SIR: My pickets
at Laurel Bridge yesterday drove back a small cavalry picket of the enemy and
took 3 prisoners, who represent that portion of the enemy's force has advanced
to London. Their force at and on this side of the Rockcastle River is reported
at 9,000. There are three main roads by which, if an invasion of East Tennessee
is contemplated, an enemy might approach. On this, by Cumberland Gap, we have
heretofore concentrated nearly our whole force, and we now have seven guns in
position at Cumberland Gap. The most westerly road is by Monticello, in
Kentucky, and Jamestown, in Tennessee. The counties of Fentress, Scott, Morgan,
and Anderson are poor, mountainous, and disaffected. Should a force select that
route of invasion I could meet them at the mountain passes near Clinton and
between Kingston and Morgan Court-House, and keep them on that broad, sterile
region until it would be practicable for General Buckner to throw a force in
their rear and cut them off.
In view of this
danger they may select the middle route, by Williamsburg and Jacksborough. The
road over the Log Mountains will soon become almost impassable between here and
the Cumberland Gap. The Gap is a much stronger position than this. While I am
watching the road from here to Laurel River, the enemy might be advancing on
the Jacksborough or the Jamestown road without my knowledge. For these reasons
I send four cavalry companies to scout on the roads from the neighborhood of
Jacksborough into Kentucky, and I have ordered one infantry regiment to
Jacksborough, one 6 miles east to Big Creek Gap, two about half way between
Jacksborough and Cumberland Gap, while four will remain at present at
Cumberland Gap. I leave six cavalry companies to observe this road. One cavalry
company is posted on the road from Williamsburg, Ky., to Huntsville, Tenn., and
six cavalry companies (I suppose) Colonel Murray's regiment of infantry are in
the neighborhood of Jamestown.
It is currently
reported that an invading force, from 20,000 to 30,000, is on the road, from
Cincinnati to East Tennessee, but I have no means of knowing anything of the
accuracy of the rumor. Except cavalry Scouts, my force will be withdrawn from
this post to-morrow. Acting upon my best judgment, I have supposed the
disposition of my roes I have described the very best under the circumstances.
Had I a military engineer, in whose judgment I could rely, to reconnoiter the
mountain roads, gaps, and passes from Cumberland Gap to Jamestown, I would feel
much more capable of making a judicious disposition of troops. I have had
rumors that re-enforcements of Confederate troops were to be thrown upon this
part of the border, but as I have no official information, I take it for
granted the rumors are erroneous.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 4 (Serial No. 4), p. 486-7
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