Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-24
om the Richmo0d Enquirer ofAfhe 2lst
She Army ofKauawh..

WIN tucn peculiar Interest tnaI IL Is with
great satisfaction we lay before onr readers,
reliable Information from that region
The friends of Col j. Lncius Davis. will be
gratiied at his brilliant dash into Kanawha
Valley, an authentic account of which, en-
bodied 10 his official report to his command
er. Gen. Wis, correspondent was kindly
permitted to copy and enclose to u.s. Those
who know Col. Davis. will be able to appre-
ciate the genuine modesty, only equalled by
his chivalrOus courage, which places himself
10 the back ground, and awards the chief
place to Col. Clarkson, the brave Lieut.. Col.
of the LIST Cavalry. They are both we'll
known to the enemy. and the more dreaded,
the better they become acquainted. ~ s
General Wise dispatched the five Cavalry
companies. spoken of by Col. Davis. under
command of the latter and acting Lieut.. Col.
j. N. Clarkson, on the 9th September. from
his own camp, near Hawks Nest. with in
structions to penetrate the Ktnawhs Valley
at any and all points practicable, aud strike
with his utmost vigor wherever and when
ever they could do so with effect scarcely
had they crossed New River. WHEN dispatch
es arrived from General Flnvd that his en-
trenched position, at Camp Gauiey, short
distance above Carnifax Ferry. at the juno
ton of Meadow River with Gauley River,
was threatened by a concerted movement
between Gen. Cox upon one side, and. large
force from towards Summereville on the 9th
er. General Wire was himself threatened
by force, believed to be superior to his own,
on the main turnpike between his camp at
Hawks Nest aud Gauley Bridge, the strong
hold of Gen. Cox. and the gate of the ki-
nawha Valley. To keep this fne ia check
was absolutely essential to the safety of both
commands; consequently Gen. Wise moved
to the relief of Gen Floyd, with such eau
tious circumspection as his own security and
the protection OF the rear of the former de-
manded.
Upon the evening Of the 10th, at five min
utes past four, the enemy, led by General
Rosecranz in person, descending from his
command opposite Valley Mountain, attack
ed Gen. Floyd at Camp Ga1ley. The battle
ragged uutil seven, when the enemy gave up
the contest, with, as is believed, the expecta-
ton of renewing it next morning. About
midnight Gen. Floyd qnietly, but hurriedly,
withdrew, and crossed the river with his
whole force, and the most of his baggage;
some of the latter, camp eqHipage, tents, etc.,
and a number of fat cattle were unavoidably
abandoned. So quietly was the withdrawal
conducted that the enemy. 1t Ia reported,
fired with great vigor upon the deserted
breastworks of Camp Gauley at daylight In
the morning. The enemy are conceded to
have acted with great spirit in their attempts
to force General Floyd's position, but tn y
were met Nv D zoe IuOEt tUtu WOlsuJ Vi thci
steel, and suffered, it is thought. more So
vereIy than they acknowledge. Gen. Rose
cranz puts bis loss in his official report at
twenty killed and one hundred wounded
General Floyd's loss WAS from eight to six
teen wounded none killed. Gen. +. himself
received a slight flesh wound in the right
arm between the wrist and elbow.
Gen. Wise, upon learning that Gen. Floyd,
instead Of crossing the river at Csrnifax,
L. h,A data md IN m i'm
his position upon the Summerville side, and
had been attacked by the enemy in numbers
doubling his force. marched rapidly to his
relief and had, on the morning of the llth,
nearly reached the river, when messenger
from Gen Floyd met him and informed him
of the movement of the latter upon the main
turnpike. This left Gen. Wise no alterna-
tive but to unite forces at DogwOod Gap or
some neighboring point on the turnpike.
From Dogwood the unit d forces have fall
len back to more eligible position upon
Big Sewell, where they await the advance of
the enemy under Gents. Cox and Rosecranz
whose united force is variously estimated at
from eleven to fifteen thousand.
1t will be SEEN that the same untoward cir
cumstances which caused the REIMBURSEMENT
of the Kanawhs Valley in July last. has oc-
casione1 the retreat of Gen. Floyd from Car
nifax upon Big Sewall-and that is, the un-
from the department of the North-We pro-
per, by way of Sutton, Bulltown and Sum-
mersville, and obliging the removal of the
basis of operations further East for the pro-
lection of Lewisburg, and keeping open
communication with the Capital. If poss-
BILE achievements should be forwarded to
the Kanawha department to meet this new
addition to the enemy.
P. S-Subsequently to the movement
hon I'll hoo Oh
or changed position from Big Sewen to
Meadow Bluffs. This latter point is about
ten mills West of Lewisburg, and commands
the road leading from Summersviile, by which
Rosecrauz is said to be advancing upon Floyd
and Wise.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL J. LOCUS DAVIS
BIvoUAC ON Big Coal RIVER,
Sept. 18th, 1861.
Sir In obedience to your orders, pro-
ceeded to Fayette G. FL with five companies
of my regiment of cavalry, and left that
place with six, Caskie's being added. On the
11th crossed the Cotton Mountains and
marched to this place, thirty five miles, having
forded the tortuous Coal River ninety-two
times.
Finding that two companies of the enemy
were in our vicinity on q marauding excur-
sion, rapid chase was given by our whole
force under the immediate command of Col.
Ciarkson. - $50 -
The enemy was overtaken and the sharp
skirmish of Toney's creek ensued. In it the
enemy were totally routed. with the loss of
about fifty killed and wounded, and the same
number of prisoners.
The latter are en- route for your camp.
under charge of Lieut.. Tucker and thirty
men.
Sixty fat cattle were captured also six
saddles, q lot of boots and shoes, seven
horses. severel carriages and wagons--the
latter of little account, being broken and in
jured by rough roads. Fifty or sixty stand
Of valuable arms and lot of ammunition
was the most valuable part of our capture.
No one was wounded on our side.
The action lasted three hours, the enemy
having been pursued to within twelve miles
of Charleston. and in sight of Kanawha
river. The whole distance traversed by our
men in less than twenty-four hours being sew
enty-five to eighty miles, over steep mountain
trails, bride paths and rocky fords.
Time is insufficient to discuss individual
merit, farther than Col. Clarkson exhibited
his dashing energy in q remarkable degree,
and was the real commander in this brilliant
skirmish.
The enemy had been acting the part of
brigands in this valley, stealing every species
of property, insulting women. taking men
and little boys as prisoners. Among the
property taken by them ought to be men
toned cattle, horses. negroes, DC.
Your ob't servant,
j. LUoIUs DAVIS,
Col. LIST Cavalry, Wise Legion.
The North Carolina Senators.
The Wilmington IN. CT Journal. SAYS of