Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-12
Especial Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Times.
LETTER FROM CAMP GAULEY.

The Attack on 6sauley--The Enemy
Plant their Cannon On-thc. HIS
IRDeal OF Firing but with Little Ef.
feet--Nnrroyv Escape or Col. De VII
1Iers--Musguetry Firing Across the
Regiment Paid On.-CntchsBalls,6GC go.
GAuDEY BRIDeB, Nov 3, 1851.
Editors Times 81 take advantage of
moment of rest to write few lines. 1t
must be brief, for ! know not what mo-
ment may be warned by the deep roar of
cannon to vacate my quarters for safer
position Day before yesterday, tue "ball
openedp by shot from II battery conceal
ed by the trees in a high, steep hill, COM
mauding our camp aud the ferry.
Por some time previous to this. rumors
prevailed that the rebels were iu large
force on the other side of the river, their
headquarters beingat Fayette Court House.
They had also planted two cannon at the
lower Ferry, below the falls, and bad fred
upon our boats coming up from Charles
ton. They had made demonstrations above
us, opposite the Hawk Nest, and ut other
points; but we had deemed it impossible
for them to bring their artillery across the
exceedingly rough, mountainous and unin-
habited country from Fayette, and plant
them TO command our ferry and camp, and
we were astonished and somewhat startled
Whenst the rear of their cannon announced
that they had accomplished tue wonderful
feat
This ferry crosses she Gauley at the
junction of that with the new river. andis
the only communication between our
camp and the main body of the army un-
der Gen. Rosecraus at Camp Tompkius.-
Over this ferry all the supplies must pass
to reach Camp Tomkins, and long train
of wagons is continually coming to aud
fro. The rebels know the importance of
securing the command of this ferry.
The firing was continued during the
whole day from one cannon, throwing al
ternately both ball and she'll. Several
shots fell among our tents doing, however,
but little damage, and hurting no one. We
were completely unprotected, and by leave
OF our Colonel, sought refuge behind rocks
and trees in our neighborhoOd.
One of our rifle pieces was brought to
/ bear, and returned the FIRE NIL day, but
with what effect We have no means of as
certaining. 1t commenced raining about
sundowp, and the firing ceased. About
three O'Clock in the morning we were
reused up, and ordered to "fall in" and
about daylight were marched under the
4 high rocky bank of Scrabble Greek, few
!. yHEuS. ERuGE6 We were
protected from shot or shell.
Our officers supposed the rebels, during.
the night, would put new guns in position,
and give us terrible shelling in themorn-
ing, and took this precaution to save their
men; but at 10 A. II. they had not fred
gun, and most OF our Urmen.returned to their
quarters. During the night the 18th aud
18th Regiments crossed the ferry, aud con-
ltinued down the river TO Canueltou. Sew
eral pieces of cannon arrived and were
placedin position. A little after ten, Cap
tain Simmons, of our artillery, becoming
impatient, fired shot at the rebels, which
they Immediately returned, and the firing
was continued from both sides until dark
The rebels had two or three other guns
in position higher up the river, and we had
several new guns, besides the "Jackass
Battery, y which was stationed half mile
up New River. Yesterday the enemy di-
reeted most oftheir shots at the ferry boat,
Whiehwas obliged 10 cross occasionally.
The balls plashed in the water all around,
but noae of them struck the boat. at one
time, our Colonel (De Villiers) was the
only passenger on the boat, and came very
near being Bit by ball. AS the disturbed
waters closed over this intended messenger
ofdeath, the Colonel eoolly remarked that,
"a miss was as good as mile The Col.
has had more narrow escapes than any