Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-29
FROM WESTON.
Rumors nboutLee-Anxiet for n Sem
sation--UnStable Sentement"-Gen-
Rosecr0ns.

sation-- Gnstable Sentement--Gen-
ROsecr0ns'
| We hear that Gen. Lee Is advancing to
give Gen. Rosecrans battle, with an enor-
nous force, sufficient to wipe out the Fed
eral army in Western Virginia-and the
balance of mankind. Then we are assur-
ed, "by reliable gentleman just arrived"
that Lee has fallen back to join the main
army in Eastern Virginia.
For two or three days we were nightly
excited about fifteen hundred rebels being
surrounded while cutting through the
hills to q point near Bulltown, and thus
cut off supplies and assistance from this
section to the eth and 18th beyond. We
waited anxiously for confirmation of the
story, which was as current as gold dol
lars outside Of the army, but waited in
vain Scouts and couriers came in, but
nothing could be learned of the road which
the blood thirsty Southerners had con-
structed, nor was there a respectable smell
of the vital fluid throughout the whole Sec
ton.
Men do so like to hear of something
startling. Reporters are but n type OF
mankind generally. They all enjoy i"
"tirst-class item" a murder or rape is
far more interesting than simple attempt.
-
to the mental as withered turnip to the
physical economy. So with these rumors.
We grasp at them with avidity, circulate
them with the industry of q country village
tea-table party, and then find that they
have no more substance than dream.
They vanish like the soap suds bubble of
Il school boy, with his clay pipe to blow
them INTO shape. The bubble expands
with the air, and finally eNplodes. Inc
rumors expand rs they are repeated, and
eventually collapse in the face Of establish
ed facts The one does no injury; the
other may,
Do you wonder, then, with all this con-
flicting element at work that Western VIZ
ginia is just now passing through what
may be called cheated term" DO you
wonder that we gather in knots upon the
corners to listen to every rumor, and track
the steps of courier, as though they LED
to rich gold placer which was to yield
untold treasures? Men look upon the
dead killed in the battle with the same in
difference that q surgeon sharpens his
knife, by the side of the dissecting table
Familiarity hardens the finer sensibflities
of both.
We are fevered with anxiety for some
definite result. The pulse is beating with
intemperntc longings. Men look wishtul-
| " into the eyes of their fellows to interpret
their humor-whether of JOY or sorrow.
y nervousness prevails that cannot be con-
cealed. Those who have declared for ''tbeir
country and tue cause" feel that the thread
of life is as insecureas the Atlantic cable, II
the rebels conquer in Western Virginia.
Those who are wavering, who are mental
| Iy crying ''good Lord" and "good devil,
with n great degree of uncertainty into
whose hands they may fall, are anxious 10
make their Collection and calling sure.
The synpathi.ers with the rebels are wait
| ing only for a victory to proclaim their
| principles and cruelty those who are de-
| voted to the Union.
We are waiting and watching-not
praying pcrlaps-f0r the grand results OF
active movements which are going forward.
There are finger-marks that look us though
they would be shaded with blood ere ma
ny days, and they will be if there is an
enemy to fight. 1t always takes two to
make quarrel. Upon our side there is a
unit, but if nobody knocks the chip off our
shoulder, as you and me used to do in our
schoolboy days, there is no chance Tor Il
"muss." The Union men of Western Nir-
ginim dozed when Mcclellan came among
| them, and went to sleep after his victories.
They had faith in his judgment as strong
as Christians prayer. When he left
them they aroused from their slumbers.-
There was Il new EGod of war" y man
without the prestige of success. They
| hoped, and yet had some doubts.
But will we have battle? That de-
ponds upon the rebels. If they make n
stand and show fight, General ROsecrans
will be there. Ifthey attack in this quar-
ter, one side or the other will be slnugh-
| tered If they make Cheat River Pass the
battle ground, they will find that Rose
Grams will fight the battle of Rich Mountain
over again lie will give them shot for
shot and shell for shell. The Union men
may not think him MClellnn-and there
are few like MClellan-bnt they should
not Judge 100 hastily. Wait till he is tried.
If he is found wanting, send his better.
might tell you n thousand things about
the movements of the army, and especially
of the troops of Ohio, but general orders
from headquarters forbids.
Lieut.. Col. Stanley Matthews is here
with part of the Twcuty-third Regiment.
They have made march seventy-hve
miles toward Kanawha-so far that they
could look upon the hills of Ohio-and
then marched back again. The Colonel
and his command are in excellent COndi-
ton, although they have undergone as
much fatigue as any regiment from Ohio.
Nine prisoners were shipped to Clarks-
burg to-day Some of them will visit
Ohio, and some deserve to be hung or shot.
They have had no scruples i'll shooting
Union troops, and why give them bread
for n stone?
From CIarksbUrS.