, 1861-09-13

correspondence Of The Cincinnati Gakette.J
= :: su11oK, BRAxro1 Co., Va, Sept. 6.
Before Gen Rosecrsos decided to leave
ta1ksharE and place himself ut the head Of
my army here, all doubt had been TamDged
tfat tie Ttbels intended to effect theff main
concentration and stzfka their main bloH in
Fse region Of the Kahawha Valley. But two
ether movements wefs possible for them.
Of the Chest Mountain Gaps, but that was too
securely fortified and guarded. They might
Dake rush from Romney, run down the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and attack Grafton
and CsalkEburg, bnt Lee had nos daah enough
IN his military character for. that The KsaS-
EEa valley, then, was the region In Viii :,
their tootho(d in Western Virginis-
Een. Rpseerans Was st the head only Of an
srmy OF occupation. BE conh dafand, not
sttacE. His business WAS to hold Western
Virginia. not to engage the rebel troops In the
valley beyond bis department. TO do this he
could either extend his nues to the extreme
boundary Of Western Virginia, and steadily
resist every attempt 70 enter; Or he could a.
low the rebels to pass into his linee, that be
might then bit them harder blow when he
hAd caught them in a tighter place. He has
chosen the latter plan, and We, who have been
watching the maneuver and have caught the
Inspiration OF the camps, have full faith in its
sncceeA
OF course the country is full Of the wi1de eat
stories about the movements and numbers Of
the rebel forces.
We have doubtless pretty strong force I'd
meet, emboldened by trivial Successes, stung
KaoaWha, and fred to emulate the rebel g1o-
ries Of Aauaseas. Their base Of operations
must be Lewisburg sud HuntersyI1e, Their
advanee, which has driven Tyler from Croas
Lanes, Is posted at Sommersyiile, (the county
n $u
skirmishing with Co1's outposts beyond
Gaulsy. On The direct road from this point
to Gau1ey, their pickets arc but short dis
tanee from ours, as Was definitely ascertained
the other day BY scout, who, in Virginia
disguise, encountered and passed them. Aud
at Addison, southwest Of as, they are to hare
apretty strong force.
In one WORD, they have slipped up by Sum-
me1s7ille, hoping to flank Cox at Gauley,
Rosecrans has hurried down from Ctarks.
burg, and has been between two fires. Dec
tot.ate, we'll catch them just where We expect.
ed to.
OF cur own position and strength, it would
be wo1se than foolish to speak now. Aweek
at the fnrthest. tHo Weeks-1 hope to be
able to give Jou 5 list Of the regiments en-
gagged, and tel Jou Of the gallantfy they dis.
played But Let Us not crown them with laurel
till they vim the game Meantime, for the SAT
1sfaction Of those at home and wherever pa-
an exceedingly dangerous position, and are
likely to be er~aeimed by vastly superior
ntmhere, let me Rtate that, With an intimate
knowledge Of the condition of the armies with
which the victories at Cheat River and Rich
Mountain were Won, urhssitatipgIy pro
uouDce the amy now under Gen. RoseeFans.
as IN vastly improved state Of discipline and
efficiency. OF eou1se there are exceptions !:
BiRg1e regiments are still disorieriy and
dtsorganized. We suffer terribly in all of
them for the 1ack Of competent officers; bnt
in general terms, no troops in action hitherto
in Western Virginia have been in as good con
dition for service IS those now eucamped
around Us Oh the heights above Sutton. They
are Injured to hard marching; they have nearly
al seen something Of service, and they have
begun to acquire some ideas On the subject Of
discipline and eubofdination.
Floyd and Wise are supposed to bu In im-
me0iatE command Of the Eebel troops in thia
vicinity, but there can be no doubt that they
are under the constant direction Of Gen. Lse
himself. Lees great pecaliarity IS an officer
has hitherto been slow, cautious delibetation
He never makes false moves, but he uo7ea
very slow, and an energetic opponent is likely
tc diEconcsrt him. have aIready alluded "a
the a1my opinion that Gen. Rosecraas is likely
to prove his equal, and may add that In hi
Adjntant Ger era], Cspt. Hu1tsufr, q, s A va
have tower Of strength. Coz has. with him.
Msjcr Slemmer, also late Of Fort Piekens !:
while Cox himself has been dischargipg his Ri, .
ties TO the entire satisfaction Of Gen. Rose,
crars and other competent army men-the
eneeEs and senseless criticisms Of outside mr.
Tics 10 the contrary n0tWiths landing.