Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-11-21

The War in Western virginia,

TrnfN, UIutfV fSTfoJc. tfustct fts'' "'e'
the seige Of Gruiey-- Tie situation Of oW
army Cotton .Motnir,a' and Gen.
Floyd1.Shot md Shell" Nobody hurt
-Our hoys doat care n ''red = CoRd,
tioa of our soldiers The Medical De-
pIrfmenf- - Newspaper ruD,0rs-7hey sag
Fioyd riH steal
couepondence OF the Belmon, Chronicle.
GAui.EY. FAYErTE Co., Va, Nov. Q.
DEAR CHRoNIcLg The ups and downs
Of army life have so n,oced your occasional
correspoalent, that he tnrns up at last in
this eutIsndish region, where the mountains
josele each other 50 closely that there is
barely room between them Tor the necessary
complement OF roads, rivers, creeks and
houses. How our army ever got up here
must remain a mystery to any ono who did
not see it. but the subscriber has had ocular
demonstration that our army Is here, ny
Gaul,yl The village of Gauley. it village
it can be called, consists of four houses, and
q place where bridge uas, before Gov.
Wise applied the torch to it One of these
houses is said to have been Baptist Church,
but our troops have turned it into block
house BY putting "hord she'll of logs on
three sides of il. At this point the Gauley
and New Rivers join and form the Kanawha,
which latter river is here about as wide as
the Ohio River at the foot of Wheeling Is
land. On account of the destruction Of
Gauley Bridge, by Gov. Wise, our troops
have built and are running ferry across the
Gauley, for the passage of the various sup
ply trains to the troops farther up in the
mountains. Crossing this ferry, a ride OF
two miles and half up the side Of the
mountains brings you to tho beautiful resi-
dence of Col. Tonlpkns Of the G. 5. Army,
hard by where Gen, Rosecrans has his
headquarters. Here, 100, was Gen. Cox and
staff quartered until last Friday, when he
removed to Gauley, and took up his quarters
under our roof. Still farther up the noun
tain and North Easterly from Gen. X. I
camp, at Camps Anderson, Ewing and Nc
Neil were (until moved forward last night
no matter where, Gen Benham Il Schenck
and, Col. McCook with their ,Brigades, mum
bering in all, no matter how mary men,
This much for our own position.
On the opposite side of the river, o.
Cotton Mountain, which, by the way,
considerable Of mountain, are Floyd
forces the strength Of which is vaiiousl
estimated at from nothing up to l0,0t).-
From various unmstakable signs, however
it has been known that quite heavy orc
of rebels were behind "Cotton Noun ain'
for some days.
Things had remained in this ositi n 70
some two weeks after our arriva here. an
notwithstanding the two armies 'ere olmos
In hailing distance, the greatest quiet pre-
vailed. On Friday morning, lst inst, how
ever, the.pbels convinced us very forcibl
thatfhsy had not been idle, by unmaskin
abattery immediately opposite our quarter
aud the ferry, from which they have kep
up an incessant firing on US ever since
during the day, ceasing only at night. o
Saturday another battery was opened on tn
the LIST Ky. Regiment about mile below Us
and on Tuesday third battery opened o
Gen. Rosecrans. This last battery, however
was harmless, as the distance was too great
the nearest shot falling full 500 feet short {
Rosecrans' camp, but creating some stir
the quarters of Stewards Cavalry Compan.
where it fell. The first and second batterit
erected, however, were not over 1900 yard
from rs, and Of course could reach us wit
the greatest ease. The shot and shell hay
been coming toerably fast from these tw
batteries ever since, but, strange as it ma
seem, there has been no one hurt in tn
least.
Simultaneous with the opening of the fir
battery, the rebel infantry concealed then
selves in the woods on the opposite side
New River, where they could command OF
road, and kept up terrible fire on evel
living thing that attempted to pass. Seve
al of our men were killed. and some woun'
ed; but Col. De Villiers put stop to tn
proceeding by stationing some of his ow
brave and skillful rifcmen on our side Of d
river, when the rebels firing gradually d
creased, and few well aimed shots fro
McMullins' battery cleaned them out u
together.
The Ohio troops in this neighborhoc
seem to be entirely reckless of danger frol
shot or shell, and so far from being frigh
oned at the terrible bombarding, they ratl
or seem to enjoy it, and when shot or she
strikes the ground great scramble ensue
as to who shall possess it, and manya bray
fellow will carry a cannon ball home as
memento Of the Seige Of Gauiey.
or the prospective operations of ou
troops, to circumvent Gen. Floyd, do nc
feel at liberty to speak. Suffice it to say, ou
generals are completely masters of the
positions, and feel satisfied that before tn
letter shall appear in print Gen. Rosecrar
win have Gen. Floyd and his comman
completely entrapped. Every man in o,
army here is veteran, and you feel viii
mixing with them return Of that indescri'
= able awe with which in boyhood youlistene
70 ousIwho had borne part in our revolt
tionary struggle. Here are heroes from
.~,~o ~ hsttla 6elds-aon,a NJ than sca rrs