The national Republican., 1861-10-07

Tie two affairs at Chapmansville, reported
three or four DAYS since 10 which the enemy
lost one hundred killed and proportlonatt
number of wounded, will, IL Is supposed, re
store permanent peace to the Virginia counties
west of the Kanawha. Chapmansville is OIL
the turnpike from Charleston to Logan county
Courthouse, and is about twenty-five miles to
the south of Barboursv lille, the shire town OF
Cabell county. The secessionists in that part
of Western Virginia have been numerous and |
pertinacious They have once had possession |
of Guyandotte, on the Ohio river, and for b
long time they threatened Ceredo (Mr. Thayers
colony,) which lies on the river between Guy
andotte and the Kentucky line. There have
been two engagements with them in the rear Of
Ceredo, one at Bar6oursville, one at Logan
county Courthouse one at Boone county
Courthouse, (Which town was burnt by tn
national troops,j and finally two at Chapmans
vile. The truth is, that in large portions Of
Western Virginia, the secessionists have beer
numerous. and, but for the early occupation o.
that region by the National troops would have
controlled it. not because they were the major
ity, but because one secessionist is, everywhere
a match for three Union men.
The secessionists are reckless violent, and
desperate, while their opponents, if not timid
are at any rate remarkably pacific. We doubt,
indeed, from all the information we can get,
whether throwing out of the account Wheeling
and Parkersburg, the termini on the Ohio rivel
Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, Western
Virginia had more elements of Union strength
than the Valley of Virginia. From Harper's
Ferry south for fifty miles, the Union men have
been numerous from the first, and it is a matter
Of deep regret that it did not consist with the
plans of military strategy adopted at the head
quarters of the army here, to occupy (at least}
the northern part Of the Valley of Virginia
1t is consoling, that a differ, Mt policy was
adopted in respect to Western Virginia. Tha
region was promptly taken possession of, cleared
Of the rebel armies by Gen. Mcclellan, and ba'
since been victorously held by Gen, Rosecrans
All attempts of the enemy to tiftc. re-entranct
into Western Virginia are promptly repulssd
Nor do our armies coniine themselves to the
defensive. On the Kanawha, Gen. Rosecrans
is iu person pursuing Floyd and Wise, while in
the Cheat Mountains, Gen. Reynolds, who hs:
never ceased to be active. has Just been bril-
liantly successful in an encounter brought OIL
by reconnaissance in force, and reaching the
proportions Of general engagement, If the
first reports do not exaggerate the number
(5OO) of the enemy's killed and wounded.
1t is worthy Of remark, that our successes il
Western Virginia have all been won by volun
teer troops, put into service as soon as raised
and not subjected to drill in camp which, t.
volunteers,as all experience shows, ia demoral
izing and Iuinous process. Military martinet
cannot be made to understand this, because the,
cannot be made to understand anything, bu
the history of this war everywhere, as Of al
our wars, proves it.
Ia Missouri, the condition OF things seems t,
be hopeful. The loss of Lexington was an u1
fortunsse accident, but was really small affair
in proportion to the extent Of the forces or
posed to each other in that State Whethe
Gen. Price captured the little town OF Lexine
ton, or remained encamped before it. he wa
equally in position which he could not mair
stain, unless able to cope with Gen. Fremont /
the field. Lexington is far to the NORTH and III
line of approach for the rebel forces advascin
to reinforce Gen. Price is fanked, on one sid
by Kansas, and on the other side by Sedslis
the present Western terminus of the Pacific raj
road, and which is 10 possession OF an advanc
detachment of Gen. Fremont. Gen. Price ha
already suffered the loss OF enc important tram
portation train, at Osceola, at the hands
Gen. Lanes Kansas troops. Gen. Price VIZ
not stroDg enough TO make forward NOV
ment upon Jefferson City, Or even to rema
where he was, at Lexington.
His retreat was probably precipitated by Il
forcing back of detachment which he sent
the north side of Missouri river under Gener
Harris.
What National force it was which repulse
General Harris, is not known. The enem
supposed it was the force commanded by Gel
eral Sturgis but that is a mistake
The whole OF Missouri. north of Nilsson
river, embracing half the State, is now clear
any organized enemy, and is tolerably quie
the Hannibal and ST. Joseph railroad being
unob'truced operation. South OF the rive
we have all the large towns and all the raj
foads' and so much OF the area and populatio
under our effective control that Il is imposs
BILE that the enemy eau recruit the fabulou
numbers OF soldiers reported to be under III
command of General Price. lie had but iy
thousand five hundred men a, the battle ,
Wilson Creek. He may possibly have mo-
twenty thousand, but the figure given b
telegraphic reports-forty-six thousand-is
palpable absurdty.
PASSAGE or UNITED STATES TROOPS THR5u,