(Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch）
movements of the enemy near Leesburg — skirmishes, &c., &c.
White Sulphur Springs, Va., February 13th, 1862.
Presuming that you would like to hear occasionally from this section, I send you a few notes.
We have a good deal of excitement here of late.
A short time since, the enemy supposing that they would have an easy time, marched with some three hundred cavalry to attack Lewisburg, but after getting within fourteen miles of the place they discovered our scouts and immediately beat a retreat in double-quick time back to Gauley Bridge.
We have since learned that their instructions were not to burn the place, but to plunder the stores and private dwellings of their most valuable property and destroy the balance.
The reason assigned for not burning the town was that they wished to preserve it to quarter their troops in when they commenced their spring campaign!
Col. A. W. Reynolds, then commending this department, marched out to meet them with the 22d regiment Va. volunteers, commanded by Lieut. Col. Jackson, and the neighboring militia, and if the enemy had only come some two or three miles further, they would have been completely ‘"done for."’
The people of this section have been accused of disloyalty to the Southern cause by some ignorant and malicious persons, but the manner in which the men responded to the call of the commanding officer, entirely refutes all such calumny. The retreat of the Yankees was a great disappointment to our soldiers, as they were very anxious to get a brush with them. Although the people of this county have volunteered very liberally, new companies are constantly being formed for the defence of the country. I have just learned that Col. Peters, of the 45th regiment Virginia volunteers, had a little fight with the Yankees at the mouth of Blue Stone, in Mercer county, the other day. The rascals, to the number of three hundred, failing in their expedition against Lewisburg, tried to see what they could accomplish in that direction, but were entirely folled in their efforts. It has been pretty accurately ascertained that the enemy have about five thousand men in the Kanawha Valley, with large depots of army stores at Gauley Bridge, Huddleston's Charleston, and Point Pleasant, besides several hundred of road wagons and pack mules, and there is no doubt that at the very first opportunity they will endeavor to penetrate farther into the State.--Our people will spare no pains to be ready for them, and I hope that the Government will give all the aid in its power.
I learn this evening that General Henry Heath has been assigned to this department, and assumes command to-morrow, and that Col. A. W. Reynolds, the present commander, has been transferred to Kentucky to take command of Gen. Floyd's brigade — the old General having been promoted to a Major-Generalship.
Col. Reynolds had endeared himself much to the people of this section. He was a native of this county, and has ever regarded it as his home. He is a most highly intelligent gentleman, as well as a gallant and accomplished officer — having graduated at West Point with the highest honors in the same class with Beauregard, Johnston, Hardee, and Tropier. Since assuming the command here, on the 13th ult., the Colonel has been very active in the discharge of his duties, and by the promptness and decisiveness of his movements, 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 of himself there as he did in those hard fought battles of Cross Lenes and Gauley.
