Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-23

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette


CLARKsBURG VA, Aug. IA.
1t is known that brisk fighting is expected
yet in Western Virginia. before the present
campaign shall close. The people expect it;
the soldiers expect it; it is shrewdly surmised
that Gen. Rozecrans expects and Is prepar-
ing for it. Ga what is this expectation based?
Gen. Robt. E. Lee of the rebel armv, is
now in the mountains, at the head OF the
rebel forces menacing the Cheat Mountain
Gaps. So much may be accepted. do not
give this as mere iyiug-or even probable
-rumor, as was compelled to do two days
age. am Dot permitted to state all the facts
IN the case, but / may say that the authori-
ties here k1aoa0 that five days ago Gen. Lee
was in personal command of the rebel troops,
and that his headquarters were then at Hun
tersville, about 80 miles southwest from the
Gaps. Since then, little doubt is left that he
has removed to Monterey, not more than
twenty-five miles, in an air line, southeast
from the Gaps, and on the direct pike to
Beverly.
Gen. Lee then. the first in reputation, and
probably in ability, of the four Maj1r-Gener-
ais of the Confederate army, has been sent to
take command of the division moving against
Western Virginia. 1t has not been without
purpose that Davis has detac he'd the ablest
of hisG enerals from Richmond, and FROM his
army of the Potomac. What that purpose
may be will form fitting subject for the
spectators at home. To me, | confess. it
still seems, despite his ten thousand men and
his rumored reinforcements, that Lees move
ment is intended only for an effective feint.
Mauiiestly, the more Federal troops can be
diverted from the grand army at Washington
by keeping up state of constant alarm
along the border, threatening an attack here
and an attack there, keeping the loyal troops
on the march and the loyal officers ever on
the qui UiUe the more effectually can the re-
bells prepare for the forward movement east
of the mountains. which they must know that
the autumn will bring.
OF course, the country is full of the Wild
est ramors concerning Lees movements.
Some of them have a seed grain of truth;
others are not hampered in that way at all.
There is one rumor, however, that is signi-
feant. Three days ago, In first aluding to
the presence of Lee beyond the Cheat Noun
tain Gaps, l expressed the belief that il he
did make an attempt to enter this country, he
would hardly try to storm the fortified Cheat
Mountain Gaps, but would endeavor to cut
new road over what has been supposed an
impossible mountain range. and make aflank
movement on the foIc Is that were awaiting
his attack in front. Then little or nothing
was said of his movements, but now the air is
thick with rumors that he is cutting road
through the mountains; that he Is delaying
till he can draw our forces to the Gaps, that
he may then make rapid rush past them to
Beverly, and hurry on TO Grafton and the
key to our railroad communication.
OF this pian--if plan it be-and of our
movements to resist it, or any other attempt
that the enemy may make, 1t need only be
said that General Rosencrans is supposed to
be maturing ample preparations.
Meanwhile the reviving hopes of the Sc
cessionists may be observed in an infallible
barometer. Those who are familiar with the
Philippa, Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain
campaign, will remember what an outburst
of guerrilla fighting there was through all
this section of Western Virginia just before
the more serious operations began.
Already something of the same kind is
beginning to be noticeable again. Every day
or two we hear of some OF our men being
shot at from tehind the bushes by the road
side; but yesterday teamster told me ofbeing
fired upon while driving an. U. S. team be-
tween here and Weston, and to-day there
came stories of a skirmish between handful
of our men and band of native Secession
lists. but dozen miles from here, on the road
to Pruntytown, in which several are said to
have been killed.