Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-26
From the Army of the Kanawha


thence and we may expect news, at least,
to-day, of something decisive.
From the Army of the Kanayvha.
Editorial Correspondence of Lynchburg Republican
RICHMOND FERRY, 20 MILES
sssszzsssss1-zsa West OF SEwELL,
October 18th, 1861.
On Friday morning last our encampment
on Sewell was struck, and General Floyd's
column took up its line of March to the Ka-
nawha Valley by the road running west of
New River, through Fayette, Raleigh, Boone,
d., while Lee and Loring still remain on
Sewell- 1t is the purpose OF Gen. Floyd 10
strike the Kanawha about ten miles above
Charleston and thus throw himself in the
rear of the enemy, unless he retreats before
him to the Ohio. In either event, the expe-
dition, it is confidently believed. will prove
a most important and successful one. 1t is
understood that the movement will be great
ly strengthened by the speedy advance of the
central column OF Lee and Loring along the
line of Rosecranz's retreat. You will not
be surprised, therefore, if our combined for
ces winter in the rich valley of the Kanawha.
aud the enemy be expelled our soil in that
section of the State.
We felt sad in leaving our intrenched po-
sitiou upon Sewell, where we expected our
little army to have covered itself again with
the laurels of glorious victory. But it may
be that our work has not been in vain, as the
continually changing tide of war may yet
float us back 10 them, and make them of
great Importance in our defeuce. They cover
space of about four miles, and though tenn
pOrary in their character, were nevertheless
quite formidable. The earthen portion of
them on Burwell's Mount, will probably re-
main for century, and be the object OF Gu
rious interest to our children's children
Twas from this point" they may exclalHl,
''that the tide of Northern aggression was
turned back in the war of our Independence,
in 1861"
You can form no adequate conception Of
the condition of the roads in these noun
tains. The like of them, / presume, has
never been seen. Between the two Sewells
they are impossible to any single team. 1t
requires six horses to move a twO-horse load,
and, even then, it is slow and tedious bust
ness. 1t is almost impossible for horse TO
move out of walk from General Floyd's to
Gen. Lees camp, and before we could take
up our march on yesterday, we had to cut a
new road nearly four miles long. 1t was i'm
possible to move over the old road, and,
even now, we have to keep large forces in
front repairing the road to make it passable.
Did you ever see an army in motion? 1t
is most interesting and imposing sight,
though the most tedious made of travelling in
the world. A regiment moves off in double
file. led by it's Colonel and is followed by a
long train of numbering wagons. Then
comes another regiment, followed by its bag
gage train; then comes park OF artillery,
then another regiment aud IFS triain aud
so on, alternately, moves the line for miles
out of your sight. If any single wagon
stalls, the whole rear train has to stop until
the vehicle is dragged out of the mud, for in
many places the road is SO narrow that not
even a horse, and sometimes not a footman,
can pass single wagon. The consequence
is we move about ten miles day, and when
night comes, both men and horses are well
broken down with the excessive labors of the
day. We then have our horses to feed, our
beeves to butcher, our tents TO pitch, and
our suppers to cook, when refreshing sleep
closes in upon our labors But when the
roads and the weather are good. we make
fifteen or twenty miles day with much less
fatigue and trouble.
have been curious to note how soon vol
unteer service accustoms men to all the hard
ships and Inconvenience of life. A Thousand
incidents which would cause men to curse
themselves out of their boots at home, are
endured in the army with the greatest pa
thence, and sometimes become the sources of
his greatest amusement. We soon learn 10
laugh at our own troubles, and to surmount
difficulties, INCUR dangers, aud endure hard
ships from which We would involuntarily
shrink at home. War. therefore, as well as
adversely. hath its uses, and is to nation
what the latter is to an individual When
peace returns, we will be more hardy, self.
reliant, moral and religious people.
had intended to sketch several interest
ing and heroic incidents connected with the
battle of the Gauley, but have deferred it
80 long, that I shall omit it altogether now.
But there is one incident which / will ven
ture, even at this late day. to record. When
Gen. Floyd had crossed the river in his re-
treat, he discovered that, by the oversight of
his servants, his fine sword, which he seldom
wore, had been left at bis late headquarters.
To get it was a question of intense import
auce 10 him and his friends, for verify be-
lieve be would as soon his life as his sword
should have fallen into the hands of the de-
spsed foe. Day had just dawned-our
troops were all across the riVer-it was a
full mile and half to our deserted breast
works, and to return TO them was certainly
most perilous undertaking. The Rev, j. J..
McMamon, of Smythet county, chaplain to
the 18th regiment, happened to be the only
person by the General at the moment the
loss was dicovered, and without a moments
hesitation, be heroieally volunteered to re-
turn for the left prize He trudged the whole
distance on foot, passed through our enc amp
ment to the point where the Generals head
quarters had been, directly at the breast
works aud in full view of the enemy's posi-
ton, obtained the sword, and returned with
it to the river, jast as the bridge was thrown
down and the last boat but one had been de-
stroyedl Such an act of disinterested cour-
age is seldom performed, and never by one
who is not brave man and true friend.
From Harper,s representatives of
the Federal Troops.
Two young ladies belonging to Harper's
Ferry, Miss Sallie Becker aud Miss Annie
Clasky, arrived in this city by the Central
cars on Sunday. They are both refugees
from their homes, and are seeking a Temporal
ry abode among friends in North Carolina.
They have been instrumental, for some past
in giving aid to such Of our friends as have
fallen into the hands of the Hessians
On Wednesday week they assisted in the
escape of one of Henderson's troopers, who
had been captured by the enemy. Their
completely in the affair was discovered by
Gen. Banks, who ordered Miss Becker to be
taken into custody. She managed, however,
to escape on Sunday week, and, with her
friend, walked to Halltown where convey
ance was procured to the railroad. From
this source we have the following particu-
lars:
3 The Federal troops around Harper's Ferry
are committing the most fendish bruhlities