The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-03
kanEwha Yeluuteers.

Editors Dlspa'ek' wish to draw public at
S ssnuon 70 the situation Of The Twenty
Yeeobu tia'e Iompkins's) Regiment Nirrinia
volunteers. This forcs is composed OF the
troops that were raised in the Kanawha
saiiey AT the commencement of hos.ilities
WHO nave been IN active service ever since,
ana now, after Il campaign CT unsurpassed
hardship, suH-riag, and galiantry were re-
Gently stationed with the commano of Gen
Floyd on Cotton Mountain. from that bleak
samnit they looked down on the encamp-
fnent OF the invaders who have seized oa their
country, and still iioii The fairest region OF
the CONFEDERATION In bondage.
Let us RENE In ber that the men of this regi.
ment are Firginians, who have gained VIC
tories, endured priyatfJns, and nruved the
worst diBcGities of a soldiers lite for the
common cause: and yet are much stran
gers row on the Soil OF the State As tae poor
eSlies CT Mary land ana Alex ,ndria.
IL Is generally known that the alley of the
ana v ha Is cut oil IN Il manner from 'Nirgi-
MA by reason OF geographical pos ition, ana
lies olstaut from IL by the whole BREATH OF
all It's mountain ranges. On this account
The trade of all its business interests were
iormrriy with the people of the Ohio valley
now turned 10 deadly enemies. This trade
WAS once carried on through the Ohio and
kanaWha rivers. but when the war broke OH {
The navigation ct these streams gave easy ac-
cess 10 their invaders, while the Statc couiu
iend but little assistance 10 the brave and I'M
fortunate N!rglnians Of the kanavvha Valley
Yet, soon AS hUstiiitieS began they were
themselves TO the vengeance of the Lincoln
Government II was late in the month of
June before the uuthor tics at Richmond
seat Gen, Wise to their assistance
The results OF his expedIUn are well known
wise made head against the enemy til Gar
nett defeat at Rtcn Mountaia. But This Gls-
aster 10 our arms left Northwestern Virginia
un ef-ndsd, ana set free the iBnumert bic
hofGeS OF Mcclellan TO turn their arms
against Wise's command, 10 interceDt his
COMMUNICATION with the East, and, by sur
rounding, to capture or destroy him. Wise
was re.' He'd at once, and by making good his
retreat saved his command, to whicn the ka-
nawha troops were attached
II has been about four months since these
things happened, though the country has
passed through so many trials il seems to rs
as many Years. Sat the events OF that time
can never be forgotten by the Kanawhans-
rney had just triumphed over their enemies
At Scarey Creek. Corsttnting the advance
of Gen. Wisa's forces about six hundred Ea-
naWha men had met fifteen hundred Lincoln
troops, defeated, and utterly routed tha.n
large number OF the invaders had been killed
wounded, and made prisoners and more su-
perIor officers taken, believe, than where
except 1T Manassas and not even that when
al! tnings are considered, was more intre-
pii defence, or more decided victory. True,
this was one Of the minor com bats of the
war, bRt nowhere has there been q more gal
liant night than that on the Scarey.
Just tGep, news OF the Rich Mountain dis
aster reached kanawha. at q few hours
notice, its brave defenders We're summoned TO
commence n retreat, and forced to leave
home family. and ali they had, to the cue-
my, who have held possession Of their conn
try ever since.
1t will also be- remembered that, soon as
the Government could rally from the discon-
ragement OF Garnett's defeat. Gen erai Floyd
was sent to lie relief of the kanawha ccun-
ties; and the troops OF the Valley, placed
under his command, marched back 10 meet
their invaders again; bnt new disappoint-
Gross Lanes ana Carni1ax Ferry on the Gan.
ley: shared In the tTiumphs OF those well
contested fields, but again gathered nothing
but barren iaurelE.
They have now advanced q third time
against their enemies. We have heard some
thing OF the autuInnaI storms Oh SeWell
Mountain. the priydtions aad snterings of
the troops there, the crossing by lloyd men
Of the New river ana thtic terrible march
over the mountains of Fayette. The last
news is that TIT last half the command are in
the hospitals. Bat ask particular cons'd-
GRAFTON Tor the kanaWha regiment. It's pres
ent condition is better known to others than
myself; bat We may imagine their state of
destitU ZION and suffering, when We remember
that thay have been onstantly marching and
lighting for four months pas: that TN ey are
eat off from friends and kindred thatdriy
from their homes, they know not the cares
OF sister, or WIFE, or mother, and that even
now, it is said, the property they left for
support of their families, lies under DEGREES
of confiscation TO the Pierpont Government
at Wheeling.
The Department does all it can, no doubt !:
but it is very difficult for succor from thar
quarter, to meet priyations such as theirs
The aid onr generous people have lavshed on
their brave defen ders, has heretofore been be-
slowed on objects nearer home and better
known and not even the acknowledgment
due their courage and constancy has vet
reached the remote aud obscure quarters of
the Virgil oiaES from h kanawha.
i. AS my knowledge of the kanawha
Valley troOTs, and of the counties bordering
on IL, was acquired early in the summer, it
may be that some of them belong to other
regiments than the I'D. Wherever they are
they merit more than have said of them.