Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-12
l2 1861

firing was very heavy. They had two
guns behind masked breastwork, situated
directly east OF tile camp.of the let Ken
tucky regiment. Their object seemed to
be the destruction of the infantry battery,
which was at that time guarded by. two
guns, one rifled l2- -pounder and a SMOOTH
bore 6-pounder. They returned the fre
with a good will, and though the lombard
ment of Camp Gauley lasted from A. ~.
until after 2 P. NJ, Sumter like, there was
nobody killed or wounded on our side.
The rifled gun from the bridge WAS
brought down aud planted in q good posi-
tion, and opened on them; and it threw
shells directly into the battery, and was
not long before but one of the rebel guns
was used. 1t threw some ratherngly look
ing pills over to us. But one of their
shells reached our camp They threw
round shells, with a fuse and they explod-
cd before they were far from the guns. AS
To the damage done up NRpE rigeF,swe have
nothing certain; as all day The communities
ton is cut off by the enemy's battery at
the ferry. On last evening, (Friday, the
lst) the detachment under Capt. Wheeler,
consisting of part of five companies of
the lst Kentucky, returned to camp. They
were sent after a company of cavaly seven
hundred strong, on Loupe Greek, and to
reConnoitre. They crossed the river at this
point, and passed down the Kanawha to
Loupe Creek, and thence across the noun
tains toward FRyette COuTt-house. They
reached point on the east of Cotton Hill,
where they had fair view of the reb-
els works, which they report as rather
formidable. They have built batteries, cut
roads, aud fixed themselves well for de.
tense, and it willtake force of some six
or eight thousand to rout them. They are
well supplied With mounted and foot men,
and artillery. They have what the boys
call zone horse battery" or mountain
howitzers; some six or eight were seen.-
They are reported us about four thousand
strong, and if they are not routed soon,
they will give US much trouble. The par
ty that was out from our camp heard the
firing, and saw them carry n number of
men on litters down to where the main
body was; so that our shells did do some
little good besides silenctug their guns.
The men, in returning to camp, had to
cross the river directly under their guns,
and it was mercy they were not all killed
OF drowned, but not one was hurt. To-
day, the I'd, brisk FIRE is going on be-
tween our artillery and theirs, up ut
Gauley Bridge and the camps above. A
lHFAe IOECO WIS. SGuL auUMu uEtuM Nv NaIl-
our hours, from ii o'clock the night of the
LIST until near daylight to-day. Their des-
tination isa secretyet. may have chance
of writing to you again, if the rebels don't
get the upper hand of us and cross the
river. In that case we will have to fight
or give up the valley, and l Will be in it
sure; but coming out is not SO certain.
While L am writing, the fires of the enc
my are burning brightly on the mountain
east of US, and there is no telling how soon
they will be on the other side. The pick
cts are all the time firing Mt one another,
and forcing one side and then the other to
draw into camp. 1t has been raining here
since noon yesterday. The river is up
pretty well, and raising fast.
Look out for an account of a battle, or a
retreat, in my next, il the "Secesh" don't
get G.T.J.