Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-07
Prem western virginia.

a gentleman who left Gen. LEES camp on the
9th ult., was in Richmond on the 81 inst, from
whom the Dispatch learns that Gen. LEE was still at
Valley Mountain waiting for fair weather and good
roads to commence operations. Both had been so
bad to arrestall military operations. The enemy
were strongly posted at STALSAKER's about twelve
miles frem Valley Mountain, and between that sta
ton and Huttonsviue. Skirmishes occurred every
day between the pickets, and our men had taken q
number of prisoners.
The CINCINNATI Press has correspondent in West
ern Virginia. who gives the following account of
matters in that section, IN letter from Beverly
dated the 29th ult.
The native rebels in the vicinity of the Seneca Pass
in The Cheat Mountains, have recently annoyed US
much, and within the past two weeks have killed
three and wounded several of the Union troops
among the former was the Indian scout, Thomas,
heretofore mentioned in my letters, who was shot
down In cold blood on the 10Th Of August, while
guiding a scouting party. They crossing the
Lamel Fork Of Cheat River. the advance having
reached the middle of the river, when some fifteen
or sixteen shots were fired among them from lsu
rel thicket on the opposite bank Thomas was shot
in the right side, the ball passing transversely
through the body He Ire but few hours. A
corporal and private in the Second Virginia Regi
ment were also wounded, and Charles Tryon, of
Company X, in ours, received rifle ball through
the nands The p0ys, undaunpeQ, charged across tue
river, discharging their pieces in the direction
whence the fire came. But, although the country
for mile around was searched thoroughly, moth
could be found save few traces of blood.
Subsequently another party was sent out with
an ambulance to bring in the wounded, and when
near the same place, were again fired upon. The
driver was wounded severely, and valuable horse
killed. The woods were searched again, and still
nothing to be found. And these are our brothers.
The psth over the mountains is barely wide enough
for man to pass, and so devious in its windings
to render it impossible to see ten feet ahead of
you. The murderous wretches conceal themselves,
and from the tops of trees and spots in the brush,
which command view of the path, they deliberate
ly fire among US. Was Indian warfare ever worse
than this? Tnese mountaineers are a semi barba-
rious set, scarce one in ten of whom can read and
who are as wild and savage in their nature as the
wilderness they inhabit. The people of the low
lands not much better, and, in fact, far be-
low the average of Northern farmers in intelligence
aud natural shrewdness. They come into camp
with their produce and have yet to see the first
one who cRn correctly give the change out of dol
lar. They are as selfish and extortonate in their
dealings as ever our hucksters in Cincinnati.
Five companies of the 9th, and part of the 23i
Ohio passed through here the other day. The 9ih
have had rather severe time of it since their ad
vent into Virginia. They have passed through Bev-
eFly four times. The Second Virginia is-here also
encamped on the right of us at shert distance
ReintOrcements are said to be on the way hither;
but this is only rumor, and cannot be relied upon
1t is also said that to winter here, and that
lumber for the shanties will soon be here.