The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-02
GEN. wIsE's RETREAT FROM CHARLESTON.


The United States government steamer Duneilh and
INC Psrkershrg packet Logan both arrived yesterday
Afternoon and brought further intelligence from General
Coxs command Charleston, " will bc remembered, is
situated in the angle formed by the confluence OF the Elk
and Kanawha rivers precisely Newport is Situated in
the angle formed by the Ohio and Licking rivers. Gen.
Wise, the old fire eater, had portion Of his troops
strongly ntrenched at Two Mile creek, where he EVIL
IDENTIFY intended give the battle. These ntrench
nens were SO formidable that troops could have
carried them without great LOSE, had they not been
abandoned with precipitation on wednesday afternoon
SO precptae was the fight OF the rebels that they left
large portion OF their camp eqyinage including tents
guns and knapsacks prey to the approaching ederasts
Tue nhap.tanGpi nat country ray that on Tuesday
WISE sw.Is God that the Stars and Stripes shall
never wave over this town again" On Wednesday he
keen FOR the 6ght, excainns The enemy are on
u.s. why the (supply strong adjective) don't you pack
my wagon" As bridge could be rebuilt Cox
pushed after him. and when our iniormant left on Fri
day morning was already Twelve niles beyond Charles
Wise called him and asked II he believed the reports
OF McCelans victories; and being told that they
undoubtedly true and that he Noron) had the Of
fetal report he replied" Well, that will change
the character of our operations here" On Tues.
day the day before the retreat Captain jenkins gent
flag 10 General Coz, requesting conference to arrange
for the exchange Of prisoners, the object being to ex
change Colonel Nortoa for Major Patton, valuable CeQ
federate officer As both these officers are Oh Eapoe kd
Colonel Norions unable by Of his wounds, to
take the field the Confederaes would have gained one
| valuable officer by the trade.
The tag not allowed 10 pass the pickcts Cox re.
turning an answer that he would be prepared in few
days TO treat or I'D Exchange OF prisoners Probably he
ncpu tr5t better Ol the 10
! ~ INTO tssiuess on
!, Coloncl Guthres command had united with Cox as we
hnve before stated having mel with nothing 20 justify the
! apprehensons felt here for their safety.
Mr.. Gibner, OF this city, left CharlcstQn the Kama
wha Friday Afternoon, and arrived here Saturday
evening Ho reports that General Cox proceeded with
great caution from POGO and considerably delayed by
burned bridges, which he was comeed7o replace. The
enemy scattered about Charleston and vicinity
considerable numbers but fed without firing gun Our
troops sent several voieys after them killing few and
Captain Carter OF the Cleveland Artillery, fred shot
into the rebel steamer Julia Moft, which caused her
boilers to explode and she burned TO the wstef edge
The rebels, under WISE strongly fortified below
Charleston bgL they evacuated their position and left
considerable piunier behnd them which was taken by
Coxs troops They relreated to Gauey bridge thirty.
eight miles above Charleston where it supposed they
would give battle
The position is formidable aud II they have had time
20 fortNy it, il VIII require hard fighting drive them
steadily, TO prevent them from establishing themselves
| too strongly. His column moved from Charleston
for Gauey bridge NJ two O'Clock Friday afternoon MIR
Gibuer SAYS that Wises army about four ihosand
strong but has troops greatly demorazed and he
thinks five hundred men must have deserted before they
reached Geuiey. General Cox had four
! Eleventh. and Twelfth Ohio and the two Kentucky
regiments, Colonel 1uthrie having joined himbesdes
company OF cavalry, Carters battery OF two guns and
se irontcn Artillery OF two guns making force OF three
thousand i've bnndred men
4 The General is extremely cautious IN moving through
the country, sending out scouts and skmishers con.
thought that battle probably took place at Gauley
| bridge yesterday We are informed however thai
WISE relreated, although information is definite
He informed the people Of Charleston that lac was or.
dered to retire Immediately TO Eastern Virginia Mean.
ne an expedition consisting OF three regiments under
Colonel Tyers Of the Ohio Seventh, had moved from
Weston 10 cut 0G The rebels at GaHey Ii they re-
treated Eom that position II ie probable that pvth Cox