Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-24
me Army Of kanawha.

The events of the last ten days in the department
of Kanawhs have been fraught with such peculiar
interest that it is with great satisfaction lay be-
fore our readers reliable information from that
gion. 49, % E1EA ~ z itss
The friends Of Col J. Luoius Davis viii be graft.
fed at his brilliant dash into Kanawha Valley, an
authentic account of which, embodied in his official
report to his commander, Gen. Wise, correspond
emf was kindly permitted to copy and enclose to u.s.
Those who know Col. Davis viii be sble to appre-
ciate the genuine modesty, only equaed by his chiv
alrous courage, which places himself in the back
ground and awards the chief place to Col ClRrkson,
the brave Lieutenant Colonel of the LIST Cavalry.
They are both well known to the enemy, and the
more dreaded, the better they become acquainted.
General Wise dispatched the five cavalry comPa-
MES. spoken Of by Colonel Davis, under command
Of the latter and acting Lieutenant Colonel J. n.
Clarkson on the Sth September, from his own camp,
near Hawks Nest with instructions to penetrate
the Kanawa Valley at any and all points practices
ble and strike with his utmost yigor wherever and
whenever they could do so with effect. Scarcely
had they crossed New River, when dispatches ar
rived from General Floyd that his entrenehed posi-
ton, at Camp Gauley, short distance above Carn-
flax Ferry, at the junction of Meadow River with
Gauley River, was threatened by concerted move
ment between General Cox upon one side, and
large force from towards SummePnYlls on the 9TH
er. General Wise was himself threatened by a
force, believed TO be superior to his own. on the
main turnpike between his camp st Hawks Nest
and Gauley Bridge, the stronghold Of General Cox,
and the gate of the Kanawha Valley. To keep this
foe in check was absolutely essential to the safety
Of both commands; consequently General Wise
moved to the relief Of General floyd, with such
cautious cireumspection as his own security and
the protection of the of the former demanded.
Upon the evening of the l0th st i've minutes Ra5t
four, the enemy, led by General RosecFans in per-
son, descending from his command opposite Valley
Mountain, attacked General Floyd at Camp Gauley.
The battle ragged until seven, when the enemy gave
up the contest with is believed, the expectation
Of renewing it next morning. About midnight Gen.
Floyd quietly but hurr1edly withdrew, and crossed
the river with his whole force and the most of his
baggage some Of the latter camp eQuipage, tents,
etc, and number Of fat cattle were unavoidably
abandoned. So quietly was the withdrawal con-
Quoted that the enemy, it IS reported, fred with
great Yigor upon the deserted breastworks of Camp
Gauley at daylight in the morning. The enemy
are conceded to have acted with great spirit in their
attempts to force Gen Floyd's position, but they
were met by foe more than worthy of their steel,
and suffered it is thought more severely than they
acknowledge. Gen. Rosecrans puts his loss in his
official report at twenty killed and one hundred
wounded Gen .Floyd's loss vas from eight to six
teen wounded none killed. Gen. F. himself re-
ceiyed slight flesh wound In the right arm between
theiwrist and elbow.
Gen. Wise, upon learning that Gen. Floyd, in,
stead of crossing the river at Cranifax, he had
hoped, had determined to maintain his position upon
the SummerViIe side, and had been attacked by
the ienemy in numbers doubling his force, marched
rapidly to his relief and had the morning Of the
Ilth, nearly reached the river, when messenger
from Gen. Floyd met him and informed him of the
movement, of the latter upon the main turnpike.
This left Gen. Wise no alternative but to unite
forces st Degwood Gap or some neighboring point
on the turnpike.
/. From Dogwoed the united forces have fallen
back to a more eligible position upon Big Sewell,
where they await the advance of the enemy under
Gems. Cox and Bosecranz whose united force is va
rousIy estimated at from eleven to fifteen thousand
II will be seen that the same untoward circum-
stance which caused the REIMBURSEMENT of the
Kanawha Valley in July last, has ooeasioned the
retreat of Gen. Floyd from Csrnifax upon Big
Sewall-and that is, the unloosing of vast horde
like avalanche from the department of the North
West proper, by way of Sutton, Bultown and Suns
merville and obliging the renewal of the basis of
operation farther East for the protection of Lewis
burg, and keeping open communication with the
Capital If possible. reinforcement should be for
warded to the KGnawha department to meet this
new addition to the enemy -.
P, Subsequently TO the movement above de-
scribed, our forces have fallen back or changed
position from Big SeweHto Meadow Bluffs. This
latter point is about ten miles west of Lewsburg,
and commands the road leading from Summersville,
BY WHICH Rosecrans is said to be advancing upon
Floyd and Wise.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL. J. LpcIUs DAVIS.
BVOUACK ON BIG Coal RIVER,