Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-06
The Attack ON General Rosecrans,l
!. sFNf4S Army, wv

The Attack ON General Rosecrans,s
l. tfMtaN Army, W
| We yesterday met Capt. G. M. Goulding,
Quartermaster, who left General Rosecrans's
headquarters on Saturday. 49,
| On Friday morning, ct eight O'Clock, the reb.
els opened FIRE on Gen. Bosecrans's positions at
Camps TompkiDs and Gauley, from the hills on
| the west side Of New River. They had two
pieces Of artillery, and banged away vigorously,
throwing shot and shell, and their skirmishers,
concealed in'the bushes on the hillside, kept
up roar Of musketFy. The weight of the en-
einy's fire was directed upon Gauley, and the
object was manifestly to stop supply trains,
which they did on Friday. Soon after opening
FIRE, they succeeded IN sinking the ferry boat at
the mouth of the Gauley 1t was, however,
raised on Friday night, and put in order. The
rebels threw about forty shells into the camp of
the Eleventh Ohio, but did not, with all their
firing, kill single man, and wounded but a
few. The majority Of their shells did not ex.
plode. Lieut. Col. Sedgwick, Of the Second
wounded IN the knee by o splinter Of SHE'LL
The rebels made no demonstration on Satur-
day, and all was quiet when our informant
left. a1ahr7sN @eDcI . lcso7f 5-f2sr
| The telegraphic communication between
General Rosecfans and the country was inter
rupted BY an accident. When the rebels COM
Ienenced throwing shells, the telegraph opera
tor thinking his position was within range ofthe
enemy's guns, hastily dispatching that Q battle
had commenced, proceeded to move bis Office,
and piliug all the apparatus into wagon,
started up the Gauley. General Rosecrans
hearing Of this movement, ordered him back, +,
and as he was returning, his wagon was cap
sized, and tumbled down precipice, into Gau-
Icy river, thus destroying bis batteries and in
struments.
IL will be remembered that the Ksnaxha
river 10 formed by the junction OF Gauley and
New rivers. The Gauley runs from the East,
and New river from the South. The main
body Of General Rosecrans's army was posted
In the angle between the rivers, some regi-
ments being several miles distant from the
point where the rivers meet, on the left bank
Of Gauley and the right bank Of New river -
Communication with the country below is kept
open along the right bank of the Kanawhs-
The rebels have appeared on the left, or West
ern bank, of New and KanaEha rivers, having
reached that position by . eircuitous march
leading across New river, at point me dis
lance above our lines. They have been seen In
considerable numbers w est Of New river, some
miles above Gauley, for o fortnight, and have
occasionally skirmished across the river with
our troops, at one time making vigorous at.
tempt 10 destroy rope ferry which was defend
ed by Colonel K. L. McCook's regiment, Not
until Friday, however, had they become saucy
enough TO try the experiment of bombafdi6g
the position Of General Rosecrans. Consider.
able changes we're made In the disposition Of
General RosecrAns's forces during and subse-
quent to the bombaFdment. The principal
change was in moving: General Benham's br-
gade down the Kanawha, 90 as to protect the
steamboat landing. - bW sipa i'' -
p The rebel force was pronounced by. scouts
about seven thousand strong and under the
command Of Floyd. Others did not believe
that the force exceeded four thousand The
impression prevailed among our forces that
Floyd was personally desperate, and determined
to do something that would relieve him from
the taunts of his enemies in Richmond.
b Il was also believed from the disposition of
forces made BY Gem Rosectans, and ceftain
going on. that On ,attempt would
be made 70 bag Floyd's whole force, by
schenck's brigade crossing New River above,
and Benham crossing the Kanawha below bis
uosition, while Cox brigade would give, him
ernploy ment 10 'front.' This was believed prac
toeble and Il is almost certain that the attempt
mas been made before this time, II our troops
should cross the river In force, the fate Of one
army Fthe other would be settled in few
hours, and our boys were exceedingly anxious to
have that settlement.
TIE heaiIh q she army vas impresinRg The
troops we're well dcthed and supplied. y, age
fOr horses was sbsccmiug scarce, and Captain