Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-01

doubted integrity, and whose extensive murray eAPeH
cnce smnly ouaia.s him to speak knowingly OF such
at,.rs will command tie aeL ton Of our readers both
fer the information gives Of recent movements OF our
In the Northwest and the present position OF aars
| in that quarter:
CANP DEFIANCE,
25.h September, 10 p. n. s.
u,,,r. Editor, On the l4th Of September General
F,o,d and bis forces eacanpsd the summit OF the Big
sevel aud ordertd the Wise Legion, which, to cover
ia rear was drawn up In order Of battle at Locust Lane,
| 20 camp Els, of Lin at smales, on the turnpike
The troops of the Wise Legion, who were in no ana'
nj. humor al 50 muci rereang, and, especially nj De-
inc Obliged 10 retire from Dogwood Gap without fighting,
we're much exhausted and annoyed at having been kept
on the road from six in the morning till eleven at nigt
mixed Nd with On inerminsbe train OF wagons belong
inc 10 the Floyd Brigade, for the purpose Of only pro-
ceedrg few miles and without being able 70 OBTAIN any
definite order rs TO their Destination
On the Eastern slope Of the Big Sewell between two
sm,l farms called DiIons' and vaughans Gen. Wise 90.
ectsd his camping grouod, at the Place since called
Camp Defsrcr aud which, undoubtedly, is, with Dog
| wood Gsp Of the strongest POSITIONS between 'ne
| AIIegbanes and the Ohio river.
Ca the 18Th aud l6h General Floyd was industrious
- occu,;sd throwing up field works the westward OF
the summit Of Big SeNe Tho position, however, was
no, ore eneble against superior force, and TINS Gene
al FIovd seems TO have fouad out On the night OF the
lsb to the 18th be made very precptae retreat from
the Big scyel with about 5000 men, to meadow Blln
| aastroyipg much baggage and abandoning much prov
sioI His troops we're under the impression that Gene
raj R,s Grams was pressing on with $4,000 men. After
passing tie Wise Legion. be ordered Gen. Wise on the
following day to prepare cover his rear and 70 follow
him TO Meadow Buff having Information that the enemy
was advancing one column by the Wilderness road.
| twas imposs bic for General Wss to comply With
both orders even had they been positive, aud 10 TACT
one va, not executed at ALL Twas only by Maintaining
ts position at all lrd that the Lsgon could Protect
he rear cf the Floyd Brigade The experience Of Dog
wood Gap occupied Ia fol o., with artillery by the enc
nv few hours after the Wise L'gou left it. by General
oyds order showed clearly and the event at camp De-
ince subs quepy confirmed that on the abandonment
Of the latter position the enemy would immediately oc.
| cunv i, in force Floyds Brigade much demorslxsd
sre, his retreat from Camp Gauley and the following
treat The Wise Legion, willing enough 10 fgh would
have been 6q1ay demora by retreatng sny further
Meadow Bluff affords position NO real dnmonstra-
ton had yet has since been made on tie Wilderness
rad nor did there exist any reason why there should
sioce the snesy cord conveniently II in force fu'-
feieut strike the turnpike further eastward, a. for in
stance at the Little 5 well.
| If tho Wise Legion had retrested and been followed
ID by superior forces its eIstence was nperled, ana
hereby he re;r of the Floyd Brigade sft unprotected
But at all events. that ,seet was Impossible Of ehecu
non without the abandonment OF baggage, because Zen
Flpyd had detained many wagons beonsng 10 tue al,
rsady cisnt transportation Of the Wise Legion, AID
ecluse the roads had been much cut up BY the vast
| train Of tho Floyd Brigade.
The nri,er counted overweight Wagons belonging to,
ard following the last regiment Of Gen. Foyds Brigade,
which was lust twenty more thsn accompanied the ies
uent which closed up Wise's column.
Under these circumstances, zen. "ne resolved 70
make a stand whore he was camped, and where on tee
.-isy after his reaching the ground b had begun TO
%o.- -h".nl:. Here it was impossible Tor an
snonv 10 hing more than two als Or '0o,apa %eI
| n h,s- on apy part of bis position, ~-a On D''
| -,.sin few minutes Gen. Wise could bring ak o.
his eight pieces and thirds of his force into plhy be-
- In
Of the officers of the Legion spoke openly Of resgning
i IL comDclei 10 retreat any further.
On the 18th, Gen Wise addesed the troops Of bis LIE.
eon stating substantially that hitherto be had never 70.
reated but in Oh dieDoe superior ories That here
be was determined TO make stand. That bis lorce con-
sisted Only Of and artillery and that the enc
NV wns alleged to be 900 strong That ths ne did not
believe but that bis must be prepared TO light two
or three or sever, one, and even II the enemy were
ia the full orce stated the position admitted OF success
m defence and he was determined to abide the Issue
lie warned them that they would probably, be attacked
font aud rear for successive dsys aud he called on any
officer or soldier who li doubtful Of the result or M
wiling 10 stand hy him in this trial. to step forwsrd
promising that they should be marched a. once TO keG.
dow Blvh This spscch delivered successfully to the
three regiments OF i1sn,ry and to the artillery, was re-
ceved with the widest enthusiasm Not solitary in
Giyidna in the Legion failed to respond and the spirits
Of the corps raised and maintliaed at the highest
| fighting pitch.
The provisions and baggage wagons were withdrawn
into safe positions, and the camp on all sides strength
eued Ia this attitude the Legion remained ill about the
20 when 1t strengthened by the arrival OF esp 10
artillery company with one gum and By that OF one
Virginia ono North Carolina and three Georgia compa
MES which swelled the forces Of the Wise Legion to
over 1000 men, About this time General Lee arrived
in General Ployds camp at Meadow Bluff and wrote to
General WISE advising him 70 fall back, II eIecu:abls
without delay. Before acting this advice, Gen. Wise
requested General Lee to inspect the position in person.
I IN tha Ipna rriye at Defance
siter careful survey Of the ground ordered Gen. Wise
| 10 maintain his position until further orders.
The enemy had meanwhile advanced to within three
four miles and several skrmishes had taken place BE-
tween his ouposts and the remaining cavalry of the Ls
eion under Major Bacor formerly Captanio Of Mounted
Rlugers in Nicaragua and afterwards aid to Gen. Garnett
rnd wounded by the side of that General when he fell
TIE Of the cavalry still under is gallant COL
]. l. d Wis and Lieut. Gel Clarkson, south OF the New
river where they mad pushed daring and successful
forsy I'D TO within twelve miles Of Charleston.
One night Gen. Wise With few picked cempinies, In.
GLIDING the Richmond Blues and Mississippi RapgcrI Of
the 2ad Regiment. under Cap. Imboden, attempted to
feel and ambuscade the enemy and drive In their cut.
posts killing three of them the General himself lying
down for several hours in q pitss shower NotwiIh'
standing all that could be ascrained OF the enemy was
thst be was on the turnpike probably from to 600
strong Ga the afternoon OF the 2Si, whilst The infantry
AID artillery OF the Legion were rehessspg their part on
the contemplated points Of attack, the enemy suddenly
appeared, driving in our pekets. The next morning the
summit of the Big Sewel wss whitened with his tents,
and diminishing commenced and continued till the even
ing On cur side two gun de.schmeuts Of the Artillery
and three comp,pies OF the I'd Regiment Of the Legion,
of which Col Henripgsen Colonel but in consequercs
OF III, having charge OF the Infantry and Artillery under
the immediale command OF Lieutenant Colonel Frank
Anderson distinguished himself by the daring ex.
plot of capturing CasSo in Nicaragua, with forty
men, after LockfJge and Titus had failed with eight
hurdrel captain Imoodens Captain Lewis and Captain
Crau,t University Company were the companies en-
gaged with Que FOUNDER aud one howitzsr, under ha
j,r Gibbs, Of Souh ,rons Captain hcOomas and Lieu.
t,nart PIro, Of Richmond. The casualties were but
ra on our SIDE though have to regret the death
OF Lieutenant Howell Of Mississippi, (of Capt hcDon'
nes company and that of one Of Capt. lmbodens gall
liant Ringers Can't Lewis was shot through the breast
bu. q dorg we'll. Three privstes we're wounded in the
ABOVE named con- pinies very severely. The only
os in the artillery Lieut. Pairos horse shot under
him The enemy was obviously only feeling for the