Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-21

L
Compliment 10 GEN. KelIy's Man-
agement.
Editors LntelIigeneer
While the country at large is reading
with interest and satisfaction the report ol
Armies, permit me through your columns
TO call the attention of your readers to the
Ebrief but complimentary notice of the mil.
tiary operations in the Department OF
West Virgiuin. General HaIleck's report
says:
1.-THE operations of our troops in West
Virginia are referred to here as being init
mGtely connected with the Army of the
Potomac. The force being too small to
attempt any important campaign by itself
has acted mastery upon the defensive in
.repelling raids aud breaking up guerrilla
bands.
f. "when Lees army retreatei across the
Potomac in July last, BrigadiOr General
Kelly concentrated all his available force
on the euctny's flank, near Clear Spring,
by Gen. Meade. They also rendered VAL
| uable services in the pursuit, after Lee had
effected his passage Of the river.
"0u the 24th Of July Col. Tolaud at.
tackled the enemy at WythevilIe, on the
East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, cap.
turing two pieces OtartiIIery, 700 muskets
land 1875 prisoners. Our loss was IA killed
and 81 wounded. The enemy's loss In
killed and wounded WAS reported to be IS.
ain August, Gen. Averell attacked a rebel
force under Gen. Sam. Jones, at Rocky
Gap, in Greenbrier county, capturing one
gun, $50 prisoners, and killing and wound
ing some 200. Our loss. In killed, wound.
ed and missing, was ,l40. - .,-.-4.
ttaeked u smhilforcs II our troops nj Moor
ield,r wounding 15s and capturing about
l5O. On the 5th of November Gen. Averill
attacked aud defeated the enemy near
Lewisburg, capturing three pieces of artil-
lery, 100 prisoners and large number of
small arms, wagons and camp equipRge.
The euemy's loss in killed and wounded is
estimated at 300."
1t may be useful for our people, who
have so long listened to local animadver-
sion on the military management of this
Department, to read the impartial and
comprehensive criticism of the Commander
u-Chief, at Washington, on the same sub
ject. Those, who driven from their homes
by rebel viudIctiveness. and while, burn
ing for an advance, have so long expert
enced "that hope deferred, which maketh
the heart sick"-those who with but par
Ilul huUWlEukeO u luSbS Nuu ~ SOtA1 lAuoA-
ance of general plans have been SO ready
to rail at inaction or criticise movements
those who Vexel aud plundered by raid
ers are always ready TO attribute the mis-
fortunes incident to the times TO tho inca.
pacity or cafelessnes of commanders; may
all tnd in the .perusal of this clear aud
concise document, that which may serve
to calm their impatience, modify their
criticisms. and perhaps enable them 10
submit even to losses OF property with
little better grace.
With a navy of nearly six hundred yes.
sells of war, manned by seamen famous
throughout the world for their courage
and enterprise, we hear daily Of losses TO
our commerce almost within sight of our
ports. With the powerful and victorious
Army of the Potomac covering compara-
lively short line and plain country. ohr
trains are daily plundered and loyal cill-
gems captured and murdered almost within
sight of Alexandria and Washington
These occurrences may mortify but cannot
surprise any rational, well.intormed man.
for engaged as we are with a willy and des.
p.rate enemy, with all the advantage of
thorough local knowledge and frequent
local sympathy, We know that the occa-
sioual success of these partisan enterprises
cannot be prevented.
With, comparatively, but handful of
troops aud line of six hundred miles to
guard, a frontier SO difficult, broken and
Complicated rs to defy military calculation,
what line has been so successfully defended
as that of the Department. of West Virginia
under It's present commander2 The Com
mander.in- Chief has characterized it as
''masterly."
1t may. not be inappropriate in this same
RIar linn
tant paper lately emenating from the seat
of government. We mean the Presidents
proclamation of amnesty. No act of the
Government, since the commencement OF
the war, has been received by the people
OF the country with more hearty and gen.
eral appreciation. Wise and statesman.
like in it's tone and terms, this paper ex-
hibits conclusiyely the policy 10 be adopted
by the Government in bringing back to
duty the remnant of the unhappy people,
whom evil passions and evil counsels have
led into rebellion against its laws. 1t sets
forth the only plan upon which the peace
of society can be restored or by which the
Nation may hope, within reasonable time,
to resume It's career of united prosperity.
II may be hard for many OF US, loyal
citizens of the border States, to acquiesce
| in the liberal aud mercffal provisions OF
this proclamation, with wrongs and insults
still fresh incur memories, pursing dreams
df Vengeance against those who have OUT
ragged and destroyed as. in their wicked
and insane attempts to destroy our mild
and peaceful Government. Yet these are
but our individual cases and individual
feelings. The dealings Of government
with its people must be comprehensive,
and that policy which extends both justice
and mercy TO the greatest number is the
only policy admissible. Duped, misled