The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-29
OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.
OUR CAMP SCOTT CORRESPONDENCE.

OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.
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OUR CAMP SCOTT CORRESPONDENCE.
Cross LANES, Nichols Co., Va, Sept. %, 1861
Gaaey Rirer the R,sicon Of Operations in Western Vir-
| ginia-Picke Shooting-Courts Martial Of Offenders
de-, dc.
have been dreariy waiting for something TO turn up
for letter. am better provided with news than
was a week ago. We have been in camp afflicted with
megrims. don't know when Wen get out of camp con-
sequenty can't tell when will have end.
The weather has been dirty generally is in Western
Virginia. Now and then brilliant day embellishes the
rugged face Of nature strong compensate
week OF gloom but the next day dssoves in rain and
mud. Tho hills, and the meadows and the mountains,
and superb Gauey river, delight the eye and please the
imagination, but the clouds and the moisture depress
and Cypress Those disposed do it often and
vigorously, with intense provocaton. Those who don't
indulge in grim explosives to profanity
possible barely TO keep the safe sdo. There is per
petual equinox in these regions
We are yet On the west side of the Ganley When we
cross It we the Rubicon. We must then either
conquer BIO destroyed. We know that and does
tho enemy Floyd and Wise understood the danger Of
remaining side Of tho Gauley Shall We, crippled
resources, ho less wise than they Part Of army
have already crossed but they safe while this column
remains behind TO build and protect bridges.
Occasionally expeditions sent out TO disodgc mis-
chiovous gangs Of bushwhacers who annoy pickets
and Seamsters; but in this line Ks not
propo toned toour Efforts We lose nearly every
day, and have tho melancholy satisfaction 10 capture
a few picket murri-rers and then. 1t is our
misfortune that we havo organization 70 cope with
these rascas equal footing. Tho Western Virginia
Union men, who ought attend this business dec inc
1t. Tney qualified for IL by habit and know elge OF
the country but, with few honorable EXCEPTIONS we
han, fx.p in 4 hagn
regarded good policy the praies 70 ght fire with fire.
Tie adoption of that practice in these mountains would
work equally WELL Bushwhackers against bu shwhack
The operations dress and habits of this class
bcls peculiar. Small parties Of ten to thirty organize
under Confederate States authority for scouting, spying
and picket numbering duty They provided with am
muniton for their old ntock squirrel rifles by orders
from headquarters Unilorning themselves in dark gray
homcspun bI eoccs, sieckled harne shirts, with brown
ground and siouch hats distinguished by of white
linen canvass on the crown, they provide themselves
with ratiops and push for the cliffs and unples which
mand unmlity roads picket stations and begin their
Operations. Woe to the uniucky horsenan foonan IN
Union uniform who passes Will Ia hundred and nifty
yards Of their unerring rifles. He Gal trg
ger is pued tim alters not whether the victim is flying
w courier speed at rest by uIo roadside, if bush
whacker draws bead On either, the swift ball wings
fight fatally, ana tho soldier dies.
Not unlre luently they lot fly at moving column, and
a.. efforts TO catch them futile. They aim from
top Of rock and before our switest foomen can cam
Der to their site they disappear in the Jungle Many
poor patriot thus ignob'y falls When their riions begin
TO be exhausted they send messengers 10 their fimis
and friends vino forward other supplies 10 their shifting
rendezvous. And the very people many Of suspect,
who secretly support the rascas admitted into
camp demand payment for forage and Subsistence
taken for the use Of our troops Our own mn who
convicted oragng upon til ,m severely reprmaud
cd rnkhed, and the Quart master pays tho complain
ant UnbD gold.
The figure of bushwhacker is as ungainy and forbll
ding a toothicss freckled siattern have many
but striking person among them Their bodies
long, spare bony and snewy, and they GSet
elores and Capable of great eduapoe Their features
THU, rugged snnburned and bewhskcrod AMI their
hair is Icing and tangled as the thiekets in which they
prowi Ana their haeits ahd movements are sly, ssia
csors ana cunning. Robert Maclire, YOU have
him dranaaycd, without his dsboKaae is fair H.
illustration OF the 1ers6snd the uiIrmed bushw,cer
You might imagine that their autqaated Hntok ride
would not be dangerous weapons. And Indeed they
not when compared with the Emf id in bate; then thoy
surely make IN rishman skip wien they bat his shin but
in tho hands Of bushwhaeker IN his jungle they
deadly The Announcements Of the Western Virginia
guerrilla dccrskn pouch, turkey ordeer call, and
hanng knife complste the ensenpte
do that il my province to sit IN Judgment
the policy Of tho nder Of the army reference
to these scoundres Bit do not think It will have ten
dency to make fIieds Among the rebels, or that will dis
onrae g0e r)a warfare 1t has had precisely contrary
eject. No punishment has been inflicted upon any Of
them. Tho perated that thy
beginning TO rcse to capture the scoundr,4s Unless
restrained by threats of punishment they make funerals
wherever quiet opportunity presents ltsif suppose
that we lost ty murdcro,s g1errias than
in all regular skirmshes and battles in this depart
ment upd rs AMI however, that Col Crook Thirty.
sixth Obio, experienced Indian fighter, has been do
tailed for guerrilla service.
Ia a recent number of the Herald you published
STAFF OF COMMANDING GENERAL
Brgadier General W. S. Rosecrans, General command
Captain George L. Hartsu u 8. A., Assistant Adutant
| General.
| MAJOR A. J. slcmmer. U. 8. A., Inspector General.
MAJOR r. b. Hayes, O.V. NJ Judge ADVOCATE General
Captain J. g. Chandlr L. s. A., Assistant Qaarter1nas
Captain c. N Goulding, u S. A., Assistant Qlartermas
Captain Frank Darr, u S. A., Assistant Cornmssary.
| Iie.tciant o. G, Wagner. u. s. A. Chief Engineer.
Captain William oFgadante. O.v. NJ, Engineers' De-
partmont.
| Surgeon II. II. Writ, u A., Medical Director.
| Or. a. Hartsuf, Y. s. A., STAFF Surgeon.
Volunteer Ad-captain Joseph Darr, Private Secrca-
ry and Provost Marsha Captain W. A. Powe2, Engineer
| Captain J. U. Reid, Ca tam W. d. Bckham.
rf.s1 BRIGADE
| H~igader General II. w. Benhan.
Lieutenant J. 0. Stanage Thirteenth o. V. NJ, Acting
| Assistant Adjutsnt General.
S. b. Warren, Twenty third O. " n, Aid dc Gimp
Captain W. l. Mallory, u s. A., Commisslgy.
- Hawkes., .. v. NJ Acting Assistant Qusrtc<ullster.
Dr.. George shumard, Brigade Surgeon.
| sECoND BRIGADE.
Colonel Robert L. McCooh. Ninth o. V. NJ. command
Captain - Graen, O. v. NJ, cuartormastsr and ACT.
l ing Comm.ssary.
lieutenant Bauner, Q. " NJ, Assistant AdjuAnt Gene
raj
THIRD BRIGADE
Colonel E. p. Scammon, Twenty-t third o. Y. NJ com
| handing
Lieutenant NJ. P. Avery, Twenty third O. " NJ, Acting
| Assistant Adjutant General
Lieutenant Rlchonbaoh, Twenty. third o. '. ~, Acting
Quartermaster.
lieutenant kennedy Twon,y third o. v. NJ, Aid dc
Camp.
Brigader General j. u. Cox.
Lieutenant Jas. W. Connie, o. " ~, Acting Assistant
Adjutant General.
lieutenant Oh isty o. v. NJ, Abide Camp.
| Captain Ira Gibbs, L. $ A., Conmssary.
Tho regiments which compose the column may bt
known at future day II Is not in accordance will
the desire Of headquarters to give the nvnbers