THE GREAT REBELLION: Another Important Victory in Western Virginia; The Entire Army of General Garnett Routed; Total Demoralization of the Rebel Forces (7/16/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 7/16/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Monday, July 15.

The following dispatch has just been received by the War Department:

HUTTONSVILLE, Sunday, July 14.

Col. E.D. Townsend, Adjutant General:

GARNETT and his forces have been routed; his baggage and one gun taken; his army demoralized and 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 the prisoners will amount to at least one thousand. We have taken seven guns in all.

I still look for the capture of the remnant of GARNETT's army by Gen. 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. (Signed,)

G.B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General.

CINCINNATI, Monday, July 15.

Gen. GARNETT was killed by an Indiana soldier in a regular battle fought yesterday, eight miles from St. George. This is reliable. Particulars of the battle will be quickly forwarded.

CINCINNATI, Monday, July 15 -- P.M.

A train arrived at Grafton at 10 o'clock this morning, bringing the body of Gen. GARNETT, late commander of the rebel forces at Laurel Hill. He was killed while attempting to rally his retreating forces at Carracksford, near St. George. The rebels were completely routed by the column of Gen. MORRIS. All their camp equipage. was captured. Fifty men were killed, and many prisoners taken. The loss on our side is four of the Fourteenth Ohio Regiment killed, and a few wounded. The rebels scattered in every direction.

No rebel forces are now within Gen. MCCLELLAN's district.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3976302/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Great Rebellion: Another Important Victory in Western Virginia – 2-3
Further Particulars of Garnett’s Defeat and Death – 3
Aid for the Sick and Wounded – 3
Captures by the Privateers – 3
The Impressment of British Subjects in New-Orleans: Card from the British Consul – 3
The Late Battle – 3
Editorial: The Positions of the Rebel Armies – 5
The Victories in Western Virginia – 6
Bodies Found in the River – 5
Prisoners of War – 5-6

[Campion]

This "General Garnett" is Robert S. Garnett.

His cousin, Gen. Richard B. Garnett, was killed participating in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

[Cen-Tejas]

I’m always very ambivalent reading articles like this because my great grandfather, his brother and his brother’s son met at my Grandpa’s house after Sunday lunch in Spicewood, Texas in 1861 and rode off to join the Texas 6th which Lee himself admitted that he came to depend on.

4 years later, only my great grandpa came back. If he had not, I would not be typing this email.

My great grandpa wrote letters that said....”I never came even close to affording a slave”, but...”I’m not going to let these “damn yankees” push Texas around” (I’m paraphrasing).

[PGR88]

from reading these NY Times articles regularly, its perfectly reasonable for the DC elites at that time to imagine that the Rebels would be soundly defeated at Manassas in a few weeks.

[Demiurge2]

A helpful reminder that the NYT has been printing propaganda bullshit for 160 years now.

[BroJoeK]

Demiurge2: "A helpful reminder that the NYT has been printing propaganda bullshit for 160 years now."

In 1861 the NY Times was on the side of the United States and against our enemies.
Whose side are they on today, and who do they oppose?

[BroJoeK]

PGR88: "from the NYT..." "...its perfectly reasonable for the DC elites at that time to imagine that the Rebels would be soundly defeated at Manassas..."

Nobody then understood how poorly Union forces would be lead.

[BroJoeK]

"4 years later, only my great grandpa came back."

One of my great grandfathers was fresh off the boat from Europe in Illinois, his family having escaped to dodge the draft into one of Europe's endless wars.
Soon enough, he and his brother volunteered, he for a Quincy, Ill. regiment and served until the end -- when he was wounded near Mobile, the wound not so serious but the infection nearly killed him.

When it was all over the two brothers married two pretty young Texas girls... and moved to Kansas.

[Cen-Tejas]

.........great story, my great grandpa served in the “Texas Sixth” which was a go to unit for Lee. I love telling my daughter who just had a little boy that “none of us would be in this room today if some Yankee soldier had been a better shot and killed Grandpa”.

It’s amazing how many today are directly linked to Civil War action but don’t know it.