New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-26
FLOYD'S CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN
VIRGINIA.


COwARDICE OF THE TIUEvING TRAITOR.
Correspondence ofTLe Richmond Wing Dec n.
RICHMOND, Dec. 10 1861.
! General Floyds retreat from Cotton Hill having
been referred to by his friends proof If his mas
terly skill as tacician, invite your attention to
The Lyncbburg VirgiHiap, givingin brief the sail
eut incidents Of that retreat. On this letter the
edi or Of The Vrgtnian observes: " IL gives, we
doubt not an honest ard truthful, well detailed
account OF the most dsgaceful rout tht our
armies have suffered during the war. Tb. unfortu-
nate affair eclipses all the rising fame Of General
Floyd, AID ends the ill-ated campaign 10 Western
Virginia in a blaze Of glory for the Yankees. Yet
The FrdmiHer desiguates General FLOYD az tie hero
Of thirty engagements. Well may General floyi
exclaim, "No more of that, Hal, an thou lowest
me-"
Correspondence of The LyDcbburg NiIyiuan. ,e,
CAsP C,NroSsESr VBKIss, Nov. o. 1851.
! Perhaps You have not had correct detailed se'
CONT of Gen. Floyd's retreat from Cotton Hill. a.
though You NAV have heard various accounts about
H. was ST Meadow Bluff at the time of the retreat
but soon after LEFT there and Joined the brigade here
two days ago. and have carefully taken notes from
accounts of the retreat furnished me By various eli.
cers. 1t is another dark shadow IN The campaign %
Western Virginia. II is event that gives en-
coura cement and emboldens the enemy on all sides
I regret that il has 10 be related, but We must fe
honest and give n correct account OF failures as wen
as triumphs though this IL not the policy OF ne
enemy who never give correct account OF Their de-
/ feats bu, magnify them into victories. Our policy
is truth, let IL e consequences be what they may.
/ on the evening # Nov. 10 the enemy made strong
demonstratons near Cotton Hili Of at attack on
/ the next d.y and Gen. FLOYD ordered the army ID
/ fall back three miles TO Dickinson's encampmeni,
where the Notifications were. Ne1s morning 1t vas
reported hat the enemy were advancing 10 Fayette-
Vile 20 cut 81 our retreat and surround our brigade
! This news cansed Gen. FLOYD 10 order retreat
WI ich took place at about clock at night when
the brigade rcreaied back to Fayetteville, two ana
hlf miles, and halted TO guard the road which the
enemy We're expected 20 come in TO ateurDt TO cu,
/ off orr retreat. Here the trigace remained unii
init daylight, without shelter, yictuals or Tepose,
when they were ordered TO coutnne their retreat.
This was on the morning OF The 18th, wien The re-
rort that the enemy was marching 70 Fayetteville 10
cut OH our retreat proved 10 be false, ar the seonis
/ returned and reported no enemy near. lie bnseGe
continued is retreat ten miles on ire LOU, ana
/ haliod at Camp Mccoy for the night. During the
whole Of the retresf thus far. there was great deal
Of excitement fear, and especially loss OF baggage
property, and provisions; aud on the night OF the
I'LL tley burned abont 300 tents several bfes OF
new blankets and oyercoais, aud mum er oil mess
chests camp eanipage Of all kncs and Hour barrels
were burst contents scattered on the ground, and
all kiuls If provisions wasted and scattered, all to
prevent the enemy from getting them. WaSoners
were compsed TO take tie horses from the wagons,
mount them and y for safety, leaving about fifteen
wagons in the hands OF the enemy
On the morning of the 18th the brigade took NJ
two miles when il was reported that the enemy
were near and rushing on the brigade ~ this the
cavalry under Col. CTogban were ordered back 10
scout the country and s-cetsin the enemy sdlsance
when they bad gone back two miles they met the
enemy, nj. ktts advancing, when Col. Croyhan
ordered ~. men all to d-inonnt though he did not,
when the Iicke:s of the enemy fired ON bin aud he
fell uortnily wounded. His men took blm ny. ind
carried Lin some two hundred ysids To house,
when they discovered that the euemy-who were
4 -. H..l l. oil and In.
to close in wss the lire OF The pickets in the road
who had Killed the colOnelwere ofOsing IN, anu The
colonel told them 10 fly ard cave themselves Tor be
was dying. At the moment those who were with
The colonel Discovered that their horses bad been
taken by the Yankee pickets, who had rushed upon
them. they turned and fei, and the whole cavalry
c;,ue within five minutes OF ALI Icing cut on ana
captured.
The cavalry then all swept in abreast until they
came up with the rear OF our infantry, ana pro-
claimed that the enemy were pusuing IN double
qnick time. Then appeared scene III our army m
describable, and of terrific confusion. AtJhe word
the enemy are pursuing, all broke Oh ~ VIII ru,
some 60 frightened that they threw away their
knapsacks and all they had but guu and knife 10 de-
fend themselves with. II required great effort upon
the part of the officers, who were somewhat cool, 70
prevent a perfect rout The enemy seemed TO have
The advantage and pursued faster than our men
could retreat. and came upon them even with the
cannon and fred xix shot upon the rear OF the brig
aGe The road was 70 bad ard muddy that the brig
AIDE could not march more than eight miles day
There had been 80 much rain aud wagoniDg along
the road that 1t was perfect mre abont half leg
deep, and all had to wade right through i.
After this day the brsade continued Its retreat on
toward Packs Ferry, but with n great deal of toll
and difficulty anu finally encamped here on the Path
of November. This encampment Is near Petere-
town In the south edge of Monroe County, and Is
expected that the brigade will winter near here.
w l.. g., Dalton Guard Philips Legion.