Skirmish at Bowman’s Place

SUNDAY NIGHT’S DISPATCHES

GRAFTON, June 30. — A skirmish took place at Bowman’s, 12 miles from the Cheat river bridge, yesterday, between portion of the 15th and 16th Ohio and 1st Virginia regiments and a company of rebel cavalry, the former were went to protect the pol [polls?], and the latter, mistaking their number, attacked them and were routed with the loss of several men, among them the Lieutenant of the company, and several horses. The only loss on our side was N.O. Smith, of the 15th, who was buried here to-day.

Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling) 1 July 1861.

A LITTLE FIGHT IN TUCKER COUNTY

–Dr. Parsons, who arrived from Tucker yesterday (Sunday) reports a little brush with the enemy at his election precinct, Esquire Bowman’s. An election was held there Saturday for member of the Legislature. The secessionists with the double motive of capturing the Doctor, whom they knew to be there, and of breaking up the election, undertook to make a descent on the place with a troop of cavalry, numbering some 60. But the Union men who had been apprised of their intention made preparation to receive them, by posting a company on each side of the road approaching the place, and would have certainly captured them, but for a hint the rebels had got of the arrangement. This made them cautious, and they discovered the ambuscade in time to wheel their horses and make good their escape, not however till a volley had killed one of their lieutenants and emptied three other saddles, the owners of which were supposed to have been wounded. The horses were captured, but the men could not be found. They were supposed to have been carried off by their comrades, who immediately took to the brush, and could not be pursued. One of the Union men, a soldier of the Ohio Sixteenth, was shot through the head and instantly killed, by a scattering volley from the retreating foe. Another was wounded in the leg.

The election, however, came off successfully, and Dr. Parsons was elected to the Legislature.

Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling) 1 July 1861.

FROM GRAFTON.

[Correspondence of the Intelligencer.]

GRAFTON HOUSE, GRAFTON, July 1, 1861. }

At a place of voting in Upsher county, on Saturday, a party of secession cavalry entered the town or village for the purpose of intimidating the voters and upsetting things generally. They had scarcely commenced their hellish work, however, when Captain Miller, of the Ohio Fifteenth, with a squad of men made his appearance. A conflict ensued in which Captain M. had one man mortally wounded. The seceshers retreated after having received a volley from the Ohio boys, which caused four of them, one the commander, (a Lieutenant) to bite the dust. Four horses, a few swords and pistols fell into our hands. There were no further efforts made to prevent the holding of the election, notwithstanding the rebels were in considerable force in the neighborhood.

Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling) 2 July 1861.

Our First Victim.

A son of Richland county has fallen in defence of his country. On the 29th ult [?] a skirmish took place at Bowman’s, about 12 miles from Cheat River Bridge, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between the 15th and 16th Ohio regiments, and some rebels. The rebels were routed with a loss of several men. We had one killed; Mr. N.O. Smith, of Capt. Miller’s Company. Mr. S. lived about five miles from this city. His occupation was school teaching, but when he volunteered, he was a student at the Hayseville Seminary. He was an excellent young man, and died as a gallant soldier would desire to die–on the field of victory.

“Dulce est pro patria mori.” [Latin–“It is sweet to die for one’s country”]

Semi Weekly Herald (Mansfield) 3 Jul 1861.

The body of N. O. Smith, private of Captain Miller’s Company, of the 15th, passed through last night on the cars on the way to Mansfield. Mr. Smith was a worthy young man. He fell at Bowman’s, twelve miles from Cheat River Bridge. The circumstances attending his killing are very painful.

Daily Courier (Zanesville) 5 Jul 1861.

Semi Weekly Herald (Mansfield) 6 Jul 1861.

In Tucker County the disaffected are very bold. We learn that Lt. McChesney, of Rockbridge, with nine mounted men, went from the Laurel Hill camp a few days since, to be present at a Union meeting in Tucker [County]. On his way he was warned to be on his guard, as he would probably fall into an ambuscade in a short distance. He persevered, and had not gone far before he was shot dead by a party of Union men secreted on the roadside. One of his men returned to camp wounded, but the other eight had not returned at last dates, and it was feared they had been captured or killed. McChesney was a gallant and brave man. He had been an active skirmisher, and but a few days before had shot one of the volunteers from Ohio, whom he surprised.

Dispatch (Richmond) 8 Jul 1861.

Our Scout Fired upon.

On Saturday last, Lieut. Robt. McChesney, of the Rockbridge Cavalry, Capt. McNutt, with nine others of that Company ventured from camp Garnett a distance of about 20 miles in the direction of Rollsburg where the Unionists were holding an election for the New Government they are traitorously endeavoring to establish in North Western Virginia. They fell into an ambuscade of the enemy numbering about 150. They were fired upon, and Lieut. Robt. McChesney was killed, and a Mr. Paxton of Rockbridge and a Mr. Long of Tucker, were wounded. Mr. Long joined that company after it arrived at Camp Garnett. The other members of this scouting party made their escape unhurt, though the balls passed through portions of their clothing and five or six of their horses were killed.

Spectator (Staunton) 9 Jul 1861.

BEVERLEY, RANDOLPH CO., July, 2, 1861

Dear Sir:–I have delayed writing to you for the last ten days, for the reason that I had but little worth communicating beyond what you have been advised of by gentlemen who have left here, by every stage, during that period. My time, since I first arrived here, has been divided between Camp Garnett, Laurel Hill, and this place. I returned from Laurel Hill on yesterday, and, just before I left that encampment, I learned that Lieut. Robert McChesney, of the Rockbridge cavalry, was killed, on Saturday last, by the enemy, near Rollsburg, Preston county, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The company was posted on the road leading from this place to St. George, in Tucker county. On Saturday morning he was placed in command of a scouting party of ten men, and, unfortunately, was surprised by a party of the enemy, numbering about a hundred men, who were in ambush on the side of the road. The enemy waited until McChesney and his men had passed them, and then fired upon their rear, without doing any execution; McChesney immediately ordered his men to wheel and fire, which they did promptly, but they were immediately surrounded, and had to cut their way through. McChesney and his horse were both killed, and two of his men wounded; one of whom, by the name of Paxton, badly, and the other, by the name of Long, received two flesh wounds, one in the arm and the other in the leg. Paxton is now in the hospital here. Two of the enemy were killed. How many of them were wounded is not known by us. Our men were armed with sabres and double-barrelled shot-guns. It is said that both barrels of McChesney’s gun were discharged in the conflict. I understand that his remains, which were buried by the neighbors near where he fell, will be brought to this place; in the event, I shall see that they are taken to Rockbridge. There is no doubt of the general accuracy of the above statement of the affair.

Inquirer (Richmond) 9 Jul 1861.

Death of N. O. Smith–Correction.

Through the Cincinnati Commercial we were inadvertently led into an error in regard to the fall of this noble soldier. He was not mangled, as was stated, the injury he received being a small bullet hole over the left ear, penetrating the brain and lodging in the right cheek. The rebel who shot him was not killed by Capt. Miller, but by somebody else. Capt. M snapped his revolver, but it missedfire. In the meantime the rebels scampered off, leaving three dead on the road. Several of them sat on their horses as though they were much hurt.

It appears that several companies had been stationed along the side of the road where the rebels had to pass. Capt. Miller’s was the first passed, but his men had orders not to fire until the rebels were all in the ambuscade.

A detachment of one of the other companies farther down the road, not knowing the enemy had arrived, exposed themselves to their sight. The rebels fearing something wrong wheeled about and ordered a retreat. Capt. Miller thinking they would all escape, charged on them. Mr. Smith had discharged his piece, and was standing with his side to the enemy, when he was shot. He died in about half an hour, and was insensible from the time of being shot.

–Since the above was written, we have received the following letter from Captain Miller:

TO THE EDITORS OF THE HERALD

Rowlesburg, July 4th, 1861.

The circumstances connected with the fall of N. O. Smith will doubtless reach you through other sources.  It is due to him to say, I never saw a better man or soldier.  He never missed a roll-call; he never took an oath and never made use of a vulgar expression during his connection with Company H.  He was always the first to volunteer for any duty.  He was with us upon all our severe marches, and always had a pleasant smile for those who addressed him.  Every member of the company loved him and feel that they have lost a true friend and brave comrade, who fell while defending the cause of his country. Yours Respectfully,

H. MILLER
Captain Co. H. 15th Reg. O. V. I.

Semi Weekly Herald (Mansfield) 10 Jul 1861.

Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling) 11 July 1861.