10 A.M. Considerable anxiety exists in the Legion at this time for our safety, as the enemy in full force (more than 6000) are now very near us and still advance upon our position, which is but slightly fortified and should our defense prove unsuccessful, it will be very difficult to make a safe retreat. Genl. Floyd has given to Genl. Wise orders to follow on to "Meadow Bluff" but Genl. W. has determined to disobey orders to make a stand here at all hazards--we expect stirring events very soon--9 P.M. We shall not be surprised if we should be aroused some time to-night--Taps, etc.
From "Four Years with General Lee" by Walter H. Taylor
"MEANWHILE the Federal commander had been active in the Kanawha Valley, and, owing to matters of discord between Generals Floyd and Wise, it became imperatively necessary for General Lee to repair to that quarter, in order to restore harmony among our own people, and to resist the further advance of the enemy. Simultaneously General Rosecrans moved with a large portion of his army to reënforce General Cox; and General Lee ordered General Loring to leave a sufficient force to watch the enemy at Cheat Mountain, and move with the rest of his army to the Kanawha Valley.
General Lee proceeded without delay across the country in that direction.
On the 14th of September General Floyd encamped on Big Sewell Mountain, and ordered General Wise to go into camp a short distance east of him. On the night of the 16th he retreated to Meadow Bluff, directing General Wise to cover the movement and follow with his command to that point. This order General Wise positively refused to obey; and, selecting a favorable position on Little Sewell Mountain, he proceeded to make it good by a line of defensive works.
Such was the condition of affairs as reported to General Lee, who, upon his arrival, found General Floyd with his command at Meadow Bluff, and General Wise some ten or more miles in advance, at Little Sewell, with his legion of seventeen hundred men, now confronted by Rosecrans's entire army.
Without entering into the merits of the controversy between Generals Floyd and Wise, General Lee perceived at a glance that Little Sewell was the most favorable point at which to make a stand; that being naturally a strong position, and much more easily defended than Meadow Bluff. General Floyd was therefore at once ordered to move forward to Little Sewell. The bitter feeling which had been engendered between the two commanders had imparted itself, in some degree, to the troops, and seriously threatened to impair their efficiency. No little diplomacy was required, therefore, to produce harmony and hearty cooperation, where previously had prevailed discord and contention. It will be readily understood that the partisans of Floyd at first viewed in no pleasant frame of mind the apparent indorsement of Wise's judgment, if not, by a forced construction (to which a prejudiced mind is always liable), the approval of his disobedience and insubordination, implied in General Lee's order that Floyd should forsake his chosen position and return to that persistently held by Wise."
See also "Sketches of the campaign of General Floyd" by Micajah Woods, previously posted on this blog site.
MSS 38-221
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