Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.

With these statements and the assurance that I will do everything in my power to the best of my ability, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. HEIMAN, Colonel, Commanding.

CAMP ZOLLICOFFER, NEAR LIVINGSTON, TENN., October 14, 1861.

Brigadier General W. R. CASWELL, Knoxville:

GENERAL: I received your order of the 3rd instant to hasten my movement to the relief of Captain Bledsoe, on Sunday, at Kimbrough's, at the foot of the mountain. I had fallen in with Captains Ragsdale's and Finley's companies, marching under similar orders; we learned from Captain Bledsoe's lieutenant that he had left Jamestown and fallen back to Camp Myers, some 25 miles distant from his encampment at McGinnis', to where Colonel Stanton's regiment was stationed. I arrived (my squadron) at Camp Myers on Thursday evening; on Friday it rained incessantly all day, and on Friday evening Colonel Stanton arrived from Bowling Green, with orders for his and Colonel Murray's and all the cavalry at Camp Myers to march to Bowling Green, Ky., to join General Buckner's command, and in pursuance of said orders Colonel Stanton's regiment and Captains Saunders' and Bledsoe's companies of cavalry left Camp Myers on Saturday evening for Bowling Green. Colonel Murray's left (the last of it) to-day, when I did, and is encamped at this place to-night. Major Bridgman ordered the two companies of his battalion, viz, Ragsdale's and Finley's and mine and Captain Snow's companies, to take the back track to Post Oak Springs. I refused to obey said order. The other three companies left Camp Myers on Saturday evening. On Sunday I sent my first and second lieutenants to Camp McGinnis, to confer with Captain Gillespie; they returned to-day at noon, informing me that Captain G. left this morning for Knoxville. Captain G. informed my lieutenant that he was advised that he was not safe to remain at the camp where he was. I did all that I [could] to prevent Major Bridgman from leaving until we heard from headquarters. Captain Ragsdale and myself followed Major Bridgman to Livingston, and endeavored to induce him to await orders, but all to no avail.

This section of the country is in a perilous condition. The people are greatly alarmed in consequence of being left without protection. The pass or main thoroughfare from Kentucky to East Tennessee is open to the enemy. The Lincoln troops have evacuated Albany when they heard of the encampment at Camp Myers, leaving two companies of cavalry and the Home Guards. As I passed through Livingston on this evening the citizens en masse came out, and prevailed on me not to leave them in their defenseless condition, and said they would send a committee to-night to Major B.'s encampment and endeavor to prevail on him to return. I am going to remain here or hereabouts until I get further order. My opinion is that our four companies of cavalry could do great good by scouting in Clinton County, Kentucky.

There is a perfect reign of terror in Kentucky. The Southern men are greatly in fear of their lives. The Lincolnites are swearing in the citizens daily, and many of our friends are made to take the oath in order to save their lives and property. If we had a force, say one regiment of infantry and our four companies of cavalry, we could make a favorable demonstration in Kentucky and join General Zollicoffer at Somerset or some other point.