'clock, when we were relieved by he Georgia Regiment, and they kept up the skirmish till about 2 P. M., when I relieved them with six companies of my regiment, Captain Gibson's company being left out of the seven which were out the night previous.
We again resumed the skirmish, which grew warmer as the day advanced. Our men were sheltered behind trees, and near sundown had advanced on some parts of the fine to the skirts of the woods nearest the enemy. Some of the enemy had taken shelter nearest our line in a stable, and in the houses of Burington, and commenced cannonading our position. One ball out off a tree on and near the centre of our line, and several exploded very near us A little before sundown the enemy advanced up the road in strong force, and Capt Wm. White, who had proceeded farthest towards the enemy, fell back to the line and formed Capt. White had been much exposed and gallantly stood the enemy's fire. The enemy proceeded up the road with loud yells, till a turn in the road brought them within range of the guns of Capts Graham and Wm. White, when the fire opened on both sides, and the enemy, after one fire, hastily retreated down the road again.
As the enemy approached, the 23d Virginia Regiment arrived, and although not in position to effect much, its presence doubtless hastened the retreat of the enemy. My own and the 23d instantly re-arranged our positions, expecting that the enemy might renew the attack; but night coming on, he did not appear again. We did not ascertain what was the effect of our fire, owing to the night coming on; but the enemy report some loss at that point. We remained in position till about ten o'clock at night, when, by order of Gen. Garnett, we were withdrawn, and we did not occupy that hill again. The next two days a hill about midway between the two forces was occupied and held alternately by the different regiments of Gen. Garnett's command. In this position the enemy, with his long range guns, annoyed us from a house and barn in a field, but were made to scamper away by a few soot from Capt. Shoemaker's battery. On the 11th, General Garnett received information that the enemy had gained Colonel Pegram's rear at the Rich Mountain, which placed him in our rear.
The General determined to abandon Laurel Hill at once, and we marched about twelve at night. My regiment was assigned to bring up the rear, and with Gen. Garnett and Capt. Shoemaker's battery we remained at the trenches till the balance of the command had gone some distance up the mountain. On getting within a few miles of Beverly, the General was informed that the road had been blockaded, and he then determined to proceed through Tucker and Preston and into Hardy, and having passed the road that led that way, we reversed the order of march, which threw my regiment to the front, which order was preserved during the day, except that Colonel Hansbrough's Battalion passed us to the front. That night we camped on Cheat river, and next morning Col. Hassorough, Col. Jackson, and myself were marched in front of the train.
Gen. Garnett, now anticipating an attack from Gen. Hill, (as I understood,) also placed Capt. Shoemaker with his battery in front of the train. We were now upon a narrow, mountainous country road, and with a long train of wagons our line was necessarily extended for a considerable distance. Col. Tallaferro's Virginia and Col. Ramsey's Georgia Regiments were in the rear of the train. During the day, Gen. Garnett, being in front, received information that the enemy was at tacking the rear. My regiment was crossing the river, (wading it,) and when it was nearly over Gen. Garnett ordered me to draw up on the far side and await further orders. He then re-crossed the river, and I did not see him afterwards. I drew up my regiment, as ordered, and waited for some time, when I was informed that Gen. Garnett had been killed, and in a short time Col. Tallaferro's and Col. Ramsey's commands passed us, leaving my regiment again in the rear. We remained in line for a considerable time, but the enemy not appearing, and receiving no orders from any one, we marched off, Col. Jackson immediately preceding my regiment.
It was the determination of Col. Jackson and myself to fight the enemy at that ford of the river, if he made further pursuit. At the time of the attack the Georgia Regiment was in the rear, of which seven of the companies were cut off from the Balance of the command, and made their way through the mountain no this place. The other three companies fell back upon Colonel Tallaferro's Regiment, at which point one of Capt. Shoemaker's pieces, in charge of Lieut. Lanier, was put in position, which, together with two or three of Col. Tallaferro's companies, poured a destructive fire into the enemy's ranks, and kept it up till a retreat was ordered. The cannon wagon being broken by the fall of a wounded horse, the piece was abandoned.
All speak in high terms of the gallant conduct of Lieut. Lanier and men, and of Col. Tallaferro's companies.
My regiment kept the rear all that night and till some time next day; while thus situated, with our wagons several miles in front, an officer had our baggage thrown out. Next morning found us in the State of Maryland, and from thence we marched us the South Branch of the Potomac to this place, the enemy being in front or rear or on our flank most of the way. The march was an exceedingly difficult and arduous one.
I cannot close without a word relative to our late commander, General Garnett. That he was brave, the very manner of his death testifies; that he was a courteous, high minded, honorable gentleman, all who had intercourse with him bear witness; that he was a cool, calm, sagacious commander, is amply shown by his being able to hold his position against a far superior force, headed by an accomplished officer, for several weeks, in a hostile country; that he was a good and true man, is known to all who knew him at all. He will long be lamented by the brave and the good.
[for the Richmond Dispatch.]
[for the Richmond Dispatch.]
