Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-15
Especial Correspondents of Cincinnati rime.,ll
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
THE KANAwHA.
GALL1PoLIs, Nov. 8, 1861.

{
THE KANAWHA.
GAIL1PoIIs, Nov. 8, 1861.
Ny last was was mailed Mt Gen. Rose
Grams camp on the 9th inst; but it may
not reach you, if at all, until after this
comes to hand, postal communication in
these parts being of the character of the
Indians description of the white man
mighty uncertain.
We left the Generals encampment un-
der cover of the night, to avoid making
ourselves targets for the Secesh Rebels to
practice on, they having possession of the
heights on the opposite side of New River,
and commanding the road from Gauley
Ferry to Gen. Rosecrans' camp, aud on to
McCook's and Schenck's present position.
The enemy being posted in such positions
rs to overlook our motions, all ourexpe-
ditions and movements have to be made
under cover of the night.
New river, one of the main contributors
to the Great Knnawha, is an impctuous
mountain torrent, the hiIlson the west side
forming Il rocky (nearly perpendicular)
margin of irregular outline, and of hight
varying from $50 to 500 feet, clothed with
timber and underbrush from base to sum
mit-oak, chestnut and elm, intermixed
with hemlock and yellow pine, thitkly
filled in with whortleberry, sumach, dog
wood, interspersed with the beautiful rho
dodendrOn, kaIanich, and other desidious
and evergreen shrubs, which, in their va
ried and commingling hues, at this season,
form a picture of natural beauty that
would be worthy the painters arr or Tue
poets theme.
Descending the ragged mountain road in
the quiet stiffness of tue evening, leaving
camp with troop Of cavalry, dispatched
on some special duty distance of some
thing less than two miles, but which on
our ascent seeming TO be fully five, we ar
rive ut the ferry, oar cavalry party had nl-
ready crossed; the quiet, easy talk OF the
men, and as much so as possible of
the wagons and horses whilst moving
on to the llat-boat used for the ferry,
give party so congregated the air
and manners of persons engaged in some
desperate secret expedition. The same
twinkling light from the hill on the euo-
my's side still glimmerrd in the same place
rs seen on the ascent, informing us there
were parties near who might salute us
with a welcome that would be any thing
but agreeable if in the shape of u six pound
ball. All are venturesome enough to pass
this point by daylight, run the gauntlet of
week not more than one or two have been
hit Important movements were in opera
tiOn along our whole line, and various con-
lectures and surmises were expressed as to
the policy of this move, and the probabili-
ty of success of that. The number and
force of the enemy was another point rs
varied and contradictory as the means of
information and characters of the indivtd-
uals discussing the point; every figure
from three TO twenty-five thousand were
asserted to be the strength OF the enemy.
The conclusions of your correspondent
from deductions drawn from the same re-
liable source of information, were that be-
tween FIVE and eight thousand were the
most probable figures.
The great fears OF the boys were that the
enemy would not stop to bewhipped. Our
boys have much moro faith in the running
qualities of the rebels than their fighting
ones. To be ordered on nm expedition
where they are likely TO get into fight, is
takenswith as much zest and cheerful ga
iety as the anticipation of enjoyment de-
rived from frolic at home, and there is
not bit of doubt that if the enemy viii
only give our boys a chance, they will
show them their idea of practical belliger-
ance.
/
are in the VILLAGE, town or settlement of
I Gauley Bridge. Under which of these
nominAtiye genders the Inhabitants class
their somewhat important burgh, your
correspondent has no opportunity of know
ing, nor the number of its inhahits, hay-
| ing to pass through each way in the night;
but of its mud and beautiful inequalities
of its roadway, We have u reminiScence
likely to. endure as long as the name
| of Gauley is familiar to our cars
/ Much has been said of the amount
Of transportation facilities of our arr
my in Western Virginia. One fact
has more weight, as testimony, than any
amount of circumstantial evidence, and to
prove that orr army is, snd has been, La
boring under the disadvantage of insult
ficieuey in that department of army equip
ment.
1t was stated, few days since, there was
hut one, bale of hay, and neither oats nor
corn in the whole of Schenck's Brigade.
Frequently the horses have been two, three
or more days without oats or corn; for the
want of sufficient transportation to haul
their provendeF and forage. The fact was
painfully cOrroboFated in the miserable
condition of tho animalsj what horse
nature could long Withstand the effects of
hard work, constant exposure to weather
and Insufficient food. Numbers of horses
are now above Charleston that could not
haul sufficient proVender for themselves,
between Charleston aud RoseCrans' head
quarters, to keep them in working condi-
ton. If alive at all, the animals may fire.
queutly be seen eating their own dung.
Secessionism IN the KanaWha Valley was
evidently in theassendant until We were In
sufficient force TO prevent its open aToEai.
Notwithstanding The oppression aad tyran-
..ic.l ..n.tn.a I,rlr.ilrtI IL. flle reIsi lnad...