Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-27
Correspondence of the Charleston
Courier.

BIG SEwELL MOUNTAIN. Sept. l6, 1861.
l closed my last letter midnight, Thursday,
18th, amid great commotion; such a cooking,
packing up, and hurrying 10 aud fro, is not
often visible in even camp life. The .ques-
ton was PASSED from mouth o mouth, what's
the matter? what's up? where are we going?
At last we are eff and on the back track.
what could it all meau. By diligent enqui-
~ and influence at high places, 1 ascertained
that Gen. Rosecranz. after finding Gen.
Floyd, had fallen back to Dogwood. deter
mind to take the wilderness road to Meadow
Bluff, and cut off our supplies, while Gen.
Cox advanced to attack us in front. Owing
to the bad state of the roads, our wagons
were making slow progress in hauling pro-
visions, and we had not fhree days rations
Although we were compelled to fall back,
yet the bristling bayonet or the rifle cannon
of the Yankee invader was not the cause
We held a fortified position that one thou
sand men could hold against ten thousand
a pass in the mountains. As long as we held
our posision there, the Yankees dared not
show fight. Like towards as they are, they
preferred marching 35 or 40 miles by Wild
erness road TO our rear, with the intent to
starve as out. They outnumbered US three 10
one, but dared not attack. Two weeks ago
we were compelling Gen. Cox to fall back to
Gauley River, and in ten days more we
6Oulu nave Occu Vi hdud@ua al
ley, where We could have supplied the army
with provisions and grain. Now, by Rose
cranZ's sudden movements our arrangements
arc totally frustrated.
Generals Rosecranz. Cox, Benham, Rey-
nolds and Tyler's force is near 10000 men.
They have now centered for the purpose of
destroying Generals Floyd ard Wise at one
blow, and If We are not particularly active, are
'.goners." III We could bring them now to
fight, we would be successful; their plans do
not agree with our idea of warfare, and &c
"cut off the supplies" is far better than a
pitched battle with the almost certainty of
defeat. With all their rapidity to reach
Meadow Bluffs, they have signaliy Jailed SO
far. Whether they found we were falling
back rapidly TO the Bluff aud would reach it
first, or whether the road proved too hard to
travel, is a problem. The militia on the
wilderness road turned out for this occasion
and established BLOCKADE" by cutting
down the trees. This had the effect of stop
ping the enemy. All know of their move
ments is the fact that they have not reached
the Bluffs-neiiher have We, and why Sim
ply on account of bad roads. The incessAnt
rains for the past month have made the turn
pike perfect bed of mortar. On Friday
morning we commenced taking back tracks
early. Our teams were all loaded down and
many articles, such as tents, cooking uten-
sils, stores, etc., had to be left. Gen. Wise
was determined not to leave an article, 50
wagons were ordered to go ahead some dis
lance, unload aud return about P. N. Six
returned and secured the remainder of the
baggage. A volley from the Yankees adj
vanced guard nearly brought them up. but
they were protected by the cavalry and saw
ed. Nothing was left. That night the enc
my camped ct Dogwood in our place. Our
hard work on Notifications Yves .love's labor
lost. !" That day our march was only miles
TO Locust Lane. We there heard positively