Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-27
some structures ON Gen. Rosecrans'
recent Movements ON the KannWhn
which look very Reasonable.
From The N. Y Tribune Of yestordAy.l !


The brilliant achievement OF Com. Du-
pont Mt Port Royal, and the extreme inter
est of the war thereby inanguTAted in
South Carolina, have Withdrawn public
attention in great degree from other
fields OF the contest. But for this fact. we
are persuaded that very general feeling
of surprise would have been expressed at
the conduct of affairs In Western Virginia.
We have had nothing but short kilograms
from that quarter for some titaei and yet
the Gthko 81 sthiu6S-sNSo-=os etE sSte h-that
some fuller and moro UatIsfaetofJ account
seems very desirable.
From the brief dispatches referred TO,
wa learn that the rebels, under Floyd him
self. approached about the LIST inst. within
cannon-shot of the camp of Gen. Rose
craus-on the opposite side of the New
river; and establishing their batteries on
hill which commanded the position and its
approaches, actually fired into our camp
| for several days. The fire was replied to
by. our guns across the river, with some
success, and one or two batteries silenced;
but the main battery Of the rebels on Cot
ton Hill maintained its fire for full a week,
and actually cut of all approach of our
transportation trains by the road along
the river, thesoply ono by which supplies
could reach tho camp.
The New River at this point Rms nearly
due North, and meeting withithe Gauley,
sweepsina bend Of some three miles, around
the base of Cotton Hill. Arouudthis bend,
to the East and North, lay encamped our
forces under Gen. Rosecrans; within It
was the position occupied by Floyd, with
batteries commanding the whole length of
the bend, separated only by the river, upon
| which we had steamboats, able 10 come up
within Eve miles of the camp. Floyd
maintained himself in presence of supe-
rior force; and when, at length, our troops
were sent across to attack him, he with
drew, and retreated with no serious loss.
We confess ourselves quite unable to
understand theistfategy OF onr'command-
era in such a series OF events as these. To
eucamp an army In a position open to the
enemy,s fre-with nothing to forbid his
Approach, seems itself a very Questionable
arrangement, and one which can be iusti-
| fed only by some necessity, or at least by
some advantage Of very indfsputAble
kind, of the existence of which, in the
present ease, we see no evidence. II, how
ever, the selection, Of the position was JUS
tiied BY any such advantage, It would
seem, the part of prudence to provide the
means of repelliug the assault to which.
an open camp Of kinds always expo
sed. Means Of promptly crossing the rfy-
or and assailing the foe in his rear, or of
rapidly concentrating . superior force upon
him, TO punish any rash advance of his,
would seem only obvious suggestions of
ordinary prudence, 10 say nothing of MILL
tary foresight and skin.
OF all this, however, not only does there
seem no Indication in the present instance,
but there has been an evident deficiency,
either of meansfor Of ability to use them.
Not only has u hostile force lain for n week
In sight OF the headquarters Of the Gener9
al commanding tho army In Western Vir4
giuia, but theenHmy has been suffered to
retire almost unmolested, within his fors
mer lines again, aud to escape the blow,
the hope of striking which is the only cons
ceiyabis motive for allowing him to app
proaeh 60 near. Nor does this result ap.
pear to be attributable to any superiority
Of forces. Floydls numbers, though not
actually known to tls, could scarcely ex-
cs-d 5000, while Gen. RosScraus must
have certainly 700 within the lmmsdi>
ate vicinity Of the point assaulted. Their
state OF equipment, too, though not per-
haps all that could be desired, cannot be
interior TO thai Of The rebel army; nor can
Il be stteh as Would prevent rapid move.
ment AFalnHt a force SO near.
finder these circumstance, the escape
OF the enemy after 10 bold an HdYBnGt,
seems % require explanation We would
DOT e9at AAy hAsty runsurg upon che az
Engagements Of The eetaHiaudet Of eHttefees
Ia that quarter, bat We santtas help fesllnS
safprlasd that no more aeeislFo blow should
have been sHnek Ia . altaAtlea which
Benlal sesht 70 hhNe eHaFtd tese YlRihpk
commander mARy opportunities Of . klns