William P. Smith to Edwin M. Stanton, September 27, 1863 – Received 11:50 a.m.

CAMDEN STATION,          

Baltimore, Md., September 27, 1863.

(Received 11.50 a.m.)

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

At 9.15 this a.m. we had started from Washington for the west 12,600 men, 33 cars of artillery, and 21 cars of baggage and horses. The first four trains, with 2,500 men, reached Benwood, the end of our line, 412 miles from Washington, at 11 this a.m., and continuing to move at the ratio expected by us, or two hours less than our promise of forty-four hours through. At Benwood a substantial and superior bridge of scows and barges, strongly  connected, is in full readiness to make the transfer across the Ohio, and adequate cars are waiting at Bellaire.

W. P. SMITH.

(Same to Major-General-Hooker and to Col. D.C. McCallum.)

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 29, Part 1 (Serial No. 48), p. 167