Confederate forces were only 1,200 strong

 The passage you provided describes a battle that took place on December 13, 1861, on the Allegheny Mountain in Virginia (now West Virginia). The battle was between Confederate forces under General Edward Johnson and Union forces under General Robert Milroy. The Union forces were reportedly 5,000 strong, while the Confederate forces were only 1,200 strong. The Confederates were able to repulse the Union attack, inflicting a loss of 80 killed on the Union forces. The Confederates themselves lost 20 killed and 80 wounded. The battle lasted several hours.

The passage also mentions that the Union forces are still being aggressive, even though the Confederates are planning to withdraw their troops from Pocahontas and Highland counties. The passage also mentions that wagons were coming and going from the town, some carrying supplies and others carrying empty wagons to bring back more supplies.

This passage provides a glimpse into the events of the Civil War in western Virginia. It shows that the fighting was still going on in this region, even though the Union had won several victories in other parts of the state. It also shows that the Confederates were planning to withdraw their troops from this region, which suggests that they were losing ground.

The passage is also interesting because it mentions the role of deserters in the war. Two deserters from the Confederate side informed the Union forces of the small size of the Confederate force on the Allegheny Mountain. This information led the Union forces to attack, and they were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Confederates. This shows that deserters could play a significant role in the war, by providing information to the enemy.