Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-09
IMPORTANT FROM THE KANAwHA
VALLEY.

PARTICULARS OF THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT AT
GAULEY BRIDGE-THE REBELS FIRE AT BIG
HOUSE ALL DAY WITHOUT HITTING 1T ONCE.
Capt. Golding, of Gen. Rosecrans' staff, and
Quartermaster John Mackabee, of the Eleventh
Ohio Regiment, arrived in this city yesterday
afternoon from Gauley Bridge, which place
they left Saturday morning. From these gen.
tlemen We gather some interesting particulars
of the engagement reported by telegraph to
have taken place at that point Friday, and
which many persons were apprehensive had
resulted disastrously to our cause for the reason
that nothing additional could be learned from
the same source.
For the benefit of those not familiar with the
topography of the country in the vicinity of
Gsuley Bridge, it may be proper to state that
at that point the Gauley and New rivers come
together, forming the Great kanawha, just as
the Allegheny and Monongshels rivers unite
in forming the Ohio. Gauley Bridge, or rather
what was the bridge before Wise burned it in
his precipitate retreat last July, spans Gauley
river about 200 yards above its confluence with
the New. The country is vary mountainous
the hills on all sides looming up fully 500 feet,
and the water courses almost entirely covering
the valleys, so that there Is not room in many
places for even wagon road. Our forces are
encamped at the bridge, and at several points
on the east bank of New river, extending up
that stream II or Is miles. This brief explana-
u.
mcnt more intelligible.
On Friday morning a detachment of scouts
from the Second Kentucky Regiment, under
Capt. Wheeler, returned to Gen. Rosecrans
headquarters, and reported the rebels in con-
siderable force on the west side of New river
This intelligence created no uneasiness for the
| reason that the country there is an almost i'm
passable wii6erness, and tho enemy had no
means OF crossing, II so disposed. Our skir-
| misbers occasionally penetrate this benighted
region. but we believe it has never been deemed
necessary to throw out pickets in that direction
Shortly after Captain Wheeler's return, two
batteries opened upon our troops in the ViCin-
ity OF Gauley Bridge frcr the hills on the op-
Posite side CT tne riVer-one directly opposite
the bridge, and the other two miles lower
down the kanawha, opposite a large brick
house In which our cOmmissary's supplies were
stored. These batteries played away nearly
all day-the conmissary's quarters affording
them fine mark-but so bad was their Hrfns
they dId not strike TIE batiGsvd. 6pcet In
almost every instance their balls and shells
fell short. The upper battery, after wasting a
good deal OF ammunition, succeeded in driving
| the Eleventh Ohio from their camp on the hill
side opposite, and in sinking fatboat, which
| served sur army as ferry. This was the ex-
tent OF the damage done. Not a man was
| killed, and the fatbOat was raised again the
same evening, and made to do good service
II IAdI dS Will De seen.
1t was not till the day had far advanced that
| our artillery could be brought to bear upon the
i rebel batteries. Our rifed guns were all at the
various camps up New river, but when they
L were once placed in petition, it was not long
| until both the rebel batteries were silencef
The loss of the insurgents is not known
a train Of wagons on its way from Gauley
4 Bridge to our encampments above, was fred
upon the same day, when five or six miles up
L the river, by rebel infantry and turn Of on,
men were wounded. Three companies from
l Gen. Benham's camp, at Hawks Nest. came to
their relief, and drove the enemy back of the
/ hills
| Friday night Gen. Benham's brigade moved
down the river to Gauley Bridge, and were
| ferried across the river on the fatboat which
| the rebels had previously sunk They moved
along the base of the hill upon which the rebel
batteries had been planted, intending to 90
| down as far as Loup creek, three or four miles
below, where there is gap in the mountains
and road leading to the rear of where the
rebels are encamped. Another brigade, Nc
Cooks or Schenck's, would probably eros:
above, and it is confidently believed our troop:
| will be able te surround the INSURGENTS or
these mountains before they can make tbeil
escape. On his arrival at Charleston, Saturday
evening, Capt. Golding learned by telegraph
that the firing from the rebel batteries had no
been renewed.
/ Later.-Since writing the above, the steamer
| Allen Collier has arrived from Camp Epyart
which place she left Sunday morning, bu
brings nothing additional of Importance from
Gauley Bridge
We learn, however, from the officers of tn,
Colher that battalion Of Piatt's Zouaves haC
left Winfield and gone to Mind Bridge, OF
Guyandotte Creek, where they Saturday nigh
captured twenty-five prisoners.-Ctnctnnat
Gazette.