History: A contemporary account of actions around Bath - January 4th 1862

Bath is now a focal point in the B & O Winter command simulation. Some of the charges brought by Jackson against Brigadier General W. W. Loring orginated from perceived delays in the advance on Bath. In the account below, you will find some familiar units from B & O Winter. The historical 39th Illinois and 84th Pennsylvania are both mentioned. Some of the other units mentioned are within the campaign theater, but have not engaged with or been specifically identified by the enemy. Another note is Sir John's Run. The "Bath Depot" in the command simulation was often historically referred to as the Sir John's Run or Alpine Depot. There is reference to the road leading from Bath to the depot. This is one of the roads that was considered an addition to Hotchkiss' map for the campaign simulation. 
Here is part of an article take from the Child of the Rebellion website that has a West Virginia Civil War timeline: 

The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry Etc.
Frank Moore, ed. Vol. 4. New York: G. P. Putnam, 1863, 14-17
The Fight At Hancock, Va.
A correspondent gives the following account of this affair:
Hancock, Jan. 10.

So many “reliable reports,” which have had not the shadow of foundation, have been sent your paper, that, for the sake for truth and justice, we purpose giving you something from the “seat of war.” The Fifth Connecticut regiment, which had been camping within a mile of Hancock, were ordered back to Frederick, and marched from here on New-Year’s day. On the 3d inst., the Massachusetts Thirteenth regiment – Companies A and B from Hancock, Company E from Sir John’s Run, six miles above, and Company H at Little Orleans, sixteen miles west – were ordered back to Williamsport. This left the Thirty-ninth Illinois stationed thus: Three companies at Alpine Depot, opposite Hancock; two companies at Bath, six miles south; two companies at Sir John’s Run, three miles from Bath, and two companies at Little Cacapon, (or Little Orleans, the writer does not know which.) In addition to these, there were at Bath the first section of Best’s Artillery, Lieutenant Muhlenberg commanding, and Company A of First regiment Home Brigade, at Little Cacapon Bridge, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The withdrawal of the Fifth Connecticut and the four companies of the Massachusetts Thirteenth was duly noted by the rebel scouts, and gave such excellent opportunity for them to again break up the railroad, that they could not resist the invitation. Accordingly, on Saturday, 4th, they came in force toward Bath. Major Mann, of the Thirty-ninth Illinois, and forty men were on a scout several miles below Bath, toward Winchester, and discovered the advance guard just in time to save most of his men. Their retreat was partly cut off, eight men were captured by the rebels, one killed, and the rest, with their Major, made good their retreat to Bath.

The guns were already fixed on a hill commanding the numerous roads centring in Bath, and began a good work as soon as the rebels came in view, holding them in check until reinforcements were sent for to Sir John’s Run, at which point the Thirteenth Indiana regiment had just arrived, (one P.M.)

News came to Hancock, to the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania regiment, which had arrived the day previous, a few hours after the Thirteenth Massachusetts left. They were unarmed when they came, and the last arms had just been given them when the order to march was given.

I omitted to mention that Lieutenant Stewart, with forty men, was sent from Hancock, from Captain Patterson’s company of Cavalry, First Virginia regiment, on Saturday morning, to Bath. It was this part of a company which bore the several messages.

Colonel Murray, with the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania, hastened over the river to the rescue of the Thirty-ninth Illinois. But, unfortunately, the new, greasy guns were unfit for use – not one in five would fire. For this or some other reason, the Colonel, who took precedence in command at once ordered the cannon off the hills into the road leading to Hancock. It is reported he did not inform the companies of the Thirty-ninth Illinois of his intention to retreat further; consequently, when ordered to fall back, they left their camp-equipage, stores, and all they had, in the hands of the rebels.

The whole force then fell back to the road leading to Sir John’s Run. Here the Thirteenth Indiana and Captain Kenssel’s company of Cavalry, First Virginia Regiment, met them. The retreat was, however, kept up, the cannon keeping the rebels at bay. In the mean time Lieut. Stewart returned to Bath, not

Sir Johns Run - A Tributary of the Potomac

knowing of the retreat until he found himself confronted by the whole column of rebels, part of whom fired, killing three horses. Two of the men took to the woods, one mounted a rebel’s horse which had been captured and escaped, one of the two afterward returned to Hancock, the other is doubtless a prisoner among the rebels, making nine in all, and two killed; one more was drowned in crossing the river, as several companies of the Thirty-ninth had to wade it. The rest returned in safety to Hancock. The rebels have lost in all at least twenty killed, but nothing certain is known. The presence of the rebels on the hills opposite was heralded by the firing of two shells at the Protestant Episcopal Church, which was at the time occupied by a small worshiping congregation, and being lighted made it quite a prominent object. After quiet was somewhat restored, Captain Patterson, in order to learn their further intentions, gave them, by order, a few shells. This caused them to fire upon the town at least twelve or fifteen shells, showing their malicious spirit. The guns from the Federal side were back of the town, near the Protestant Episcopal Church, but the range of their guns was upon the town itself. This, of course, produced the utmost consternation among the women and children. Fortunately “nobody was hurt.” The cannonading continued for an hour, and was a beautiful sight indeed. The whole town was quickly illuminated by the burning of a barn on the Virginia side, belonging to the notorious rebel, Johnston Orrick, a member of the rebel Virginia Convention, elected a Union man, but turned a traitor.

The object of the rebels soon became apparent by the burning of railroad ties and the tearing up of the railroad. But, strange to say, they did not destroy the regimental stores of the Thirty-ninth Illinois, stored at Alpine Depot, nor did they remove them, though completely in their power. They perpetrated a shameless act of vandalism on Monday night by plundering the house of a Union man, Mr. Henry, at Alpine Depot, and then burning it to the ground. However, as an offset to this, they consumed with it the store-building of those notorious rebels of Hancock – Bridges & Henderson, who have given the loyal citizens of that place, as they say, more trouble than any enemies on either side of the river.

The account then goes on to discuss the events at Hancock on January 5th - 7th....