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524 Series I Volume IV- Serial 4 - Operations in the South and West

Page 524(Official Records Volume 4)  


OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

KNOXVILLE, November 6, 1861.

HonorableJ. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War:

Six thousand of enemy at Monticello advancing on Jamestown. Our forces retreating. Railroad bridges in danger. My force insufficient to protect them.

W. B. WOOD, Colonel, Commanding Post.

CUMBERLAND GAP, November 6, 1861.

S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:

Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan, stationed near Jamestown, reports the enemy advancing in that direction, 6,000 strong; infantry, cavalry and artillery.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.

CUMBERLAND GAP, November 6, 1861.

Colonel W. B. WOOD, Knoxville: SIR: I will move as rapidly as possible with five regiments, the battery of artillery, and some cavalry, from Jacksborough, by way of Clinton, toward Montgomery and Jamestown. Get the commissary at Knoxville to forward subsistence to Clinton and the quartermaster to provide a train for it. Hurry McClung with all practical preparations for his battery. McClellan seems to have gone to Pikeville. Communicate with him, and, if possible, with Stanton and Murray. Let them know our movement, that we may endeavor to co-operate. Enjoin upon them to report to me by every possible opportunity.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.

HOPKINSVILLE, KY., November 7, 1861.

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Bowling Green:

SIR: Hurried on to this point by an order from yourself, I failed to conclude a report commenced at Clarsville. To show you the speed with which our companies were got together and hurried to this place, I need only say that I was at Nashville on the 20th of September on my way to Texas to assemble our companies. When but six of our companies were ready I received a dispatch from the Secretary of War, directing us to "proceed to Memphis as soon as possible and report to General A. S. Johnston." This dispatch was dated the 4th of October. The companies came on as soon as they could; two days after them our seventh company set out, and one week after the eighth and ninth companies also commenced their march. One of these companies marched 400 miles, and the shortest distance made by any company on foot is nearly 200. We think we have a tenth company on the road. Immediately after seven companies reached Memphis we informed Colonel Walker, the commandant of the post, and let him know that we were partially armed, but not organized into a regiment. He stated to myself that the had informed you by telegraph that we were there