Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-27
EARLY BATTLE ExpEc FED.
P OF BIC sEwEL1 MOUNTAINS. +,

TOP OF BIC SEwELB MOUNTAIN, =
September 10, 1861.
We are eDcamPed upon the sumTEit of this
mountain-One OF the highest of those giant
| ranges which so distinctly mark the geogra-
| ply of this section of Virginia Our Brig
| ade, together with the 18Th North Carolina
| and 18th Georgia Regiments, occupy the
/ plateau. while the white tents OF the Wise
/ Legion dot the eastern slope of the noun
| tain, about one mile distant. This spot is
| lovely one. The mountain breezas are fresh
| and pure, while on every hand, and to the
| full limit of the human vision. is presented
| prospect of natural SCENERY more beautiful
and imposing than the poets pen or paint
! er's pencil delineate. In the clear,
bright morning, the dense fog hanging in sill
very white folds along the far-distant bills
and valleys, give beautiful variety to the ex-
tending landscape, while in the evening the
full giories OF a golden sunset converts the
whole scene into one of transcendent lowell
ness. Nor is this scene less raviShing when
night draws its curtains around us, aud the
silvery moon, rolling its brilliant orb above
the distant horizon, and riding 10 quiet SPLEEN
dor along the clear blue sky, lends mellow
tinge to surrounding nature. But this is the
most that can be said in behalf of this noun
tain pass. except that, naturally. it presents
strong defences against the approaches of an
enemy. Few people inhabit its slopes and
projecting ridges, and but few fine farms dot
the valleys below. The consequences is, that
all kinds of provisions for man and beast are
exceedingly scarce, and We suffer for the
want OF such supplies. But do not think
we shall remain here long. The enemy is
crossing Gauley in large numbers, at Gauley
Bridge and Carnifax's Ferry, below Us. aud
at Hughes Ferry above us-ther purpose
doubtless being to take us both in our front
and rear. This movement will. probably ne
cessitate our falling back fifteen miles far
Their. to Meadow Bluff, beyond which point
the enemy cannot flank US. Ii they fight US
at either place we shall whip them, unless |
their numbers double ours.
We have now the addition of Col. Clark's |
North Carolina, and Colonel Ector's Georgia |
regiments, two fine bodies of men. and |
commanded by as brave and efficient officers |
as are in the service. They are greatly cha |
grined at not being able to reach us in time |
for our fight at Gauley, and when the tug of |
another battle comes they will not dishonor |
their gallant States. whose sons they are, or |
the glorious cause they represent upon the |
field. Those Colonies both fought through |
the Mexican war, the former having been |
wounded six times.
The movement of Rosecranz the other !
day, in getting away from Lee and LorIng, |
and precipitatiDg his forces nDon us, was a |
brilliant one. and showed that officer to be |
far superior to any of his masters. He no |
doubt, expected, however, to wipe us out at |
a single brush. and return to his headquar-
tiers flushed with easy victory; but in this be |
was sadly disappointed, and will have to |
take back with him fl "a in his ear which |
will tickle anything but his vanity.
On Wednesday and Thursday last Rose |
crahz built new boats and threw some 5000 of |
his men across to this side of Gauley. bis pur-
pose doubtless being to form junction with |
Gen. Cox's forces. which will come up fifteen |
miles from G iuley Bridge. This will give
him column of about 10000 men, with
which to march upon us at this point. About
600 of this number are now encamped at
'Alderson's," twelve miles distant, aud the
smoke from their camp-fires is plainly visible
from our tents this evening.
For the short time l have been in the ser
vice | have seen much of the article We call |
war. in all its degrees of sunshine and shad-
ow. L have seen the sick and the wounded,
the dead aud the dying. l have seen our
brave men marching along almost impossible
roads, and soaked by the most drenching
rains / have seen them sometimes hungry
and thirsty, and compelled to lie down at
night upon the naked earth for their beds and
a single blanket for their covering. All these
things and more, are the necessary cOncomi-
tants of war, and never fail to touch the SYM
pathies OF the human heart. But that sight
which has touched ME most and which makes
the blood OF our soldiers burn hottest, is that
OF the helpless families OF women and chill
dren who have been compelled to flee past
US to escape the vandalism of the scoundrels
who are so wickedly invading our soil These
helpless people are compelled to bundle up
what little OF their chattels they Ca carry
with them, on horses and in their hanos, and
leaving their comfortable homes and proper
ty to the savage depredations of the enemy
flee TO the rear Of our lines for safety. 1t is
too bad. but trust the day is not far distant
when we shall be able to carry all these evils
of this unholy war to the homes and firesides
OF those who have SO sinfully provoked its
horrors.
had designed giving you some of the in
cidents of the late battle aud sketch of
camp life, but Our movements are so hurried
just now, and my means of writing so imper-
feet, that compelled to defer them TO
more convenient season. r. FL. @.
p. S.-Just as | close this letter orders are
issued to our forces to fall back to Meadow
Bluff distant fifteen miles. This is to pre-
vent the enemy from retting ia our rear, aud
to give him battle with all his force in front.
VOC need not be surprised, therefore. to
hear of another engagement in this quarter
in few days. The enemy outnumbers us
heavily, but our men are in good spirits, and
with a glorious cause to nerve our arms and
a smiling Providence to give US the victory,
we N NOT fpar |