New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-15
FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA.

THE OPERATIONS OF FLOYD AND WISE.
We find the following account of the operations Of
Floyd's and Wise's forces in Western Virginia since
the battle of Carnfax Ferry in The Richmond Dis
patch Of Oct. 2. Its authorship was attributed in
Richmond TO Col. Henningsen, who arrived in the
Rebel Capitsl with Gen. Wiso on the 18th ult. IL
ia severe on Floyd and pronounced too partial TO
Wise, by the Richmond papers:
CAMP DEFIANCE, Sept. %, 1910 p. m.
On the 18th Of September, Gen. Floyd and his
forces encsmped on the summit Of the Big Sewell
and ordered the Wise Legion, which, TO cover his
rear, was drawn mp in order Of battle OF Locust
Lane, 10 camp east Of him at Smales, on the Turn
pike.
The troops of the Vie Legion, who were in no
amiable humor NJ much tetreating, and, especially,
at being obliged 10 retire from Dogvood Gap with
out fghting were much exhausted and annoyed at
having been kept on the road from six In the morn
ing ill eleven at night, mixed mp With an internin-
able train Of wagons belonging 10 the Floyd Brigade,
for the purpose Of only proceeding few miles and
without being able 10 obtain any definite order as 10
their destination.
On the eastern slope Of the Big sewcll between
two small farms called Dixon's and Vsughsns, Gen.
Wiss selected his camping ground ut the place aimee
called Camp Defiance and which, undoubtedly IL,
with DO%9d Clap one d TIM ' sSniS
On the 18th aud l6,h Gen. Floyd was indus
triously occupied throwing up field works TO the
westward Of the summit Of Big Sewell. The posi-
ton, however, was not one teDable against super
Tor force and this Gen. Floyd seems 10 have found
out. On the night OF the 10th 10 the l1th he made
very precipitate retreat from the Big Sewell, with
about 3, OO0 men, TO Meadow Bluf, destroying much
baggage and abandoning much provision. His
troops were under the Impression that Gen. Rose
Grams was pressing on with lj.O0O men. After pass
ing the Wise Legion, he ordered Gen. Wise on the
following day 10 prepare 70 cover his rear and to
follow him TO Meadow Bluff, having information
that the enemy was advancing one column by the
Wilderness road.
II was impossible for Gen. Wise TO comply with
both orders even had they been positive, and in fact
one was not executed at all. IL was only by msin-
tanning its position at all hazards thatthe Legion
could protect the rear OF the Floyd Brigade. The
experience OF Dogwood Gap, occupied in force, with
artillery by the epemy few hours after the Wise
Legion left it, by Gen. Floyds order, allowed
clearly, and the event at Camp Defiance snbse-
quently confirmed, that or the abandonment OF the
latter position, the enemy would Immediately &C.
cupy it in force. Floyds Brigade was much de-
moralized since bis retrest from Camp. Gauley and
the following retreat. The Wise Legion, willing
enough TO fight, would have been equally de.
moralized by retreating any further Meadow Bluff
affords no position. No real demonstration had yet
or has since been made on the Wilderness road, nor
did there exit any reason why there should be,
since the enemy could more conveniently II III force
sufficient strike the turnpike further eastward, as
for instance at the Little Sewell.
IL the Wise legion had retreated and been followed
up by superior forces, its existence imperied,
and thereby the rear Of the Floyd brigade left
protected. But at all events thst retreat was
impossible Of execution without the abandonment Of
baggage, because Gen. Floyd had detained many
wagons belonging TO the already insufficient trans
porstion Of the Wise Legion, and because the roads
had been 80 much cut up by the vast train Of the
Floyd brigade.
The writer counted twenty-eight wagons belong
ing to, and following, the last regiment Of Gen.
Floyd's brigade, which was just twenty more than
accompanied the regiment which closed up Wise's
column.
Under these circumstances, Gen. Wise resolved TO
make stand where he was encsmped, and where
on the morning after bis reaching the ground be had
begun 10 throw up intrenchments. Here IL was
impossible for I'm enemy to bring more than two
guns thousand men TO bear on any part Of his
position and on every point, within few minutes,
Gen. Wise could bring six of bis eight pieces and
twothirds Of bis force into play beside the advant
age of intrenchmenis. In addition, most Of the
officers Of the Legion spoke openly Of reeigning IL
compelled TO retreat any further.
On the 18th, Gen. Wise addressed the troops Of
bis Legion stating substantially that hitherto be had
never retreated but in obedience TO superior ORDERS
That here be was determined TO make q stand That
bis force consisted only Of 200 infantry and art.
lery and that the enemy was alleged TO be II, 900
strong. That this he did not believe but that bis
men must be prepared TO fight two or three or sew.
eIal TO one and even if the enemy were In the full
force stated the portion admitted Of successful de-
fense, and he was determined to abide the is,ue.
He warned them that they would probably be al.
tackled front and rear for successive days and he
called on any officer or soldier who felt doubtful Of
the result or unwilling to stand by him In this trial
TO step forward, promising that they ehould be
marched at once TO Meadow Bluff This speech, do
vered successfully TO the three regiments Of infan-
try and to the artillery, was received with the
TlsSsi fRthpsasm, NOI ols solitary iadiYiSss. IN