The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-06
HRApauAlrRRs ARMY OF KAxAwHA,l !
OANP OH fIl ROAD. 2ept. II. 1861.

Hon. L. p. Walkev, Secretary Of war:
Sir: Inform ton had reached me for some
number Of days that heavy force was ad-
vancing towards my positio n, from the di.
part of the State. As these rumors became
certainty, made an effort to streng gthen
myself, first, by reinforcement, and sec
ondly, bv entrenchments IS, sufficient to with.
stand the very large force of the enemy. My
orders to General Wise send you copies OF,
and also copies of his replies. failed in
procuring reinforcements, but sncceeded
somewhat better in the construction Of a
the evening OF the 10th of September, the
enemy, underline comm and Of General Rose
Grams, (as we learned through prisoners, }
OF whose advance I was fully aware, at the
head OF ten regiments, made his appearance
before our en- trenchments, when the battle
Instantly commenced. Our lines were ne
cessar1iy very extended for the purpose 9 (
protecting our position. and when manned,
left not one man for reserve. The assault
was made with spirit ami determination,
with small arms, grape, and round shot,
from hOwitzers and rifled cannon. There
was scarcely an intermission in the conflict,
until night put an end to the firing. The en-
emy's force Is estimated certainly between
eight and nine thousand men, whilst our
force engaged was less than TWO tho 1sand
Upon the close of the contest for the night,
l discovered that it was only question OF
time when we should be compelled to yield
to the superiority OF numbers. l therefore
determined at once to recross the Ga1ley
River, and take position upon the left bank.
which l accomplished without the loss Of q
gun, or any accident whatever. Cur loss,
strange to say, after a continueu firing upon
us by cannon and small arms for nearly four
hours, WAS only % men wounded. The loss
of the enemy We had NO means OF accurately
estimating, but we are satisfied from report
of prisoners and otEer sources of intor maIIon,
WAS very heavy. We repulsed them in five
distinct and successive assaults, and At night
fol no rin ya.d hon IN Snn h
they were in no condition whatever to mo.
lest us in our passage across the river Twill
only say that our men, without diStinc T. ON,
behaved with the greatest coolness, aetermi-
nation, and presence OF mind, and while il is
impossible to give praise TO one por lion Of the
force engaged over another, it is but proper
to say that the artillery behaved with the
greatest bravery and efficiency that under
the commander capt. Guy, who had reach
ed NE only two days before, and Were tor the
first time under fire, behaved themselves in
Il manner wor thy Of all praise.
l am very confident that I could have
beaten tho enemy and have marched direc tiy
10 the Valley OF Kanawha, If .he reinforce.
ments from Gen Wise's column had come
up when ordered aud the regiments from
North Carolina and Georgia could have
reached me before the close of the second
days conflict. ! cannot express the regret
which i feel ht the necessity over which
had no control, which required that should
recross the river. 1 am confident that if
could have commanded the services OF five
thousand men, instead of eighteen hundred
which had, could have opened the rond
directly into the Valley or the Kanawha.
1t would seem now as If the OBJ CT 50 nearly
accomplished can only De obtained by an
advance upon the enemy, by the left bank OF
the kanaWha river, with a suftic C. ient force 81
any time 10 give him battle. This force, Il
possib bIe, ought to be collected from Tennes.
see and kentucky. Their close CORES pom.
dence shows distinctly enough the urgen
necessity Of SO shaping the command in the
Valley of the Kanawha as TO insure, in thu
future, that unity of action upon which
alone can rest any hope OF success in mill
| tary matters.
lhave not thought proper to take any othe1
| notice of these transactions, than to brine
| them to the notice OF the President and Sec
retary OF the Confederate States. The rea
| sons which have induced me to take thi
| course, am sure, will not be misunderstood
| by either. ,
| appreheLd the course the enemy PROPOSES
to pursue is to carry out the plans indicated
| by General kosecrans to Gen. Tyler, TO-
| the INVASION OF the inferior of the State ant
| the seizure OF Lewisburg, set forth in an in
| tercepted letter Of the latter, a month ago
| To prevent this l am in command OF an ac
/ tual force OF four thousand two hundred men
| This force will be r. quired to oppose the ad
vance of Gen. Cox and Gen. Rosecrans
| with, as their forces, as they undou btedl,
will, Of at least 200 men. This disparit! t!
| in um bers, is too great, although / viii
certainly give battle to the invading ar n,
| at some strong pointin the mountain passe
as may hope will equalize, to sSme ex tent
our numbers. This may occur sswtthin th'
| next three days. but should it be deferred To-
any length of time, 1 hope the Department
| will find itself to strengthen with rein
| forcements. In the mean ntime, should Gen
| Lee attack and repulse the enemy at Ricl
Mountain, will hold myself in position u
| fall upon his flank or rear, as circumstance
| may allow or my force authorize.
l have the honor to be, with high respect
l your obedient servant
(This is signed by Adjutant Peters becaus
| an injury prevents my holding pen
| JNo b. FLoYD,
Brig. Gen. Cong Army Of kanawha.
| BY Hitiiam E. Peters,
| a. A. 6en., Floyd's Brigade.
The above is an exact copy Of the original
kDw'DS. JONES,
i Xar Deuarfment Dec 10 1871