From Western Virginia.
the mails — death of Col. Spalding--the defence of Gauley, &c., &c.[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier Co., Va. Sept. 30, 1861.
The mails here from the East are three days behind hand.
We have no mail from Richmond since Friday last.
A traveller by some private conveyance came through yesterday with a copy of the Dispatch, containing, as I hear, news of the taking of Lexington, Missouri, after a hard-fought battle, and a great victory for the Confederates.
I have not seen it, (the paper,) but the news is the cause of much rejoicing among the people, who have been a little depressed at the long pause in the movements in Virginia beyond the mountains, and the infringing of the enemy in the West upon the Alleghanies.
The cause of the delay in the mails — always slow enough in this region — at this time is an immense flood, which happened at the close of last week.
The mountain streams at this place rose higher than they have risen since '42, and the old people say they have not been higher for fifty years. Much damage has been done to farms in washing lands and sweeping off fences.
Some farmers on Greenbrier river have lost heavily in the drowning of cattle, sheep, and hogs.
The roads were awfully cut up, and in many places rendered impassable.
I have been pained to hear of the death of Colonel J. W. Spalding.
He was killed on Saturday last in a skirmish on Sewell Mountain with the enemy.
He had arranged an ambuscade to entrap the enemy's scouts; but they had formed a counter ambush, and in the firing which took place upon the development of their situation, the Colonel fell.
He was as brave and generous-hearted a man as I ever knew.--His death will be much lamented by numerous friends.
Early in the war he fled for safety from his home in the Northwest, upon the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The traitors of that region had marked him. He left his young wife and only child — if possible to follow him — and escaped very narrowly.
He came to Richmond, and soon after joined the volunteer company of Capt. Wallace, with which, as Lieutenant, he came to the West, and joined Wise's Legion.
He was here but a little while before he was made a Colonel, and has acquitted himself in that post very gallantly.
He was a brave and true man, and so died.
I have no particulars of this skirmish, further than the death of Col. S. For this kind of fighting there is very little scope in this region — the narrow passes and tall mountains narrowing the line of march everywhere to a very limited degree.
I learn that the enemy occupies one of the elevations of Sewell and our troops the other, and that they are not over a mile and a half a part.
A severe battle has been daily expected.
Indeed, we have been expecting severe battles for many weeks; but, save some skirmishing and the brave defence by Floyd's Brigade at Gauley, we have had nothing.
Save this much, no blow to stagger the enemy has been struck here or elsewhere in Virginia.
The defence at Gauley was indeed a glorious one. Seventeen hundred men against eleven thousand--the smaller body holding the larger in check and repelling it without losing a man!
The Federal loss was, beyond doubt, very heavy.
There is no mode of ascertaining it positively; but persons who come from the vicinity of the battle represent the number buried as exceeding a thousand.
Our men were all good marksmen and took deadly aim; while Capt. Guy's cannon were fired with wonderful effect, carrying death to the ranks of the enemy with every missive they projected.
A spectator tells me that the Captain's shot opened lanes through the Federal regiments.
The splendid regiment commanded by Col. Benham, who was a classmate of Col. Reynolds's, of Floyd's brigade, was twice brought to the charge with bayonet, but was compelled to fall back, with fearful loss.
That regiment charged full upon Reynolds's skeleton regiment of less than 300, and was sent reeling before the fire of that little band; whose courage was so cool and calm, and whose aim was so true, that their fire was terrific.
The thousand of Benham reeled, and wheeled, and fled from the remnant of the regiment commanded by his gallant classmate of the Confederate Army. Col. Reynolds and Col. Heath held the centre, assisted by four of Guy's guns, and their position it was which was chiefly assailed by the overwhelming ranks of the enemy under Rosencranz.
They covered themselves with glory.
Col. Reynolds's regiment having been reduced to so meagre a number by disease, he has been ordered to this place to recruit, and to take command here for the purpose of reducing to order the hospitals, and establishing a more vigilant military discipline generally.
I regret to learn that Gen. Floyd suffers considerably from his wound, but I hope to hear that it will soon be healed.
Messrs. W. B. Preston, Miles of South Carolina, and Venable of North Carolina, have arrived here, to inspect the hospitals in this part of Virginia.
They were appointed as a committee to make a general investigation of hospitals and report to Congress. B. 