top of page
Battle of Rich Mountain
Harper's Weekly Article

The following is an excerpt from Harper's Weekly Journal of Civilization dated August 3, 1861.

 

          General Garnett, of the Rebel Army, lost his life. He had evacuated his camp at Laurel Hill during the night of the 11th, General Morris's column commenced the pursuit the next afternoon. After a terrible forced marsh through rain and mud, over Laurel Mountain, our advance came upon the enemy at Carrick's Ford, eight miles south of St. George, Tucker County. The rebels drew up in line of battle, and poured in a raking volley on the right of our column - the Ohio Fourteenth - which returned a hot fire, lasting twenty minutes, when Colonel Dumont's Indiana Seventh made a charge upon their battery. They broke and ran, crossing the Ford toward St. George. General Robert S. Garnett, while attempting to rally his flying men, was struck be a ball which passed through his spine and out at the breast. He fell dead on the sand. Colonel Dumont continued the chase two miles and bivouacked. The rest bivouacked on the battleground.

​

bottom of page