nd men at Laurel
Hill, on the road leading to Beverly. This position was naturally
a strong one, and was soon made formidable with earthworks and
artillery. He took command there in person. At the foot of Rich
Mountain (western side), on the road leading from Clarksville
through Buchannon to Beverly, a Confederate force of about two
thousand, with considerable artillery, was strongly fortified,
commanded by Colonel John Pegram, late of the U.S.A. Beverly was
made the base of supplies for both commands. Great activity was
displayed to recruit and equip a large Confederate force to hold
Western Virginia. They had troops on the Kanawha under Gen. Henry
A. Wise and Gen. J. B. Floyd. The latter was but recently President
Buchanan's Secretary of War.

Brig.-Gen. Thomas A. Morris of Indiana was given about 4000 men
after the affair at Philippi to hold and watch Garnett at Laurel
Hill. McClellan having concentrated a force at Clarksburg on the
Parkersburg stem of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, moved it thence
on the Beverly road, _via_ Buchannon, to the front of Pegram's
position.

His army on this road numbered about 10,000.

Gen. Wm. S. Rosecrans, the second in command, led a brigade; Gen.
N. Schleich, a three-months' general from Ohio, and Col. Robert L.
McCook (9th O.V.I.), also in some temporary way commanded brigades.

The 3d Ohio Infantry was of Schleich's brigade.

While the troops were encamped at Buchannon, Schleich, on July 6th,
without the knowledge of McClellan, sent two companies under Captain
Lawson of the 3d Ohio on a reconnoitring expedition to ascertain
the position of the enemy. Lawson found the enemy's advance pickets
at Middle Fork Bridge, and a spirited fight occurred in which he
lost one man killed and inflicted some loss on the enemy. This
unauthorized expedition caused McClellan to censure Schleich, who
was only to be excused on the score of inexperience.

By the evening of July 9th the Union army reached and camped on
Roaring Creek, near the base of Rich Mountain, about one and a half
miles from the front of Pegram's fortified position.

General Morris was ordered at this time to take up a position
immediately confronting Garnett's entrenched position at Laurel
Hill, to watch his movements, and, if he attempted to retreat, to
attack and pursue him.

On the 10th of July the 4th and 9th Ohio Regiments with Capt. C.
O. Loomis' battery (Cold Water, Mich.), under the direction of
Lie