New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-26
FRer1 WESTERN VIRGINIA.
Hcuham and seheuck.

A correspondent at Cincinnati sends US the
following unexpected statement:
"grig Gen. schenck with several Of Lis aide, ar-
rived here this morning. The Genslal is marked
with the lines Of hard service, and has been ad.
v;sed by the physicians Of tae Weltern Virginia
army 10 pause q little at bis home in Dayton, OH
pain of typhoid lie is then to 80 to Washington
with important ispatches which are to follow lin to
DAYTON. lie was so unwell that he bad TO be brought
twenty miles in On ambulance, from Fayetie, where
he Lett lis division under Gen. Scammon. Capt
Patt ia with him also. They bring strange reports
concerning Cen Benbam. 1t lie the conviction Of
Roecrans ard all The other officers, nat Floyd iras
lot tlroVck the dJsolre eo'rdrdce Of Bc8kom. Gen.
Benbam was ordered, with 800 men, TO rush for
ward, n short days march, 10 cut or tie retreat Of
Floyd. who was recedng before our main force.
But he Gen. b. loitcrcd between six or eight daya
on Luz, Creek, marching up the bill, and then down
again, while our army leaving knapsac!s and
blankets 10 purn.e the thief tipe-quick.'
On the other hand, We find in Tie UOoid a
letter from Gen. RosecranS's headquarters on
the New River, giving the following account Of
the whole movement:
The Great Kanawha aud New River. form less
than Il right angle in FGyelte Coanty, just a. he
junction OF tie Gauley In this angie, and along
the banks of both, Floyd had eneamped his troops.
on the opposite side, that s, the east eide of New
River, Gen. Rosecrans has his headquariers. The
supplies for our troops come from the ONO River,
along the north aide OF tho Kauawha, by wagon
route, crossing the Gauley. Previous 20 the time
that Floyd was engaged in his position, Gen. Ben
ham, who foresaw the movement, urged Rosecrans
TO change bis posi,on, alleging that by timely and
dexteFous passage OF the New River ~ part OF the
ehats Anl1 afNru "a mud
apture or cut to pieces lloyd entire army; but that
il we kept n its present position Floyd would
soon be prepared 10 enforce retiring OF our lines
from within range OF his field pieces the opposite
nights. Gen. kosecrans deemed 1t a very ingenious
but improbable theory. lie had no apprehension OF
an attack, situated ne they then were. Consequently
no steps were taken to provide for such contiu-
gency other than those usual 10 military force
when near the enemy.
Gen. Benham, however, caused road to be cut
throu,h from that place to point the next bend
Of the river, where he established Camp Mcneil
and stationed himself so as to be able TO cross over
in skiis aud attack Floyd advance. Gen. Roseerans
however did not regard the plan with much favor,
and declined to give Gen. Benham either orders for
crossing or skiiis, and mere permission 10 do 80.
Floyd US Benham anticipated, finally did commence
TO shell Gen. Rosecranss camp with bis batteries,
which 30 distributed as TO conmand both rivers
from Soup Creek 10 point below Gen. Benham's
position. BY this time, therefore. II was not only
impossible TO cross tho New River, but no supplies
could reach our camps through the hro that Floyd
kept up along the wagon road, except in limited
Quantities and in the night. Gen. Benham was,
therefore, ordered to vacae his !positon, and march
up to Camp Hattleston, as far up the kanawha as
lie was then down the New River. This was done,
aud here he was obliged to wait week longer for
orders 20 cross and attack the enemy These orders
were finally received, and Gen. Benham crossed tho
Kanawha and commenced the attack.
Floyd found himself hard pressed and was obliged
to fall back gradually from all his positions, except
Cotton Hill near the junction Of the three rivers. |
Here ne became rapidly hemmed in until the night
of the 20th when he took advantage Of the darkness
10 escape and with 30 much adroitness that il was
not immediately known. He was however, followed
TO Fayetteville and thirty miles beyond whore one
regiment was oveItaken. Our brigade opened the
action upon them with great spirit, and the rebels
again fed In the greatest confusion Only one officer
al empted TO turn them 10 the conflict
Gen. Benbam was within three miles of Floyds !
army when the order came, giving his command 10 |
Gen. Schenck, Of Vienna renown, and the brigade
was ordered back 10 more retired position. His
troops, who repose the greatest confidence in his
prudence and energy, manifested great regret, but
obeyed like sol1iers Gen. Benham resigned his |
10 Sclienck who immediately withdrew
the brigade to retired petition. Thus, for the
present, weaIe ae ain in stata qpo. The soldiers
here look upon Gen. Benbam as the coming maa
Of this war. lie ia brasque, imperative and rather
overbearing man with his equals and supeliors, but
ais Iapdiy OF movement, fertility OF resource, and
consum ae military capacity, are recognized by the
-ank aid die, with whom he is wonderfully popular.
WHAT Is WANTED IN THE MILITARY