on the enemy during the night, take him by surprise, and thrash him
thoroughly. I pray they may be successful, for since Rich mountain our
army has done nothing worthy of a paragraph. Rosecrans' affair at
Carnifex was a barren thing; certainly no battle and no victory, and the
operations in this vicinity have at no time risen to the dignity of a
skirmish.

Captain McDougal, with nearly one hundred men and three days'
provisions, started up the valley this morning, with instructions to go
in sight of the enemy, the object being to lead the latter to suppose
the advance guard of our army is before him. By this device it is
expected to keep the enemy in our front from going to the assistance of
the rebels now threatening Kimball.

3. To-night, half an hour ago, received a dispatch from the top of
Cheat, which reads as follows:

"All back. Made a very interesting reconnoissance. Killed a large
number of the enemy. Very small loss on our side. J. J. REYNOLDS,
Brigadier-General."

Why, when the battle was progressing so advantageously for our side, did
they not go on? This, then, is the result of the grand demonstration on
the other side of the mountain.

McDougal's company returned, and report the enemy fallen back.

The frost has touched the foliage, and the mountain peaks look like
mammoth bouquets; green, red, yellow, and every modification of these
colors appear mingled in every possible fanciful and tasteful way.

Another dispatch has just come from the top of Cheat, written, I doubt
not, after the Indianians had returned to camp and drawn their whisky
ration. It sounds bigger than the first. I copy it:

"Found the rebels drawn up in line of battle one mile outside of their
fortifications, drove them back to their intrenchments, and continued
the fight four hours. Ten of our men wounded and ten killed. Two or
three hundred of the enemy killed."

If it be true that so many of the rebels were killed, it is probable
that two thousand at least were wounded; and when three hundred are
killed and two thousand wounded, out of an army of twelve or fifteen
hundred men, the business is done up very thoroughly. The dispatch which
went to Richmond to-night, I have no doubt, stated that "the Federals
attacked in great force, outnumbering us two or three to one, and after
a terrific engagement, lasting five hours, they were repulsed at all
points with great slaughter. Our