roads, and about ten miles from Camp Gauley.
On Thursday, intelligence reached us that the enemy was crossing the Gauley at Hughes's Ferry, with a view of cutting us off by the Wilderness road, at Meadow Bluff, sixteen miles this side of Lewisburg.
We at once moved back to this point, so as to place ourselves in striking distance of the enemy, should be appear in that quarter, and at the same time to hold the strongest and most defensible position this side of Gauley Bridge, on the line of Cox's advance.
If we are attacked here with as many as ten thousand men, I think we can defeat them, and we are anxiously anticipating a fight in a few days.
The writer urges the great importance of the Government sending forward men and provisions immediately.
Speech of Gen. D. H. Hill.
On Gen. Hill's return to Yorktown, after a protracted sickness, the 1st North Carolina regiment greeted him with much warmth, and called on him for a speech, the conclusion of which we copy from th
ith those of Gens. Floyd and Wise.
The Central train, yesterday, brought down 47 prisoners, including those captured in the recent brilliant dash of cavalry under Col. J. Luclus Davis, besides a few straggling "Union" men. Among the former is a Capt. Cox (who professes to be well acquainted with President Davis) and one of his lieutenants.
These two kept up a lively and good-natured conversation with the bystanders at the depot, but some of the prisoners displayed a good deal of impudence.
One follow remarked that Cox "kept on driving Wise back," and would ultimately thrash him, after a bloody fight.
The prisoners were captured on Coal river, in Boone county, together with 200 head of cattle, which they had stolen from different parties, and were driving towards the Federal camp.--Caskie's Rangers, of this city, participated in the capture.
If it be true, as reported, that Gen. Lee has changed his position, and reinforcements be pushed forward in time, we regard the occupati
also, that Col. Lowe was killed in another charge, and that, finally, Col. McCook, with his German brigade, was repulsed.
This is all so, and shows not only that our fire was "terrific," but that their loss was equally "terrific," or, they the greatest cowards that ever trod a step to the sound of martial music.
On Wednesday and Thursday last, Rosencranz built new boats and threw some 5,000 of his men across to this side of Ganley, his purpose doubtless being to form a junction with General Cox's forces, which will come up fifteen miles from Ganley bridge.
This will give him a column of about 10,000 men with which to march upon us at this point.
About 4,000 of this number are now encamped at "Alderson's," twelve miles distant, and the smoke from their camp-fires is plainly visible from our tents this evening.
For the short time I have been in the service I have seen much of the article we call war, in all its degrees of sunshine and of shadow.
I have seen the sick and th
rifle balls which his troops poured in upon the position occupied by the enemy must have had a disastrous effect, though the actual facts could not be obtained, since the forest screened them from view.--Gen. Floyd was ordered forward from Meadow Bluff to Join Gen. Lee with the remainder of his command, and it is probable that, with other reinforcements, we have now 6,000 men at Big Sewell Mountain.
There is a report that Rosencranz had gone back to Cheat Mountain; but whether Rosencranz or Cox be in command, Gen. Wise is sanguine that Gen. Lee will whip the enemy and drive him back.
The position at Big Sewell is a very strong one, and seems to have been well chosen by Gen. Wise as a stand point.
The most intense anxiety prevails to hear additional news from the West, but the bridges on the two railroads.
beyond Lynchburg and Staunton, having been damaged by the heavy rains, some delay must be occasioned in the transmission of dispatches.--Gen. Henningsen, who has been attached t
d, escorted by the Alabama Mounted Rifles, Capt. T. F. Jenkins, to which was assigned the post of honor, some 400 yards opposite to and facing the line.
The troops presented a fine appearance.--The pageant was witnessed by many citizens, including numerous ladies from Pensacola and other places, who were evidently highly entertained.
Prominent along the line were the Washington Artillery, from Augusta, Ga., and the Continentals, from Mobile, also, the Montgomery cavalry companies of Captain Cox and Clanton.
The infantry did exceedingly well as a body, but the best discipline was observed in some companies of the Georgia 5th.
But last, though not least, I must not omit to mention the verdict given by the ladies--God bless them!--and they may be regarded as connoisseurs in such matters — that "Capt. Jenkin's company was the finest body of men and horse on the fields;" but, as remarked by one lady, "the only misfortune was, they were not uniformed," This "misfortune," however, it
ight; it was altogether cavalry.
The companies that left Wise's camp for Cole river, were as follows.
Capts. Pate's, Phelps's, Jordan's, Pogue's, and on their march through Fayetteville were joined by Caskie's Rangers, all as Invincible, as Gen, Cox expressed himself about this company.
In the morning they could be seen on the summits of Cotton hill, fighting like devils, and, in twenty-four hours after, attacking his commissariat wagons some where in the neighborhood of Peytona; the compani of Mr. G. Pack, driving off sixty head of his cattle, all of his goods, himself and family as prisoners — immediately ordered his command in pursuit of them.--After a chase of 15 miles at a full gallop, our boys came in sight of them, and, as Captain Cox.
once said, came down on them like a thunder bolt from the heavens — they not expecting or anticipating any such attach.
They showed fight at the beginning, but our boys poured such volleys' of lead into them, and charged through for a dista
thin a week.--The Federals judging from their persisten refusal to come out from their strongholds, the apprehensive of an attack from our troops.
It is currently reported that General Burn has been appointed to the command of three brigades, and if this be true, we may confidently expect to hear of some exploits under his leadership.
The retreat of the Federals from Sewell is fully confirmed.
The prisoners who arrived yesterday deny that Rosencranz was in command there, and say that Cox was the General who directed this runaway movement.
His force, they assert, consisted of only 7,000 men; but we place little confidence in any statement made by a Lincolnite.
advices present that Gens. Lee and Lo were in pursuit of the Federals, with a efficient force, including a large body of cavalry.
The enemy commenced the retreat in the night, and had probably accomplished a march of 16 miles before the Confederates ed.
We have additional accounts of the battle at Greenbrier r
statement of Col. Frizell, that the entire country of the Kanawha Valley is devastated, and that farmers are leaving as rapidly as transportation can be found to bring them North.
Forage is out of the question and provisions cannot be procured.
The condition of the roads and country is such that an army of 2,000 men could not winter there, the impossibility of transportation being so great, and the risk of reaching the army with supplies, &c., so hazardous.
Generals Rosencranz and Cox are at Mountain Cave, only thirteen miles from Gauley Bridge, with only six thousand troops, who are able to perform active duty, and are available.
Between Gauley Bridge and Camp Lookout there were, on Tuesday last, 1,640 patients in the hospitals, prostrated with camp fever.
At Cross Lanes, near Carnifax Ferry, and about twenty-eight miles from Gauley Bridge, are 160 patients.
Those that can bear moving are to be brought here as rapidly as steamers can be secured.
During the past tw
got Gen. Lee's rear, and made a demonstration sinst Lewisburg.
Gen. Floyd was at Cotton ll, seven miles beyond Raleigh Court-house and had possession of Miller's, Carniax's, and Pack's Ferries, and the mouth of oat river.
A report was in circulation that e had another engagement with the Federals a few days ago, but not credited.
We have two statements of a movement of Gen. Loring's forces, to which we shall not allude the receipt of further advices.
It is believed that Rosencranz and Cox are both in the Kanawha Valley, previous reports of their parture to the contrary notwithstanding.
Their pillaging operations have been extensively carried on, and the Lincolnites of the West have had to pay liberally for their ad erence to the old Union.
The people of Monroe are acting very nobly in the cause of the South, and Gen. A. A. Chapman, of that county, among others, is untiring in his exer to supply the necessities of our troops.
They have not only promised an abundance of to G
t Cotton Hill.
Gen. Floyd's Brigade Quartermaster, Col. Isaac B. Dunn, has just established a daily line of express from Cotton Hill to this depot — distance 115 miles from headquarters, making 7 miles per hour, at stages of 5 miles each.--The express is formed of the cavalry who are without arms.
It makes close daily connections with trains East and West, at Dublin.
I left headquarters Friday morning, was with the General at Miller's Ferry and Cotton Hill, and know that Rosencranz, or Cox, or both, have a heavy force, say seven to ten thousand men, at Gauley, Hawk's Nest, and along the Valley for seven miles up to Hamilton's. Their tents are visible from Cotton Hill, and their band may be heard distinctly at night at Gen. Floyd's headquarters.
Our cavalry have proceeded as far down as Malden, fighting their boats and annoying their trains.--The enemy have no force west (south) of Kanawha river, (up to the time I left,) as far down as Malden.
The statement in to-day's Dispatc
