The national Republican., 1861-10-15
FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA.

POSITION or Tue ARMIEs--A TERRIFIC STORM
ARRIVAL or GENERAL sCuENCK.
The Cincinnati Gazette has letter from Camp (
Sewell, dated September 3Oth. This camp is
In Fayette county. We quote:
Sewell Mountain Is the highest point on the
Greenbriar ranges II has two SUBMITS, each
of which Is occupied by an army-the northern
poiut by our troops, and the southern top by
the rebels, but while our camp is on the top nj
the hill, the aecessionists have their quarters 10
the valley, and only artillery on the mountains.
The latter we can see plainly with the naked
Eye. We had scarcely left our breakfast table
after the first night when a brisk fire between
the pickets commenced. We expected that u
regular battle would occur that morning. Th'
cannons were set to work, and did even bett
ban was expected. The balls were thrown
over the top of the mountain on which the
enemy were encamped, a distance of three
miles. The shells, which burst exactly over
the heads OF the rebel pickets, must have dore
great injary. Many bodies and wounded were
carried off by their men.
In the afternoon, our pickets were pushed
forward while their pickets withdrew But,
about four O'Clock, they threw shells so thick
that our pickets and advance guard had to
withdraw from their former position. One
soldier, of the twenty sixth regiment, was shot
through the abdomen He is the only wound
cd man we had on that day. Toward evening
The firing ceased, but an intense excitement
prevailed The night set in, and 1t was so
dark that IL was impossible to see two pac .
ahead. But still the pickets had to be enlarged
snd. with the greatest trouble, they were put
on their posts. Wednesday morning was clear
and was not a little astonished to zee that the
rebels had put up a fortifcation around the
ntire hill on which they bad planted their
firing W
between the pickets, and again were shells
thrown from both sides, but without effect.
THE STORM AND ITS EFFECTS.
All operations were stopped, on Thursday
afternoon, by a terrific storm of wind ard rain
The tents were no shelter. Tho water came
through as If the linen was intended for I'll
terer. The men began to suffer, and the
horses, which had no feed for three or fonI
days. except some hay, and which had worked
too hard on the muddy, steep roads, commenced
to tremble with hunger, exhaustion, and cold
increased in fury, and nothing could be done
all day. The calamity increased among th.
soldiers as well a. among the animals. Toward
evening The rain began to be cooler, and the
wind blew fercer. Every thing was 20 wei
that it became impossible to build fire, and tC
cook the only stimulant which was to be hat
In camp-a cup Of coffee-was out OF thu
question.
HORSES sTARvE TO DEATH.
The night was colder than the day, ant
many of our brave men chose to walk in The
rain all night rather than lie in the wet tents
where fever was certainly in store for them
But it seemed US If the night would have NJ
end-as if daylight would never appear and
when the day broke, finally, and the drops o
rain fell from the branches of the pine trees
and gathered on the branches of the chestnuts
and looked to us as if every drop was turning
+ into ice. Most everybody was shiveriDg will
:, cold. But the horses-pOor animals fftee
d of them died within half an hour. How man
$ have starved and died, cannot tell. The
Il are dying constantly on the road and in tn
camp. There has been n, feed for them fo
: three days, and the cavalry companies receive
: orders this morning to get forage for thei
r horses wherever they could. But even thi
: will afford them little chance to feed thei
;. horses, as most every thing has been taken ava
by the rebels, horses, wagons, oais wheat hay
cattle. even sheep, and hogs have been led o.
by them. and were paid for with pieces G
J paper.
t GENERAL sCHENCK.
} It is pretty certain that we will stay here fo
some time, and have fight before we NOV,
but which way we will move is very uncertain
n especially since the arrival of General Robel
IS Schenck, the night before last. The gener:
O was il very great haste and must have brougl
=, very important news, for he rode all day an
g all night in that heavy rain on Thursday, an
l. even swan his horse across the Gauley rive
e to get to Gen Rosecrans as soon as possible.
!, The RUINS OF HAMpToN.--A correspondel
u. . Of the Boston Courier, writing from Newpo
"a News, says:
il A foray, authorized by the proper official
10 has just been made by US upon the ruins
5 burned Hampton. From them have bee
brought to our camp boards, stoves, and wha
Is ever was needful to preserve our men fro
Ie suffering, and many relic of these picturcsqr
ID ruins and remembrauces Of rebel outrage an
Sc recklessness will reach in due time our Mass