Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-03
Critical Situation in Western Virginia.
ROsecrREE marching on 4he Big SewsII.

From the Richmond Examiner, Sept 81.
Intelligence of the most important and critical
nature has reached here from the seat of war in
the West by special express arrived yesterday
evening. The news from our camps on the Gauley
line is as late Wednesday last furnishing most
uncommon instance of the dispatch of intelligence
from that quarter.
On Friday last Gen. Lee arrived at Floyd's camp
at Meadow Bluff He was accompanied by an es-
eort of twenty men and three Baggage wagons. On
the Sunday following Gen Lee proceeded to Wise's
encampment on the Big Seweil, AMI made a tho
rough reconnaissance OF the position.
Il WAS known that R3secraas hal crossed the
Gauley and was m2kiag his way towards our lines.
1t was reported tl8the bad crossed the Gauley at
Hughes Ferry, taking up his line of mqrch on the
Wilderness road, but, learning the position Of
Floyd's forces, had retraced his mlrch, crossing
the river again at Carnefsx the locality of the late
batte) and directing bis movements towards Wise's
position the Big Sewell.
Gen. Lee had taken four regiments of Floyd's
command to reinforce Gen. Wise. The juncture of
these two forces would not it is said, amount 20
more than 5000 men, and It had been determined
to give battle on the approach of the enemy. Rose
GRAMS force was estimated at IA 900 men. 81
1t was understood that the position of Gen. Wise
was exceedingly strong. The dispositions of the
forces had been made by Col Henningsen; and it
was hoped that they would be able 10 check Rose
Grams, Notwithstanding the considerable superiority
of his numbers,
On Wednesday last Gen Floyd had prepared
dispatches to hurry up reinforcements on points
from the route to Richmond. Col. Russell's Mis-
sissippi Regiment had arrived out, as had Col.
Phillips Legion Battalion, COO strong
At the time of the preparation of these dispatches
it was reported in Gen. Floyd's Camp that an en-
gagement had already taken place, or was in pro-
gresI, between Gen. Lee and Wise and the enemy.
Meadow Bluff ia about fifteen miles distant from
Wise's position. II an engsgementhad taken place,
or vEI being contested, 2its result was not known
or certainly anticipated at the last reliable accounts
which have reached here through special express.
The "hotel rumCrS" which were in crculation
last not subjects Of notice. we are satis
fed that we have the latest reliable adv:ces which
reached here yesterday from the seat Of war and
that they do not contain any informal Of the
suit of an engagement with the enemy.
fit should become necessary for our forces to
fall back from the Big Sewell it understood that
they will do so upon General Fioyd's position
which is said to be impregnable defended it is
| on one side by a mountain bluff and on the other
! BY considerable stream. Our forces, in the pO
sition now occupied by FlOyd's command, could not
! be outl7nksd They would command the Wilder
ness Oad--and the Boyer's Ferry road both Of
! which connect with the pike and guard the Only
! passsble approach to Lewisburg.
Prem the Richmond Dispatch, Sept 81. -
The position of affairs in Western Virginia is full
| Of interest. We have dates from Meadow Bluff 70
! the Path inst "wednesday lGst) In an order L
| Major Dunn, Brigade QIartermEster, Genera
Floyd Adju.&nt used the following language, which
! we extract: