Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-04
The Situation in tho west-Reean 81 Qsn.
TrsR he Richmond 1Rsninsr, Sept. 20.

We kaVS tull accounts Of the situation in Western
Virginia and Of the circumstances under which il
iS supposed Gen. Wise was ordered to report in
Richmond, where he arrived on Satrrlay enVeninfI
On the l4th Of September, Gen. Floyd encamped
with about 5000 men on the summit Of the Big
SOUel. Gen. Wise, with the Wise Legion. alb )uI
IT0e strong, encAmped on the eastern slope of ths
Big SsWen, between Dixon's and smsle's farms.
Both Generals commSnced entreAching, General
Floyd westward Of the summit, Gen. Wise between
Dixon's and Vsughans. SEA
On the night Of the 18th to I7Eh Cen Floyd re-
treated with his brigade TO Meadow Bluff being uu-
der the impression that the enemy Is 600 strong
and also threatening the Wilderness road.
Gen. Floyd ordered Gen. Wise to prepare to fellow
him to cover his rear, which order Gen. Wise failed
TO execute for . number Of alleged reasons.
Ga the 18th, Gen. Wise addressed his troops
stating that hitherto he had never once retreated
but In obedience to superior orderR; that the enemy
were said to be Is coo strong that be did not believe
they were as many, but if they were, he thought he
could, and resolved to make stand in that 20
sion; that his must exy ect to be attacked from
all sides and for successive days, and that ali who
are not willing TO abide the issue stepping for
ward, would be sent to Meadow Bluff
On the goth, or 2lst, Gen. Lee arrived in Gen.
FLOYD camp, AID ordsred Gen. Wiae, if he could do
so safely, to fall back. Gen. Wise invited Gen Lee
to judge for himself Of the position. Cen. Lee
arrived in Gen. Wise's Samp, now called "Csmp
Defiance" on the 3d. and after carefully inspecting
AitoA till further orders.
On the 2si. the enemy sccupied the Big SewSll.
and skiPniGhiAE began, and was continued TIL ths
evening Of the 25th
The Wise Legion, BY the arrival Of five companies
Of Infantry and enc Of artillery, was, by the 23d
reinforced to guns SHd 1000 uen-----
On the night Of the 24th, Gen Lee himself arrived
with four regiments and two guns, leaving Gan.
FlSyd with about 500 meA and cavalry st Meadow
BlGf. On the evening Of the 18th. Gen. Wise re.
ceiVsd orders to report Immediately 70 the Score
tary Of War, And started fer Richmond accompanied
By Col. HsnninEsen, MAJORS Dufield and StAn&rd
Captains Parish and Breed; and Lieutsnalt Wise.
General Ice, including the Legion, had with him
at Camp Dehancs between 5000 and 500 men, with
eleven guns. More than / 500 Een, with q riffs
cannon, would TsinforcS hin BY the 26th. The po-
Etion ia one Of extraordinary strength Little skir
mishing had taken place, confined TO three eompa-
MES Of the ga Regiment Of the Wise Legion and ts
the artillery Of the Wise Legion. Lieut.. Howell,
of Mississippi, was killed, Captain Lewis severely
wounded, one private killed and three wounded
The enemy Immediately opposed to Wise, on the
turnpike, had been made out to amount to between
i've and GiK thousand. Three thousand reinforce
ments had been ascertained, on the seth, TO have
reached Gauley Bridge. f-E
Nothing was known Of the direction or number
Of the remainder of the enemy . force.
Gen. Lee, it is said, could not be forced from his
position, bat easily Moved by demOnstr alton,
Eastward, Oh his rear.