Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-05

their eagerAess to kill Yankee, some Of the boys
pushed forward and were discovered. The canoe
was turned instantly for the Maryland shore, and
| several shots were fired into it TIVE men were
killed. but the other escaped. Had the scouts been
more prudent, the whole might have been captured
or shot, as easily as the two. Such little affairs
among the scouts are Of daily occurrence.
The Army OF the Kanawha--H ghIY In.
SerehTinx Details.
From the Richmond Enquirer, October l.
The following communication from gentleman
Of unboubted integrity, and whose extensive mill
tary experience amply qualities him to speak know
ingy of such matters, viii command the attention
of our readers, both for the information it gives
of recent movements Of our troops it the North
west and the present position Of affairs in that
quarter
CAxr DsErLEoH, September 25th.-On the I4th Of
September, General BiSyd and his forces encamped
on ths EunmIt Of Big SSWell and ordered the Wise
Legion, which to cover his rear, was drawn up in
order Of battle at Locust Lane, to camp East of him
at smales', on the turnpike.
The troops Of the Wise Legion, who were in no
amisbls humor at so much retreating, and especi-
ally at beng obliged TO retire from Dogwood Gap
without fighting, were much exhausted and annoy
ed at having been kept the road from six in the
morning till seven st night mixed up with an inter
minsble train Of wagons belonging to the Floyd
Brigade, for the purpose Of only proceeding few
mileS aud without being able TO obtain any definite
order as to their destination.
On the eastern slope of the Big Sewell, between
two small farms called DiZons and Yaughau's Gen.
Wise selected his camping ground ct the place since
called Camp Defiance, and which undoubtedly IS,
with Dog God Gap, one of the two strOngeJt posi-
tons between the Aleghanies and the Ohio River.
On The 18th and 10th General Floyd was industri-
susly occupied throwing up field works to the
westward of TIE summit Of Big SeWell The posi-
ton however was not one teRabIe against superior
force, and this General Floyd seems 10 have found
out. On the night Of the 18th TO the ITTh be made
very precipitate retreat from the Big Seuel with
about g. 900 men, t. Meadow Bluff, destroying much
baggage and abandoning much provision His
troops were under the impression that General
Rosecrans was pressing or with Is 900 men. After
passing the Wise Legion, he ordered Gen. Wise on
the following day to prepare to cover his rear and
10 follow him TO Meadow Bluff, having information
that the enemy was advancing one column By the
wilderness road.
1t was impossible for General Wise to Comply with
both orders even mad they been positive and in
fact one was not executed at all. Il yas only BY
maintaining its position at all hazard that the Lee
gion could protect the rear Of the Floyd Brigade
The experience Of Dog Gap, occupied IN force,
with artillery by the enemy few hours after thu
Vice Legion left it by General Floyds order,
clearly andthe event at elmp Defiance subsequently
confirmed, that the abandonment Of the latter
position, the enemy would Immediately occupy it in
force. PlOyd's Brigade was much demOralized since
his retreat from Camp Gaulsy and the following
retreat. The Wise Le6ion, willing enough to fight,
would have been equally demoTGlized by retrsating
any further. Meadow Bluff affords no position
No real esmonsradon had yet cr bag sines been
made on the wilderness read, nor did there exist
any reason why thers should be- since the enemy
could conveniently, if in force sufficient strike
the turnpike further eastward, as for instance at
the Little seYsll. ....
If the Wise Legion had retreaIed and bssn foEor
ed up by superior forces its existence vas impeF
lied aud thereby the rear of the Floyd Brigade
left unprotected. But, st all events, that retreat
impossible of execution without the abandon
ment of baggage because Gen. Floyd had detained
many wagons belonging TO the already insufficient
transportation of the Wise Legion and because the
roads had been much cut up by the vast train Of
tie Floyd Brigade.
The writer counted twenty-sight wagons belong
ing TO- ard following the aEt regiment Of General
Floyds Brigade, which was just twenty more than
accompanied the regiment which closed up Wise's
COLUMN.
Under these cireumstaares Gep. Wise resolved
to make stand where he was canPed aud where |
on the morning after his reaching the ground he !
had began to throw up intrsDchments. Esre it !
vas impossible fer an enemy to bring more than |
two guns, or p Thousand men to bear any part |
Of his position, and on every poiat within few |
minutes, Gen. Wise could bring six Of his eight |
pisces and twn>thirds of his force into play besides
EAs advantage Of intrenchments In Additisn, most
Of the officers Of the Legion spoke openly Of re-
signing, If compelled to retreat any further.
On the 18Th Gen. Wise addressed the troops Of |
his Legion stating substantially that hitherto he had
never retreated but in obedience to superior orders
That here he was determined to make = stand That |
his force consisted only Of 1900 infantry and artil
lery and that the enemy was alleged to be Is 900 |
strong That this he did not believe, but that his
meR must be prepared 70 fight two or three or sew
er&l to one and il the enemy were in the full
force stated, the position admitted of successful
defence and he was determined to abide the issue.
He warned them that they would probably he ats
tackled front and rear for successive days, and he
called any officer soldier who felt doubtful
Of the result unwilling TO stand BY hia in this
trial, q step forward, promising that they ahould
be marched At once 10 Meadow tSlud. The speech,
delivered excessively to the three regiments Of in
faHtry and to the artillery, Was received with the
widest enthusiasm. Not one solitary individual Ia
the Legion failed to respond and the spirits Of the
corps were raiaed and maintained at the highest
fighting pitch.
Tie provisions and baggage wagons were with
drawn into safe positions and the camp on all sides
strengthened In this attitude the Legion renamed
ill about the 9th, when strengthened BY the arrival
Of Capt. ROmer's artillery company with one gun,
Ind by that Of one Virginia, one North Carolina and
hree Georgia companies. which Swelled the forces
" the Eise Legion TO over OOs men, About this
line Gen. Lee arrived in Gen. FlOyd's camp at
Meadow Bluff. and wrote to Gen. Wise advising him
o fall back, if exscutable, without delay. before
cting on this advice, General Wise requested Gen.
lee TO inspect the position in person. On the 22d
Zen Lee arrived at Camp Defiance. and after q !
areful survey Of the ground, ordered Gen. Wise to
maintain his position untll further orders.
The enemy had meanwhile advanced to within
hree or four miles, aud several Ekirmishss had {
AIKEN place between his outpests and the remain {
Jg cavalry of the Legion under Major Bacon, for I
lerly Captain of Mounted Rangers in Nicaragua, {
nd afterwards aid to General Garnett. and wound 9
d by the side Of that General when he fell. The G
est Of the cavalry still under its gallant Colonel
L. Davis and Lieutenant Colonel GARRISON south q
I the New river where they had pushed daring G