The rumors of the hour.
We deeply sympathize with the thousands of anxious and aching hearts throughout the South, in view of the rumors which come to us on the swift wings of the telegraph, and those that are conveyed to us by passengers who have reached our city from the neighborhood of the recent conflicts. We regret that we have not the means of satisfying the anxious inquiries of the friends and relatives of those who were believed to be engaged in the recent conflict of arms in the mountain region of our State. We have diligently inquired for particulars, and can only obtain unsatisfactory reports. Some to whom we have applied, and who ought to know the facts, for they have reached here from the neighborhood of Rich Mountain, assure us that it was impossible to obtain anything reliable there; some assure us that Gen. Garnett was killed, and others positively state that there is not a word of truth in the statement. The same vexed, uncertain and unsatisfactory reports reach us in relation to the fight at Rich Mountain, and we are compelled to come to the conclusion that if anything reliable is known in regard to the recent fights, it is so much confused by unfounded rumors that it is impossible for us to determine what is true and what is false. A gentleman, a member of the Powhatan Rifles, engaged in the recent fight at Rich Mountain, states that only twenty of that corps escaped alive. Among those killed, attached to that company, was Lieutenant John Dorsett, formerly a Mail Agent on the Danville route. The following letter was received in this city yesterday, addressed to Mrs. Gen. Pegram, mother of Col. Pegram, reported to have been killed: "Greenbrier" River, July 13, 1861.
"Col. Pegram was not hurt nor injured in the battle of Rich Mountain.
We parted late after the fight, and he has gone to join Gen. Garnett.
I am here with five companies of the regiment.
"Deeply regretting that you should have been annoyed by the report of his fall, I remain the warm friend of your noble son, "Nat. Tyler."
