New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-15
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER To- 1861

the Legion failed 20 respond and che spirits Of the
corps were rsised and maintained at the highest
fighting pitch. >,
drawn into safe positops and the camp on all sides
s,ropathened In this attitude the Legion remained
TIL abop. the 20th when it strengthened by the
arrival OF Capt. Romsrs 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 1900
men. About this time Gen. Lee arrived in Gen.
| Floyd's camp, at Meadow Bluff, and wrose to Gen.
WIFE, advising him 10 fall back II executable, with
ont delay. Before acting on this advice, Gen. Wise
que.ted Gen LIE to inspect the position 10 person.
On the 22d Gen. Lee arrived ct Camp Defiance. and
after careful survey Of the ground, ordered Gen.
Wire to maintain his position until further orders.
Tie enemy had, meanwhile, advanced TO within
three or four miles, and several skirmishes had taken
place between bis outposts and the remaining cav
airy Of the Legion under Major Bacon, formerly
captain of mounted rangers in Nicaragua, and alter
ward aid to Gen. Garrett and wounded by the side
of that General when be fell The rest Of the cav
airy was still under It's gallant Colonel, j. H. Davis,
and Lieut.. Col ClsrksOn, sonth OF the New RIVER,
where they had pushed daring and successful foray
up to within twelve miles Of Charleston.
One night, Gen. Wise. with q few picked com.
panies including the Richmond Blues and Mississippi
Rangers Of the % Regiment, under Capt. lm6oden,
attempted to feel and ambuscade the enemy and
drive in their ouipOsts, killing three Of them, the
General himself lying down for several hours in a
piiiIoss shower. Notwithstanding, all that could
be ascertained Of The enemy that he was on the
turnpike, probably from 5000 to 5000 strong. On
the AFTERNOON Of the I'D, while the infantry and ar
tlery Of the Legion were rehearsiDg their part on
the contemplated points OF attack, the enemy sud
denly appeared, driving in our pckets. The next
morn ~ the summit OF the Big Sewell was wbitened
with his tents and skirmlshing commenced and con-
tiDued till the evening. On our aide, two gun de.
tachments of the artillery and three companies OF
the I'd Regiment Of the Legion, Of which Col Hen
ningsen s Colonel but in consequences OF his having
chaTg, Of the infantry and artillery, under the imme.
date command of Leut..C Frank Anderson--who
distinguished himself by the daring exploit oil cap
turing Castillo, in Nicaragua, with 40 men, aiter
Lockridge and Titus had failed with 8C0-Capt. In
boden's Capt Lewiss, and Capt. Cranes University
Company were the companies engaged with one
6-poander and one howitzer. under Maj. Gibbs OF
South Carolina, Capt. McComaS and Lieut.. Pairo OF
Richmond. The casualties were but tIlliug on our
side, though wo have to regret the death OF Lieut.
Howell of Mississippi of Capt. McDonnelrs com
paDyl, and that OF one Of Capt ImOoden's gallant
Rangers. Capt. Lewis was shot though the breaat,
bot is doing well. Three pTivates were wounded in
the aboye-named companies, one very severely. The
only loss in the artillery was Lieut.. Pairos horse
shot under him. The enemy was obviously only
feeling for the tanks of our position and evidently
could make nothing Of it, and no wonder, as Prof
Snead remarked, 4" since it has no TANKS at all"
The guns were only advanced to avenge the casu-
allies which befell our men, firing few rounds and
then retiring. For instance when the Ranger fell, a
ak FOUNDER suddenly advanced along ridge where
gun could never have been expected, and drove the
enemy from stable, laying out four Of them. In
sight, on another occasion, seven were dropped be-
fore The howilzer. A company of the enemy's recon-
notering and commar ded by mounted officer, came
on picket Of the University company. The sentry
shot the mounted officer down, received the voiley
of the company and retired unburt. Major Lawson,
OF the "a Regiment, having seized rife to surprise
one Of the enemy scouts, was himself surprised by
another who sent a shot through his coat. The
Major, however, avenged himself on THIS interloPor
by shooting him dead.
On the evening of the oath Gen. Lee arrived with
bis regiments and two pieces Of cannon. Late on
the 2Jth Gen. Wise received communication from
the Secretary Of War; requiring BIN 10 report imme
diately In Richmond. Having ordered Col. Henning-
cen to accompany him, he left Camp Defiance for
that city the same evening, with Majors Dutield and
Stanard Captains Parish and Sneed, and Lieut. Wise
Of his staff.
The position at Camp Defiance, when Gen. Wise
left, was defended by about $500 men, with ii
pieces Of cannon (which in "a hours would he re-
enforced TO near 1000 mem, commanded by Gen.
Lee in person, who has vindicated Gen. Wise's mill
tsry judgment by determining TO try conclusions
with the enemy in the Dosion selected by the latter
They are, doubtless, impregnable, even by force
Of 90 600 men. 10 can hardly, however be antici-
pated that the enemy, even though REINFORCED as
ascertainod by 5000 men, will venture to attack
Gen. Lee with his present force after hesitating TO
attack Gen. Wise when he had only 200 soldiers.
II Gen Lee should fall back il will only be on sc-
count Of demonstrations on he rear. Gen. Floyd
was at Meadow Bluff with !, 100 men.