Unknown, September 11, 1861

J GENERAL: Yesterday we reached the Cross-Lanes at 2 o’elock; drove :

in the rebel pickets; ,followed them closely up to their intrenched camp, which was situated in a dense forest. Reconnoitered so closely that our reconnaissance was about to change into an assault, when, night coming on, we drew our weary and exhausted troops out of the woods and bivouacked on our arms about three-quarters of a mile from the intrenched camp. At 5 o’clock in the morning our pickets found their camp was evacuated, and was taken possession of by one of our companies. It was found to contain a large quantity of plunder, commissary stores, quartermaster’s stores, &c. A few prisoners were taken, and about 30 of Lytle’s men sick in hospital on the other side of Gauley, and their ferry-boats destroyed. We heard your cannonading yesterday, and presume you proved .another tough nut to crack. We have not been -able to follow them into the defile of Meadow River for want of a ferry or means of making one, and our provision train being behindhand. We are encamped advantageously, and will hurry our preparations to unite the two forces as soon as possible. You will probably have discovered our movements and have sent up a strong force on the New River road to watch and follow Wise’s retreating column. If you have not, doso at once on the receipt of this, starting your men with three days’ cooked rations in their haversacks, their blankets, and forty rounds in cartridge-boxes, and let the provision train follow your column. Your adversary Wise begins to respect you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,