Showing posts with label Camp Myers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camp Myers. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Lieutenant-Colonel George R. McClellan to Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer, November 4, 1861—1 p.m.

JAMESTOWN, November 4, 18611 p.m.
General ZOLLICOFFER:

SIR: I have information that is entirely reliable that the enemy is approaching this point 6,000 strong—l,500 cavalry and the balance artillery and infantry. The infantry and artillery camped last night 5 miles east of Monticello, a portion of the cavalry in town, their pickets 7 miles below. Colonel Murray is at Camp Zollicoffer, in Overton County. I dispatched him yesterday, urging him to move to this place. Colonel Stanton, I understand, is at Celina. I forwarded your dispatch to Colonel Murray last night, requesting him to forward to Colonel Stanton. Have heard nothing from either since we were at Albany. Captain Bledsoe, with his company, is at Camp Myers. I have with me not more than 500 effective men, and I have determined to retire, with the commissary stores, in direction of Pikeville, which is 15 miles from Brison's Landing, on the Tennessee River. Fine road from here to Pikeville. Bad road and great danger of being cut off by way of Montgomery has determined me to take former route. We will defend them the best we can until re-enforced. I am informed that the enemy understands that we have a large amount of stores here, and they wish to capture them by surprise. I have brought all my command up to this place, except our pickets back on the different roads, and we are felling timber in the strong passes behind us to obstruct their advance. Let me hear from you without delay.

Yours, truly,
GEO. R. McCLELLAN,        
Lieutenant-Colonel.

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. 514-5

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Official Reports: Action at Rockcastle Hills, or Camp Wildcat, Ky.. October 21, 1861. No. 5. — Reports of Brigadier-General F. K. Zollicoffer, C. S. Army, including operations October 16-26, with correspondence.

No. 5.

Reports of Brigadier-General F. K. Zollicoffer, C. S. Army,
including operations October 16-26, with correspondence.

CAMP NEAR ROCKCASTLE RIVER, October 20, 1861.

SIR: I have advanced 4 miles north of London, under disability to an embarrassing extent for want of subsistence and transportation. The country is very poor indeed. The enemy occupy a strong position 8 miles ahead. We had a skirmish between pickets day before yesterday, in which we killed 1 man and captured another. We lost yesterday 1 man killed. We had a force yesterday 3 or 4 miles ahead, but, for want of water, subsistence, forage, and transportation (our wagons having been by an accident detained at and near London), had to return here to camp.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier-General.
Lieut. Col. W. W. MACKALL,
        Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________

CAMP FLAT LICK, KNOX COUNTY,        
October 24, 1861.

On the 21st I reached the enemy's intrenched camp, on Rockcastle Hills, a natural fortification, almost inaccessible. Having reconnoitered in force under heavy fire for several hours from heights on the right, left, and in front, I became satisfied that it could not be carried otherwise than by immense exposure, if at all. The enemy received large re-enforcements.

Our loss was 42 wounded and 11 killed and missing. We captured 21 prisoners, about 100 guns, and 4 horses. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded unknown.

The country is so poor we had exhausted the forage on the road for 15 miles back in twenty-four hours. Our subsistence nearly exhausted. Under these circumstances I deemed it proper the next day to fall back. Enemy's camp said to be 7,000 strong, with large reserves near at hand.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier- Genera1.
Lieutenant-Colonel MACKALL,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Bowling Green, Ky.
_______________

CAMP AT FLAT LICK, KNOX COUNTY, KENTUCKY,        
Via Knoxville, October 26, 1861.

On the 21st I reached the enemy's intrenched camp on Rockcastle Hills, a natural fortification, almost inaccessible. Having reconnoitered it in three under heavy fire for several hours from heights on the right, left, and in front, I became satisfied that it could not be carried otherwise than by immense exposure, if at all. The enemy received large re-enforcements.

Our loss was 42 wounded and 11 killed and missing. We captured 21 prisoners, about 100 guns, and 4 horses. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded unknown.

The country is so poor we had exhausted the forage along the road for 15 miles back in twenty-four hours. Our subsistence nearly exhausted. Under these circumstances I deemed it proper the next day to fall back. Enemy's camp said to be 7,000 strong, with large reserves near at hand.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER.
Adjutant General COOPER.
_______________

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        
Camp Buckner, October 26, 1861.

SIR: I have information that the enemy were nine regiments at Rock-castle Hills. They are thought to have large re-enforcements close at hand. The country is very poor generally between here and there, particularly beyond London. I learn that some signs of trouble are again arising in East Tennessee, as the impression increases that the enemy is soon to advance in force. The new levies I learn come in slowly. Could General William R. Caswell, who recently resigned when the Tennessee regiments were transferred, have a commission it would greatly promote the public interest. He has been very efficient in advising me to dispose matters properly in East Tennessee since I have been in Kentucky. He is a true gentleman, of high courage, sound sense, exemplary habits, and of popularity worth much in the present condition of affairs in East Tennessee.

The Log Mountains, between here and Cumberland Gap, will soon, I learn, become almost impassable. The road is now very bad. There is reason to suppose the enemy may advance by way of Jamestown, 120 miles below here, instead of by this route. I have seven cavalry companies watching that route; no infantry or artillery, two regiments there having been ordered away by General Johnston. If I get news of their approach in that direction I will proceed as rapidly as possible to meet them, and have already collected some stock of commissary stores in that neighborhood.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier-General.
Adjt. Gen. S. COOPER,
        Richmond, Va.
_______________

CAMP BUCKNER, October 26, 1861.

I have fallen back to this position. I am reliably informed that there were nine regiments of the enemy at Rockcastle Hills on the 21st. Uncertain news that they were to camp at Laurel Bridge last night. Think there is danger they may advance by Jamestown, 120 miles from here. I have seven cavalry companies there; no infantry or artillery, Stanton and Murray being removed. Colonel Churchwell, at the gap, reports three 8-inch howitzers in position, but that the ordnance stores sent with them are totally insufficient, the shells not filled, &c. I fear we have no powder to fill them. Two Parrott guns have reached Knoxville and are ordered on. We much need an ordnance and competent engineer officer.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier-General.
Lieutenant-Colonel MACKALL.
_______________

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        
Camp Ten Mile, October 16, 1861.
General W. R. CASWELL, or Col. W. B. WOOD, Knoxville, Tenn.:

Being much embarrassed for want of transportation in some of the regiments and battalions, we made a march of only 10 miles to-day. Letters from Colonel Stanton and Major Bridgman, dated 11th and 12th, received this evening. They both think the enemy has retired from Albany towards Columbia or Camp Dick Robinson. My plan to get behind them and cut them off may be defeated; but Stanton's regiment has now left for Bowling Green, and Bridgman returned to Post Oak Springs. What has become of the two companies of Colonel Brazel-ton's battalion or of Captain Bledsoe's company neither explains. Perhaps the latter is with Colonel Murray's regiment at Camp Myers, in Overton County. This retiring of our forces may induce the Lincoln forces to return again. I wish the subsistence supply mentioned heretofore taken to Jamestown by the 25th instant; and you will order those cavalry companies to rendezvous in that neighborhood at the same time, that the subsistence stores may not be exposed. I must ask you to transmit from Knoxville the necessary orders to insure this and the inclosed letter to Colonel Murray.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier-General.

[Inclosure.]

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        
Camp Ten Mile, Ky., October 16, 1861.
Colonel MURRAY, Camp Myers:

SIR: I am 10 miles on the march toward a camp of the enemy on Rock-castle River, having left Cumberland Ford this evening with the greater part of my command. I learned that the enemy at Albany has retired. My plan has been to fall in their rear and cut them off. Now that Colonel Stanton and our cavalry have left the neighborhood of Jamestown, the enemy may return in force near the line. I have ordered stores of subsistence for my troops to be placed at Jamestown by the 25th instant, and have ordered the same cavalry companies to return to that neighborhood almost the same time, to prevent the enemy from seizing and appropriating the stores. Perhaps the cavalry from above would not be sufficient to prevent an incursion. I expect to pass down by Somerset and Monticello or by Columbia and Burkesville, in the hope of capturing any forces they may be threatening your position with. As secrecy is the element of success, I must beg of you not to mention to any solitary person this enterprise. My object in writing to you is to ask you, about the 25th, to move in such a way as to insure, by the aid of the cavalry, the safety of the stores, until I can reach the neighborhood. Inform General Caswell at Knoxville what you can do, and he will communicate with me.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        
Brigadier-General.
_______________

BOWLING GREEN, October 21, 1861.
General ZOLLICOFFER:

GENERAL: Your telegram from London received. The information we have of the enemy in your front is this: 10,000 at Camp Dick Robinson; of these 4,000 are in advance towards Cumberland Gap, but how far is not known; it is commanded by Garrard; and 10,000 dotted from Robinson to Cincinnati. General Polk ordered 2 howitzers, 1 Parrott, and 3 iron guns to be shipped for you to Knoxville October 15. A company to man this battery will be sent in a few days.

W. W. MACKALL,        
Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________

CAMP RED SULPHUR, October 22, 1861.
General F. K. ZOLLICOFFER:

DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of yours of 16th instant. I am much pleased to learn that you are moving in direction of the interior of Kentucky. We are to-day within 32 miles of Burkesville; will reach and capture the Federal forces there by the 25th of this instant. We will then move to Albany by the 26th of this instant. Will you inform me of your position at Albany, as I will wait at that point for orders from you? I have no fears of our success at Burkesville. In the mean time our forces will prevent the Federal forces from capturing your supplies at Jamestown. Yours shall be strictly confidential.

I am, your obedient servant,
JOHN P. MURRAY,        
Colonel Twenty-eighth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers.

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. 209-13