thods. As late as the evening of the 11th, Reynolds was
still with his headquarters at Cheat Mountain Pass, six miles
distant by the nearest route from either camp. On this day Captain
Bense was surprised and his entire company taken where posted some
three miles from Camp Elk Water, but this capture was not known
until the next day. The proximity of Donnelson's command to this
camp was also unknown until after it had withdrawn, and Rust's and
Anderson's presence on the Staunton pike in rear of Cheat Summit
camp was likewise unknown both to Reynolds and Kimball until about
the time they commenced to retreat. True, on the 12th, the presence
of some force in the mountain between the Union camps became known.
Lieutenant Merrill and his party departed from the valley to the
mountain summit on the morning of the 12th entirely ignorant of
any movement of the enemy. But both Reynolds and Kimball acted,
under the circumstances, with energy and intelligence. General
Reynolds moved his headquarters to Camp Elk Water, the better to
direct affairs. On the morning of the 12th of September Kimball
started a line of wagons from his camp to the pass, for the usual
supplies, and it was attacked by Rust's command before it had
proceeded a mile. This attack was reported to Kimball, who supposed
it was made by a small scouting party, but on going to the scene
of it with portions of the 25th Ohio, under Colonel Jones, 24th
Ohio, under Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert, and Captains Brooks and
Williamson's companies of the 14th Indiana, a body of the enemy
supposed to number 2500 was encountered. Kimball, supposing serious
work was at hand, ordered the position held until further dispositions
could be made to meet the danger. A sharp skirmish ensued, which
ended in Rust's troops precipitately retreating from their position
on the road under cover of the timber, and becoming so demoralized
that they threw away "guns, clothing, and everything that impeded
their progress."(10)

Rust's command continued its retreat through the mountains, and at
10 P.M. of the 13th Rust dispatched General Loring that "_The
expedition against Cheat Mountain failed_." He indulged in some
criticism on his men, denouncing some ("not Arkansians") as cowards.
At the same time General Jackson reported to Loring that he was in
possession of the first summit of Cheat Mountain in front of
Kimball's position, but only holding it until he should receive
orders, meanwhi