The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-22
WAR NEWS.

FAIRFAX c. H. Oct 13-One of our soldiers
escaped from Washington brings the intelligence
that Gen. Mcclellan has army Of one hundred
and twenty thousand infantry, ten thousand
cavalry, and one hundred batteries He is waiting
to drill the two letter of the service. general
attack is not coutemp plated until the middle of No
vember. His policy is to advance in three columns,
mile at time, and to fortify as he proceeds.
Several tons of bales soaked in turpentine have
been provided, with which the troops ntene
burning the woods after the leaves are fallen.
Their object being first, to smoke out masked :Dat-
terles; second, to illuminate IN case of night
attack.
mined.
The commanders of the U. S. forces on this
side of the Potomac are Gems Franklin and Kear-
ney The force on the Virginia side is not less
than 10000.
Washington is strongly fortified in the rear
Col. Joseph 2. Taylor brother to the late Prcsi-
dent Zachary Taylor, has been appointed Z. S.
Comnssary General, VICE Gen. Gibson, deceased
AUGUSTA, GA, OcJ. 14-The Savannah Re
publican, of this morning, says 1t has good author
ity for stating that British vessel has very re-
Gently reached port in the Confederate States
with valuable cargo, and chiefly of army sup
plies.
THE RETREAT OF ROsENCRANs.
We nave at length received full and authentic
acceint of the retreat of Rosencrans and his
Federal army from Big Sewell Mountain. On
&he morning of Sunday, the 9th instant, it was dis
covered that the enemy, who had been encampe6
about mile and half west of our forces, at the
Sturgeon farm, on the top of Sewell, had removed
his tents, and so far appearances indicated,
treated. Colonel Savage, of the 9TH Tennessee
Regiment, made an advance with three companies
tba
Capt. Jones. The gallant Colonel deployeG two
companies upon the ri ght and left OF the road to
stir up the enemy, should he be concealed in the
underbrush with the object of ambuscaGng,
while with Captain Jones company and another
he advanced cautiously along the pike. No
enemy Was found, however, and in due time Col.
Savage, with his little command, clambered up
the dcclivity into the centre Of the Yankee en-
campmcnt. Rosencrans (to use common ex-
presssion) had snclled a MICE" and departed
with all possible diligence under cover Of dark
ness, leaving several wagons horses, large lot of
cooking utensils, and camp equipage OF every
descriptions.
Looking to the westward, some seven or eight
miles away, the enemy was discovered in full re-
treat, making, i'll all probability, for Dogwood Gap
or Gauey river. He evidently much
alarmed, as-besde the wasage i'll his camp
-four, sugar, coffee, and other stores were strewn
from the summit to the foot of the nan
distance of five miles The enemy had thrown up
no Notifications around his camp, but lay for two
weeks within cannon shot of our force, and COM
letcIy exposed. Had this been known in time,
The Federal army would, ere this have been on
the way, as prisoners, to Richmond. This is re-
markable fact, inasmuch Rosencrans has en-
joyed considerable reputation General but
no military man would be guilty of the blunder of
leaving his camp exposed, for such length of
-, hat l. IL
and the enemy constantly in sight
After ranging through the Yankee encampment
for an hour, Gen. Lee, who arrived soon after
Col Savage, ordered the troops to return and
thus ended the pursuit, of which magnfed
rumors have heretofore reached us.