The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-18
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch
Movements Of the Eaewy near Ltesba-g- Shu-
EaiSb.S.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA,
Ea..rn-rY 18Th lSS2

February 18th, 1862
Presumiug that you would like TO hear oc-
casionaiiy from this section, send You lew
notes. We have good dea! Of excitement
here of late a short time since, The enemy
surprising that they would have an easy time
marched With some three hundred cavalry TO
attack L-wisturg, but after getiirs within
fourteen miles Of the place they discovered
cur scouts aud in dia teiy b.at Il retreat in
donbie-quick time back to Gauiey Bridge.
We have since learned that their instr uctioDs
were not 10 burn the .iaee, but TO piuadeT
the stores and private dwellings Of their most
vaiua bic property, and d strcT tbs balance.
The reason assigned tcr rot burning the town
was that they wished - preserve IL 10 quar-
ter their troops iii when thCy conlmed ced
tEeir spring campaign Col. " hey notds,
then comm hiding tuis de partnert, marched
out TO meet them wi h the 22d regiment a.vol
unteers, comm anGei by Lieut.. Col. ackson,
and the neigh boring militia, and II the enemy
had only come some Two Or three miles fur
Their. they would have been complet ely ''done
for
The people of this section have been &C.
cused OF disloyalty TO the Southern cause
By some ignorant aud malicious persons,
bat the manner in which the men responded
to the call OF the commanding officer, entirely
retutes all such calumny. The retreat of the
Yankees was Il great disappoln tment to our
soldiers, as they were very anxious to get
brush with them. Although the people of
this county have Voiunte very literally,
new companies are constantly being formed
for Ihe defence Of the country. I have just
learned that Col. Peters, Of the Ash regi-
ment Virginia volunteers, had little fight
with the Yankees at the mouth of Blue Stone,
IN Mercer county, the other day. The ras.
Gals. to the number of three hundred, failing
In their exp Gltion against LeWisburg, tried
to see what they could accomplish III That d.
TecticE, but were en- tireiy foiied in their ef
forts. 1t has been pretty accurately ascer-
tanned that the enemy have about live thou
sand men in the kanawha Valley, with large
depo,s CT army stores at Gdulay Bridge,
Huddieston's, Char lesion, and Point PIea-
SAINT, besides several hundred or road wagons
and pack mules, and there is no doubt that
at the very first opportunity they VIII en-
d5ayOr to penetrate farther into the State
our people VIII spare no pains to be ready
for them, and I hope that the Government
will give all the aid IN its power.
learn this evening that General Henry
Heath has been assigned TO this department.,
and assumes command Tomorrow, and that
Col. A. w Reynolds, the present command
er, has been tran sterred to Kentucky to
take command of Gen. Eloyd's brigade-the
old General having been promoted to Major
4eneralship.
Col Reynolds had endeared himself much
to the people OF this section. lie was ma
tive OF this cOunty, and has ever regarded it
IA his home. he is most highly intelligent
gentleman, as well as Il -aItant and accom-
plished o1hcer-aayiag graduated 1T West
Point with the highest honors in the same
class with Besuregard, Johnston, Hardee, and
IFOpler since assuming the command mere,
on the 18th ult, the Colonel has ceen very
active in the discharge Of mis- duties, and by
the promptn"ss and decisiyeness OF his move
men Is, won the confidence and esteem Of the
community. His sudden separation from US
is sincerely regretted by all the friends OF our
cause. The Colonel has a fine field Of labor
opened to him in Kentucky, and we have no
doubt but that he will give as good account
ofhimself there "a he did in those hard fought
battles Of Gross L. hes aud Gauley.
GRHSNBRIEE.