New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-25
VEaTERN VIRGINIA,


| The brilliant achievement OF Com. Dupont NJ
Port Royal, and the extreme interest Of the
war thereby inaugurated in South Carolina,
have Withdrawn public attention in grea. de.
gree from the other fields of the contest. But
Cor this fact, we are persuaded that vey
general feeling of surprise would have been
expressed at the conduct Of affairs in Western
Virginia. We have had nothing but brief tele.
grams from that quarter for some time; asd
vet the state of things has been such that sOGs
fuller and more satisfactory account seems very
desirable.
| From the brief dispatches referred to, We
learn that the Rebels, under Floyd himself ap
preached about the LIST inst. within cannon.
shot of the camp of Gen. Rosecrans-on the
opposite SIDE of the New River; aud establish.
inc their batteries on a hill which commanded
the position and its approaches, actually fred
into our camp for several days. The FIRE was
replied TO by our guns across the river, with
some success, and one or two batteries slenced;
but the main battery of the Rebels on Cotton
| Hill maintained its fire for foil week. and
actually cut off all approach of our Transports
ton trains by the road along the river, tho
only one By which supplies could reach As
camp.
The New River at this point runs nearly
due North. and meeting with the Gaaley.
sweeps in a bend Of some three miles, around
the base of Cotton Hill. Around this bend, to
the East and North, lay eucamped our forces
under Gen. Rosecrans; within it was the pod
ton occupied by Floyd, with batteries con-
handing the whole length OF the bend,
separated only by the river, upon which We
had steamboats, able to come up within i've
miles of the camp. Floyd maintained himself
in presence of superior force; and when, 81
lepgth, our troops were sent across to attad
him. be withdrew, and Tetrea'ed with no sen
Gus loss.
We confess ourselves quite unable 70 unds
/ stand the strategy of our commanders IN sua
series of events as these. To eucamp an
army in a position open to the ehein! Q n'e-
with nothing 10 forbid his approach seems
itself very questionable arrangement, and one
which can be justified only by some necessity
or at least by some advantage Of very lndl+
nptable kind. Of the existence o! which, IN tM
ntesept ease. we see no evidence. II, how
ever. the selection of the position was Jasnhea
nv any such advantage, il would seem tne
mart of prudence 10 provide the means
repelIipg the assault to which an open camp u
this kind is always exposed. Means
promptly crossing the river and assailps tH
foe in his rear, or Of rapidly concentratlDgs
superior force upon him, TO punish any nah
advance of his, would seem only obvious saf
restiops of ordinary prudence, to say nothing
Of military foresight aud skill.
OF all this, however, not only does then
seem no indication in the present instance, 0n
there has been an evident deficiency either d
means or of ability to use them. Not only DIX
n hostile force lain for week in sight OF "
headouarters of the General commandngw
army in Western Virginia, but the enemy ..
been suffered TO retire almost uninoe'"
within his former lines again, and 70 esctF
The blow, the hope OF strihipg "n'o"
only conceivable motive for allowing him "
,roach so near Nor does this result apps"
20 be attributable to any superiority OF iof'~
Flord's numbers, though not accurately kno"'
TO us. could scarcely exceed 5000; while "s-
Rosecrans must have certsioly 1000 WIS.,,
the immediate vicinity of the point '''a'"
Their state Of equipment too, though DO. 80 -
all that could be desired, cannot be in''''D. :,
that of the rebel army; nor can y :" .
would prevent rapid moyemen' as'"
force so near. of III
Under these circumstances, the e'''f~
enemy after SO bold an advance SEEM. ~..s
quirc explanation. We w'u'd NV a.. o0m.
ren,ure uDon the arrangements Of 'n &c CO..
mapder of our force. in that quarter. Wv
ca"not help feeling surprised that no more .,' g
cisi,e blow should have been struck IN '.
zion which would seem to have Ols'e1 ~,
y;g,lant commander many oPpof'um''''
lind which do not often occur.