The enemy in the Kanawha Valley.
The advance of the enemy recently into the county of
Greenbrier and adjoining country has been, no doubt, disastrous to the inhabitants.
The event occurred just at the nick of time, when the grain crops were matured and mostly gathered, and when cattle and hogs were fatted for killing and packing.
The acquisitive
Yankees, it may be well imagined, enjoyed the opportunity for stealing and feasting to the full extent of their power to take off and to eat. It is much to be regretted, in the present pinched condition of the country for supplies, that such an inroad upon them as the
Yankees have made in the
West should have taken place.
It will be seriously felt.
A goodly number of cattle fell into the enemy's hands because of the rigid interdiction of their exportation by the
commanding General of the department.
They could not be driven out, and the invaders arrived so suddenly that the owners had not time to avail themselves of the license to run them off which his coming certainly gave them, and their property was gathered in wherever it could be found by the
Yankees.
Greenbrier is in the new
State of West Virginia, formed by the lawless Northern Government in defiance of their own Constitution and without the consent of
Virginia.
They are making an effort, as far as possible, to retain possession of the territory and to keep our forces out of it. The issue should be met, and their line of possession should be interrupted as much as possible.
The gallant but limited advanced guard of our Western army will no doubt do this to the extent of their power; and they have proved that they are worthy of
Virginia and of association with their brethren who have won such a glorious name on the
Potomac.
They will yet return to their front posts and allow the enemy anything but a quiet possession.
