The New York herald., 1862-10-26
INTERESTING FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA.
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nur nalliuulia COrresuOmd emo~

The linton Army AorirN Up the Kanawha YaTlcy-TAs
Adrance Guard-Condition and Spirit Of Our Togs-
General Goa and Staf-Dtsrption Of Gallipolis, the
Headquarters of the District Of Vuyinia-Is Merits and
Defects, Gc-The Commissariat- General Morgan's
Cumberland Gap Veterans, dc.
The advance Of General Coxs army from Point Pleasant
up the Kanawha valley towards Charleston progressing
finely, Notwithstanding many impedments have been
met en- route in bridging creeks, swamps, &C., and the
construction Of roads. To-day the advance guard
reached the Red House, about thirty miles from Point
Pleasant. Red House is equ-distant between Point
Pleasant and Charleston. No enemy had then
appeared to interrupt their progress. The roads
in good condition for Western Virginia roads, the
weather open and pleasant, troops in good dis
cpline and spirits. Notwithstanding the intelligence of
the evacuation OF the valley by the rebels Is Of positive
character General Cox his army the principle
that whether In an enemys country or not strict dis
cpline should be Observed and the troops be always
ready action by day and by night that sortie
attempted surprise Of the enemy shall find him unpre
pared.
The gunboat General Mcigs. Captain Singleton, will
make reconnaissance up the Kanawha river tomorrow
to observe the condition OF things along that stream and
pay its respects to the enemy should any struggling
bodies Of them show themselves Your correspondent
will 60 up the river her. and in subsequent letter
report the result Of his observations the readers OF the
HERALD.
General Cox and stast have their headquarters here,
and will havo for several days TO come He Is busy
arranging the plan Of his anticipated campaign and when
completed he will take the field in person The
General in his usual modest manner is encamped at this
time lot in the Of the Court House. He
acts his usual official business in tho open air. the
agstaf of his camp, and under the folds Of large
American ag that he has borne riumpbany through the
Data.
General his looks the for work and not for
parade His dress, though neat assimates the
soldier; he ignores the nsel and gayey Of the play
soldier The members Of his sa although modest young
gentlemen display their rank with more ELECT than their
chief.
word about Galpos l would gladly omit mention.
ing this place. but it is now the headquarters Of the
military district OF Virginia and deserves "A notice.
Since the began it has been depot Of for this
section OF the country The town is situated bluff
on the bank of the Ohio On the opposite size OF the
river and within throw Of the public plateau is
Virginia. Gapois is the third Oldest town u Ohio
Cincinnati and Marietta having preceded in settlement
1t was settled by the French nlI90 The agricultural dis
trict in its vicinity is quite productive and brisk trade
when avsaon on the Ohio is open, is carried on with
1900 inhabitants, and is the county scat Of Gallia
county The characteristics OF the old settlers of the
place, from what can learn Of them, strike me as
assinilating to our Jersey Dutchmen; that Is, they
believed and practised the hereditary succession
OF fee simple of lands. They did not believe in selling
lands to outsiders but perpetuacd the titles among the
old settlers aud their by intermarriages This
state OF things was perpetuaed until about thirty
ago when the conate blood OF the founders Of the place
became aduterated with ssoutsde barbarians and the
quaint old customs and habits of Gaipolis Frcncmen
were menaced-yca, heavily assauted-by new comers.
The old iogies when they here like the Irish
man when he got married He bought suit of frieze
clothing which lasted him his life The primitive Galpo
lan when he built house intended it toast him and his
till the millennium: any improvements re-
pairs, until the blue vault OF heaven appeared through
the roof considered sacriegous The old settlers
have ali gone down TO mother earth and the nnovatos
and their appear to have partaken In great
measure Of the habits and quainness Of their pre-
decessors There is not site the Ohio river better
for eligibility heathfuness its adapedness trade
and commerce than Gallipolis yet, this very time,
the town presents diapdated condition. houses devoid
OF comfort aud all rules Of architecture and
symmetery neglected in their houses, while every
point seen evidences OF the antiquity Of the town
by the toerng ruins OF primitive structures. Truly,
the owls and the bats have had extended welcome
prey upon the ruins Of the place. here viii make alu
sion to the hotels, which in all country places COM
pared TO the heart and lungs of the human frame There
are two in Gailpos. But such hotesl my sides ache
when think OF the rickcty beds four IN at that,
chip feather beds dirty linen and soapless
OF the food served up, it is coarse and homey;
eaten, form the point | wish to speak Of. The
signal for prcparation for m,a Is the
ringing % or .,ia bell na an hour before ahe event Il
at the stable watering trough, combing your hair
with your fingers il you not fortunate enough to get
chance at the comb and brush which are tho centre OF
attraction in the hotel office. You then form 10 single
file Ia Western Indian, like the first first
ed policy adopted at post Offices (uness you
particular friend Of the postmaster hotel keeper
the may beg, and await the second bell The half
Of clapses tho bell rings open goes the
dining doors go the guests every for himself
after the fashion Of the Louaves at Bull Seats for
fifty and hundred hungry TO dne-how to do it,
after fashion, by telling the rearmost guests that he
has reserved the best dishes Tor the last with coffee (od
rye) not given TO the agile OF the first table, t Is
as good as show the expertncss Of the guests.
seated they up everything @ridtin, with
to system or n al the e ae
When the meat Is served there no vegetables visible
Then follows racket OF knives pounding the table for
the servtors Three coorcd satellites run around from
guest TO another in the greatest alarm taking orders
from this and that, until in the excitement OF the
occasion they lose their equsnimy sweat excessively,
forget all their orders put things the table they
can get them This Is true picture oi Gallipolian
hotel.
But with all these ailngs the people Of Gallipolis
have excellent traits. They hostabe TO
gers, have good social system, have men Of ab'
ty Of their local ineriority and promise to
catch to the civilization and Improvement Of the day
We shall sec.
Everything around this place is hustle and excitement
The streets and roads Ged with commssariat trains
arriving and departing the latter conveying hence every
thing necessary for the sdstenancc Of large army No
thi either Of forage beasts food for he
had 10 the Kanawha valley consequently every ounce OF
food for our army must be conveyed there.
General Morgan's division rs still ut Portland Ohio,
twenty five miles inland from here The paymaster Is
q visit them with the qllid pro guo-hs first
visit in six monhsand tho quartermasters have been
furnished with supply Of new clothing for their mon.
These necessaries were long commg but better late than
never. Our government, or those connected immediately
systematic and unonm In paying and clothing troops,
remssncss such have been exhibited In the
of Morgans men, would destroy the spirit OF the best
army In tho world.
GAILiroIIs, Ohio Oct. %, 1862
Our Adrdncc Guard Moring Up the Kdna,chG Vdilcy En-
counter the Enemy--The Enemy Hare Obstrmc,ed The
Kanapha Rirr al That Point, and Erected Battery to
Command the charlottesville Rebels Are Reported 10
Have Returned 10 Charleston and Gduiey, ana 70 be
Fortiyng-A Ganboat Ready 10 Proceed % Discover he
Truth Of These Repors-Poim Pleasan:-hs appearance
and Inhabitonts-7ae Surrounding Country de-, dc.
Information reached here to-day that our advance
guard moving up the Kanawha valley had encountered
the enemy near the Red House, thirtyfour miles from
here that the latter had obstrucsd the river at that
point by sinking boat; and also that the rebels had
erected battery at such point rs to command the OBJ
structions and thus prevent troops from removing
them 1t is also alleged that the rebels had returned to
Charleston and Gaucy and erecting Notifications a
.,,c.o ,,,,pta gunhoat Can Meice slnolc