The fight in Western Virginia--position of the Contending forces.
--The
Commercial, by letters from
Gauley, learns that the rebel batteries commanded from the west side of the river the road on the east side, used by
Gen. Rosencranz's supply trains, from the
Kanawha falls, which is a mile and a half below the junction of the
Gauley and
New rivers, to
Gen. Rosencranz's headquarters, at
Tompkins's farm, on
New river, five miles above the junction.
The supply trains of the
Federal army, therefore, have been discontinued during the day, and are run only at night.
The rebels had three batteries of two guns each opposite
Tompkins's farm, one opposite to the mouth of the
Gauley, and one opposite the
Kanawha falls, the latter the most dangerous.
Nothing definite is known of the rebels, but their operations indicate desperation or great confidence.
Gen. Rosencranz has just received a battery of ten
Parrott 10-pounders.
The troops were confident that they could cross the river and bag the enemy, but some expressed fears that such movements have been calculated for and desired by the enemy.
Federal report of Floyd's attack on Rosencranz.
Capt. C. M. Goulding, Quartermaster in
Rosencranz's army, arrived at
Cincinnati on Monday, direct from
Western Virginia.
He gives the latest account of the late fight between
Rosencranz and
Floyd.
We copy from the Cincinnati
Commercial:
On Friday morning, at 8 o'clock, the rebels opened fire on
Gen. Rosencranz's positions at Camps
Tompkins and
Gauley, from the hills on the west side of
New river.
They had two pieces of artillery, and banged away vigorously, throwing shot and shell, and their skirmishers, concealed in the bushes on the hill side, kept up a roar of musketry.
The weight of the enemy's fire was directed upon
Gauley, and the object was manifestly to stop the supply trains, which they did on Friday.
Soon after opening fire they succeeded in sinking the ferry boat at the mouth of the
Gauley.
It was, however, raised on Friday night, and put in order.
The rebels threw about forty shells into the camp of the Eleventh Ohio, but did not, with all their firing, kill a single man, and wounded but few.--The majority of their shells did not explode.
The rebels made no demonstration on Saturday, and all was quiet when our informant left.
The telegraphic communication between
Gen. Rosencranz and the country was interrupted by an accident.
When the rebels commenced throwing shells the telegraph operator, thinking his position was within range of the enemy's guns, hastily dispatching that a battle had commenced, proceeded to remove his office, and piling all the apparatus into a wagon, started up the
Gauley Gen. Rosencranz, hearing of his movements, ordered him back, and as he was returning his wagon was capsized and tumbled down a precipice into
Gauley river, thus destroying his batteries and instruments.
It will be remembered that the
Kanawha river is formed by the junction of Gauley and New rivers.
The
Gauley runs from the east and
New river from the south.
The main body of
Gen. Rosencranz's army was posted in the angle between the rivers, some regiments being several miles distant from the point where the rivers meet, on the left bank of
Gauley, and the right bank of
New river.
Communication with the country below is kept open along the right bank of the
Kanawha.
The rebels have appeared on the left or western bank of
New and
Kanawha rivers, having reached that position by a circuitous march leading across
New river, at a point some distance above our lines.
They have been seen in considerable numbers west of
New river, some miles above
Gauley, for a fortnight, and have occasionally skirmished across the river with our troops, at one time making a vigorous attempt to destroy a rope ferry which was defended by
Col. R. L. M. Cook's regiment.
Not until Friday, however, had they become saucy enough to try the experiment of bombarding the position of
Gen. Rosencranz.
Considerable changes were made in the dispositions of
Gen. Rosencranz's forces, subsequent to and during the bombardment.
The principal change was in removing
General Benham's brigade from the
Kanawha, to protect the steam boat landing.
The rebel force was by some about seven thousand strong, and under the that the force exceeded four thousand.
The impression prevailed among our forces that
Floyd was personally desperate, and determined to do something that would relieve him from the taunts of his enemies in
Richmond.
It was also believed, from the disposition of forces made by
General Rosencranz, and certain preparations going on, that an attempt would be made to bag
Floyd's whole forces by
Schenck's brigade crossing
New River above, and Benham crossing the
Kanawha below his position, while brigade would give him employment This was believed practicable.
The health of the army was improving.--The troops were well clothed and prepared — Forage for horses was becoming scarce and
Capt. Goulding's object in coming to
Ohio was to make heavy purchases of horse feed.
Not the slightest uneasiness was felt as to the ability of the army to sustain itself.
The only question was as to whether it could take
Floyd and his army.
