HEADQUARTERS EAST TENNESSEE BRIGADE,
Camp Calvert, near London, Ky., November 21, 1861.
Hon. HORACE MAYNARD:
DEAR SIR: The copy of Evening Star received this evening
assures me you have not forgotten me.
We are still here, together with Third Regiment Kentucky
Volunteers. Why all the other forces were withdrawn is a question to be
answered at Louisville. By the papers you will have seen that we, too, left on
the night of the 13th, by orders of General Schoepf, in company with the Ohio
and Indiana troops, as it seemed, by orders which should have been given me
that day, but which were not received until two days afterwards, not only
unnecessarily, but contrary to General Thomas' directions.
I was intensely mortified at the hesitancy of some of our
Tennesseeans to move on when they found they had to take the road leading to
Crab Orchard. They had got the impression we were returning to Camp Robinson to
winter, but after I spoke a few words to them they obeyed the order to march.
Many fell out during the night and some deserted. Our losses amount to about 40
to 45. We were without transportation, and were forced to leave almost the
entire camp standing and every one of our sick behind. The roads were in a
terrible state, and large numbers of men from the various regiments fell out on
the way from sheer exhaustion. When I reached Dr. Josslin's I learned for the
first time we were to return to this place.
Our men are most anxious to return to Eastern Tennessee, not
so much to see their families as to drive the rebels from the country. We are
all inclined to think that help will be deferred until it is too late to save
our people. This ought not to be so.
Two or three batteries and 10,000 men, provided even with
powder and lead for the people, could save Eastern Tennessee at this time. Will
help never come?
General Thomas has left Crab Orchard, and we are here to
look out for ourselves. To-night I have sent out between 600 and 700 men in the
direction of Flat Lick, 8 miles above Barboursville, to try and cut off some of
the thieving rebel scouts and to gain correct intelligence of their
whereabouts.
I think it probable that we shall in a few days move on
Somerset. I have no information as to the plans of General Buell. Can you not
get those in power to give us a few more men and permission to make at least an
effort to save our people? Do try. They are even now in arms, and must be
crushed unless assistance soon reaches them.
Two men came in from Carter this evening who have been
nearly six weeks on the way.
With respect, yours, truly,
S. P. CARTER.
[Indorsement. ]
DECEMBER 3, 1861.
Please read and consider this letter.
A. L.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A
Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,
Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 468-9
