Springfield Weekly Republican

Important from Western Virginia.

The rebels under Floyd opened fire on Rosecrans' forces on Friday morning, from two points opposite Gauley bridge and Camp Tompkins. The telegraph office and quartermaster's store were no doubt destroyed. The rebels' shells were aimed at the ferry-boats and buildings above named. The enemy had heavy guns, and a large body of infantry. Floyd's forces opposite Camp Tompkins were not less than 4,000. How many are at Gauley bridge, four miles this side, is not known. Telegraphic communication by the Kanawha line is interrupted, and there have been no dispatches from Rosecrans' headquarters since Friday afternoon.

A later dispatch says that on Friday morning at 8 o'clock the rebels opened fire with two guns at points opposite Gauley ferry, and a noisy fire of musketry was kept up. Their object was evidently to cut off our supply train. They succeeded in sinking the ferry boat on Gauley river, and threw about 40 shells into the camp of the 11th Ohio. Not one of our men was killed and only about half a dozen were wounded. A majority of the shells thrown by the enemy did not explode. Their musketry was wild and irregular. The ferry boat was again raised Friday night, and communication across the river was restored.

Floyd's force is believed to be about 7,000 strong. He cut a road around the hill where Rosecrans is encamped and shelled his camp. The latter returned the fire and silenced two rebel batteries. He then sent a force to attack Floyd in the rear and would completely surround him. No federals were killed up to our latest advices.

The loss of telegraphic communication was caused by the fright of the operator at the firing. He commenced to move his office up the Gauley river, was ordered by Rosecrans to return, and blunderingly tipped his wagon over the precipice and destroyed the apparatus.

FLOYD REPULSED AND PROBABLY SURROUNDED.

The position of the respective forces on Saturday evening was as follows: The rebels were in possession of the left or west bank of New river; Gen. Schenck's brigade a few miles above the junction of Gauley and New rivers, on the east side of New river; Gen. Cox's brigade and Gen. Rosecrans near the junction of the river; and between them and Gen. Benham, below the junction, on the right bank of the river, Floyd's force was believed to be about 7000.

Benham's and Schenck's brigades—according to a dispatch received at Washington Tuesday—were following Floyd on the New road. The dispatch is extremely hopeful of a brilliant victory, and the prospect cheering.

Another dispatch from Cleveland, dated Monday night, states that the Kanawha boat had just passed Maysville, and reported that Rosecrans had repulsed Floyd, and Benham and Schenck had got in his rear, and it was thought Floyd's force would be captured by them.

The Cincinnati Times of Tuesday has some particulars of the late fight at Gauley Bridge. The engagement was not a general battle, but a rather warm skirmish; in which the enemy were repulsed with great loss. The action was commenced by the rebels, who opened two batteries on our lines near Gauley Bridge, but though the firing was continued all day, little or no damage was done, not a man being killed. Late on Friday our artillery was brought to bear, and the rebel fire was soon silenced. A train was fired upon about the same time, some miles up the river, and three men were wounded but none killed.

On Friday night Benham's brigade moved down the river to Gauley bridge and was ferried across on a flat boat which the rebels had previously sunk. He moved along the base of the hill upon which the rebel batteries had been planted, intending to go down as far as Loop creek, 3 or 4 miles below, where there is a gap in the mountains and a road leading to the rear of where the rebels are encamped.

DANGEROUS REBEL BATTERIES.

The Cincinnati Commercial had advices from Gen. Rosecrans' army up to 8 o'clock Tuesday morning. The rebel batteries on the west side of the river commanded the road on the east side used by Gen. Rosecrans' supply trains. From the Kanawha falls, which are a mile and a half below the junction of the Gauley and New river, Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters, at Tompkins farm, on New river, are five miles above the junction. The supply trains of our army therefore have been discontinued during the day and are run only at night. The rebels had three batteries of two guns each, opposite Tompkins' farm, and one opposite to the mouth of the Gauley, and one opposite the Kanawha falls—the latter being the most dangerous. Their firing was sharp on Monday morning, but very slow in the afternoon, and it is supposed the rebels were short of ammunition. Our artillery silenced their battery opposite the mouth of the Gauley. Two of our men and several horses were wounded by shells on Monday morning. Nothing definite is known of the strength of the rebels, but their operations indicate either desperation or great confidence.

On Monday evening, Gen. Benham's brigade was two miles below the Gauley, and it is believed they crossed the river during that night. A steamboat was detained at that point for transportation across the river; the troops were ordered to prepare four days rations and be ready to move.

Gen. Rosecrans had just received a battery of ten Parrott 10-pounders. Our troops were confident that they could cross the river and bag the enemy, but some expressed fears that such movements have been calculated for and desired by the enemy. The elevation opposite the mouth of the Gauley is known as Cotton Hill, and is considerably higher than the ground on our side.