Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-17
SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE
The fIsyd and Wise Difficu ty-Interest tins
fsem RIchmsnd
FROM WESTERN vIRGISIA-rHE OPERATIONS OF
FLOYD AND WISE.


tiOns Of Floyd's and Wise's forces in Western
Virginia since the battle Of Carnifax's Ferry
in the Richmond Dispatch Of Oct. 2 It's au-
thOrship was attributed in Richmond to COL
Henningsen, who arrived in the rebel Capital
with Gen. Wise on the 10Th ult. 1t is severe
upon Floyd, and Is pronounced too partial to
Wise by the Richmond papers.
CAMP DEFIANCE, Sept. Is, 10 p. m.-0n the
14th Of September Gen. Floyd and his forces
encamped on the summit Of the Big Sewall,
and ordered the Wise Legion, which, to cover
his rear, was drawn up In order of battle at
Locust Lane, to camp east of him at SRales',
on the turnpike.
The troops of the Wise Legion, who were in
ne amiable humor at go much retreating, and,
especially, at being obliged to retire from Dog
wood Gap without fighting, were much ex-
hsusted and annoyed at having been kept on
mixed up with an interminable train of wa
gons belonging to the Floyd brigade, for the
purpose Of only proceeding a few miles and
without being able to obtain any definite order
as to their destination.
On the eastern slspe of the Big Sewell, be-
tween two small farms called DixOns and
Fsughan's, Gen. Wise selected his camping
ground at the place since called Camp Def
anoe, and which, undoubtedly is, with Dog
wood Gap, one of the strongest positions be-
tween the Alleghahies and the Ohio river
On the 18th and 10th Gen. Floyd was indus
the westward OF the summit of Big Sewell.
The position, however, was not one tenable
against superior force, and this Gen. Floyd
seems to have found out. On the night of the
10th to the l7th he made a very precipitate
retreat from the Big Sewell, with about 1000
men, to Meadow Bluff, destroying much bag
gage, and abandoning much provisions. His
troops were under the impression that Gen.
ROsecrans was pressing on with Is, 900 men
After passing the Wise Legion, he ordered
Gen Wise on the following day to prepare to
cover his rear and to follow him to Meadow
Bluff, having information that the enemy was
advancing one column by the Wilderness road.
1t was impossible for Gen. Wise to comply
with both orders, even had they been positive,
and IN fact one was not executed at all. 1t was
only by maintaining its position at all hazards
that the Legion could protect the rear of the
Floyd Brigade: The experience of DogwOod
Gap, occupied in force with artillery by the en-
emy few hours after the Wise Legion left it
by Gen. Floyd's order, showed clearly, and
the event at Camp Defiance subsequently con-
6rmed, that on the abandonment of the latter
position the enemy would Immediately occupy
IT in force. FlOyd's Brigade was much demOr-
ahEed since his retreat from Camp Gauley and
the following retreat. The Wise Legion will
ing enough to fight, would have been equally
demoraliZed by retreating any further. Mea.
dow Bluff sfords no position. No real demon
strstion had yet or has since been made on the
"AlucEuoSs IOdu5 0DE IQeE6 exist 6QV rea-
son why there should be, since the enemy
could more conveniently, if in force sufficient,
strike the turnpike further eastward as for
instance at the Little Sewell.
il the Wise Legion had retreated, and been
followed up by superior forces, its existence
was iuperilled, and thereby the rear of the
Floyd Brigade left unprotected. But, at all
events, that retreat was impossible Of execu-
tion without the abandonment of baggage
bscssse Gea. Floyd had detained many wag-
ons belonging to the already insufficient trans
portation of the Wise Legion, and because the
roads had been so much cut up by the vast
train of the Floyd Brigade.
The writer counted IS wagons belonging to.
and following. the last regiment Of Gen. Floyd's
brigade, which was Just 20 more than aecompa-
MED the regiment which closed up Wises col
umn.
Under these circumstances, Gen. Wise re-
solved to make a stand where be was encamp-
ed and where, on the morning after his reach
ing the ground, he had begun to throw up en-
trenchments. Here it was impossible for an
enemy TO bring more than two guns or a thou
sand men to bear on any part Of his position;
and on every point, within few minutes, Gen.
Wise could bring six Of his eight pieces and
two thirds of his force into play, beside the ad
ysntage OF entrenchments. In addition, most
OF the officers Of the Legion spoke openly Of re-
sigaing if compelled to retreat any further
On the 18th Gen. Wise addressed the troops
OF his Legion, stating substantially that hith-
erto he had never retreated but in obedience
to superior orders. That here he was deter
mined TO make stand. That his force con-
sisted only Of | 700 infantry and artillery, and
that the enemy was alleged TO be I5 900 strong.
That this he did not believe, but that his men
must be prepared to fight two or three or sew
eral to one, and even If the enemy were in the
full force stated, the position admitted of sue
cessful defence, and he was determined to
abide the issue. He warned them that they
would probably be attacked front and rear for
successive days. and he called on any officer or
soldier who felt doubtful Of the result, or un-
willing to stand by him in this trial, to step
forward, promising that they should be
marched at once 10 Meadow Bluff This speech,
delivered successiyely to the three regiments
OF infantry snd TO the artillery was received
with the widest enthusiasm. Not one solitary
individual in the Legion failed to respend, and
the spirits Of the corps were raised and main
tanned at the highest fighting pitch
The provisions and baggage wagons were
Withdrawn into safe positions, and the camp on
all sides strengthened. In this attitude the
Legion remained till about the 10th, when it
was Strengthened by the arrival Of Capt. Ro-
mer's artillery company, with one gun, and
BY that OF one Virginia, one North Carolina,
and three Georgia companies, which swelled
the forces Of the Wise Legion to over 1000
men. About this time Gen. Lee arrived in
Gen. Floyd's camp, at Meadow Bluff, and
wrote TO Gen Wise, advising him TO fall back
If e1ecutable, without delay. Before acting
on this advice Gen. Wise requested Gen. Lee
TO inspect the position In person. On the 22d
Gen Lee arrived at Camp Defiance, and, after
careful survey Of the ground, ordered Gen.
Wise to maintain his position until further
orders.
The enemy had, meanwhile, advanced to
within three or four miles, and several skirm.
ishss had taken place between the outposts and
the remaining cavalry of the Legion under
Msjor Bacon, formerly captain Of mounted
rangers in Nicaragua, and afterwsrd aid to
Gen. Garnett, and wounded by the side Of that
General when be fell The rest of the cavalry
was still under its gallant Colonel, j. L. Davis,
and Lieut.. Col. Clarkson, south of the New
River, where they had pushed a daring and
successful fOray up TO within twelve miles Of
Charleston.
One night Gen. Wise, with q few picked
companies, including the Richmond Rifles and
Mississippi Rangers, Of the I'd Regiment, un-
der Capt. ImbOden, attempted TO feel and am
k..s. .aA kha "A Irsxxa snf fkas~