Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Saturday, January 18, 1862

It was said that another picket skirmish on the north side of the river resulted in the killing of two of our men and one of the enemy.

It rained nearly all day.

General Buell ordered General Thomas, on December 29th, to move from Lebanon by the way of Columbia upon Zollicoffer's left flank, while General Schoepf was to move upon his front from Somerset. On the 30th Thomas replied thus:

Have made arrangements to move as light as possible, and hope to get started to-morrow, although with raw troops and raw mules I fear there will be some difficulty.¹

The advance of Thomas's division arrived yesterday at Logan's Cross Roads, about ten miles north of Crittenden's intrenched position (Beech Grove), and within eight miles of Somerset, where he halted for the rear to close up and to communicate with Schoepf.

Late that afternoon our commander wrote the following dispatch to A. S, Johnston, Bowling Green, Kentucky:

HEADQUARTERS, BEECH GROVE KENTUCKY,        

January 18, 1862.

 

SIR: I am threatened by a superior force of the enemy in front, and finding it impossible to cross the river I will have to make the fight on the ground I now occupy.

 

If you can do so I would ask that a diversion be made in my favor. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 

G. B. CRITTENDEN,        

Major-General Commanding.

 

To the Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Department of the West.²

 

It appears from the above dispatch that Crittenden then expected to remain in his intrenchments and await the attack of the enemy, but he afterward decided to move out and attack them.

_______________

¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 524.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 103.

The above dispatch was handed to General Zollicoffer (he being better acquainted with the troops) with the request to start it at once by couriers. He immediately sent to Captain T. M. Allison for a reliable, well mounted man. Accordingly, C. F. Thomas (Company E) was ordered to go to Mill Springs (one mile), cross the river and report to Zollicoffer. Leaving camp about sunset, Thomas did as requested. Handing him the dispatch, Zollicoffer said: “I want you to take this to General Sidney Johnston, at Bowling Green, and this," handing him another addressed to an officer at Memphis, "you will mail at Gallatin. Take one good man with you and make the trip through to Bowling Green as quick as you possibly can." Recrossing the river, Thomas was soon back in our camp again. He selected to go with him on that venturesome trip John D. McLin, who was then his messmate, and is now (1886) editor of the weekly Nashville American.

 

Swinging themselves into the saddle, Thomas and McLin set out on their daring trip about ten o'clock that night—to use Thomas's own language, “One of the darkest and muddiest I ever saw." They went down the south side of the river. They were not only in danger of meeting Federal scouts and home guards, but also of being shot from the bushes by "bush-whackers." They would sometimes have to travel miles out of their way in order to deceive the home guards, and other times they would pass themselves off to some good old lady as good "Union soldiers." They rode two days and nights, stopping only two or three times for a few moments to feed their horses.

 

Late in the afternoon of the 20th they crossed the Cumberland at Williams' Ferry. Their horses were so fatigued by this time by constant riding through deep mud that they had to stop and let them rest; therefore they put up for the night with one Mr. Williams.

 

With very great surprise and bewilderment did they learn next morning (21st) that neither of their horses was able to travel, having eaten too much corn during the previous night.

 

Seeing that our boys were in distress, and fully realizing the situation, Mr. Williams, who happened to be a kind, generous, noble-hearted Southern man, happily came to their relief by ordering a servant to bring out a span of fine, fat, gray geldings. As soon as they were brought out and saddled Mr. Williams said, Here, boys, take these horses and keep them as long as you need them, and ride them as hard as you please." After returning heart-felt thanks to their kind host for such a great and unexpected favor from a stranger, offered, too, with such a free good-will, the boys leaped into their saddles and pressed on to Gallatin that day. Here they had expected to take the cars for Bowling Green, but in this they were disappointed. The cars had been taken from that road and were then running in the interest of Fort Donelson, which was now threatened by a heavy Federal force.

After mailing the dispatch addressed to Memphis and holding a "council of war," they decided that McLin should remain at Gallatin, while Thomas should get a fresh horse and proceed alone, as they felt that they were now out of danger of home guards and "bush-whackers." Accordingly Thomas set out from Gallatin early on the morning of the 22d, and arriving at Bowling Green about dark the same day, handed the dispatch to General Johnston, who had just received another dispatch announcing the defeat of Crittenden at Fishing Creek. Starting back next morning Thomas rejoined McLin at Gallatin. Returning now at their leisure, and finding their horses all right on arriving at Mr. Williams' they exchanged horses, and finally rejoined their command at Chestnut Mound.

 

I shall here mention another incident in which the two above named took part. It occurred while they were at home on furlough in August, 1863, as follows:

Captain S. Y. Barkley, who lived (and does now) sixteen miles East of Murfreesboro on the pike leading from that place, by the way of Hall's Hill to Liberty, learned late one evening that a small squad of Federals had passed along the pike going in the direction of Liberty. After a ride of about six miles in the direction of Statesville he found C. F. Thomas and John D. McLin at Jim B. Thomas' (C. F's. father). Notwithstanding it was now dark and raining, these three daring riders set out immediately in pursuit of the enemy. About one o'clock A. M., the next morning, they arrived at Auburn, where they learned that two Federals had passed that place going in the direction of Liberty. On learning at Mr. Matthew Wilson's, about two miles beyond Auburn, that the enemy had not passed there, our boys turned and went back to Mr. A. Owen's, where they learned that the Federals had gone about one mile from the pike and put up for the night with one Mr. A. Lax. Our boys drew rein about dawn at Mr. Lax's barn. The old man Lax, who soon came out to feed, was captured first. Next one of the Federals came out to the barn and was made prisoner without the fire of a gun. Leaving the two prisoners in care of Thomas, Barkley and McLin went to the house, where they found the other soldier still asleep. On rousing him up and demanding his surrender, he very coolly remarked, while rubbing his eyes open, "Well, I wish you had let me get my nap out." Taking their horses and arms (and they were well mounted, well armed, and well supplied with ammunition), our boys turned their prisoners loose on parole.

 

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 110-3

Major-General George B. Crittenden to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Department of the West, January 18, 1862

HEADQUARTERS,        

Beech Grove, Ky., January 18, 1862.

SIR: I am threatened by a superior force of the enemy in front, and finding it impossible to cross the river, I will have to make the fight on the ground I now occupy.

If you can do so, I would ask that a diversion be made in my favor.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. B. CRITTENDEN,        

Major-General, Commanding.

To the ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
        Headquarters Department of the West.

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. 103

Brigadier-General William H. Carroll to Judah P Benjamin, December 13, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Knoxville, Tenn., December 13, 1861.

Hon. J.P. BENJAMIN,
        Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: Your order to me of the 10th instant to join General Zollicoffer immediately with all my armed force reached me last night. I immediately set about making the necessary arrangements to carry the same into effect, as indeed I had been doing for some days previous, under instructions from General Zollicoffer himself. A portion if not all of my command would now have been on the march for General Zollicoffer's present position but for the unsettled condition of affairs in East Tennessee, together with other obstacles that I have been utterly unable to overcome, though I have made every possible exertion to that effect, but as yet without success.

In justice to myself I feel that I may very properly lay before you the nature and extent of the embarrassments under which I have labored ever since I assumed my present command. When the President did me the honor to appoint me a brigadier-general in the Provisional Army I confidently expected to have had my entire brigade thoroughly armed within twenty days at furthest from that time, as I have taken every precaution to secure sufficient arms for that purpose while raising and organizing the regiments which I now have the honor to command. Early in the month of September I procured about 2,000 ordinary country rifles, and placed them in the Government armories at Memphis, Nashville, and Murfreesborough. In order to have them altered—made of uniform length and caliber, and fitted with a sword-bayonet. At that time I was assured by the armory officers at those places that these guns would be repaired and ready for use by the middle of October. On the 26th of that month you telegraphed to them to lay aside all other guns and put their whole force at work upon mine. This they informed me they did; but when I received your orders of the 3d of November to advance to this place and report to General Zollicoffer not a single gun had been completed.

The indications of an extensive outbreak in East Tennessee at that time were so alarming, that I deemed it unsafe to move my command through that country wholly unarmed. I therefore made application in every direction for guns of any description, to serve me until my own should be ready for use. I finally, after much annoyance, succeeded in getting from the arsenal at Memphis about 400 flint-lock muskets, rifles, and double-barreled shot-guns. With these, imperfect and almost worthless as they were, I advanced to Chattanooga, and halted my forces for a few days, for the purpose of dispersing the different bands of traitors who were gathering in that vicinity. This object being accomplished, I moved on to this point. When I reached here I found a general feeling of alarm and uneasiness prevailing throughout the surrounding country. Information every day reached me from all points that recreant Tennesseeans, with a few miscreants from other States, were organizing themselves into predatory bands in the counties of Blount, Sevier, Cocke, Hancock, Scott, Campbell, and other counties bordering on the North Carolina and Kentucky line. I immediately sent out scouting parties of cavalry, together with such small detachments of infantry as I could arm, to protect and assist the loyal citizens of these counties in driving these base ingrates from their midst. These various parties have succeeded in arresting many of the rebellious and disaffected, and bringing them to this place for trial. Out of the number thus arrested I have sent and will send about 100, as prisoners of war, to Tuscaloosa. I have for some days past been receiving information, from sources entitled to much credit, that a considerable force of the enemy were threatening a descent from the Kentucky border upon the counties of Campbell and Scott, by way of a small pass in the mountains above Cumberland Gap.

To-day I am in receipt of information, which apparently admits of no doubt, that a body of the enemy, some 500 strong, had attacked the town of Huntsville, and captured a company of cavalry stationed at that place. Other less reliable reports place the number of the enemy at 2,000. I have therefore made arrangements to dispatch Colonel White there with all the armed force I can command, with orders to attack them if not too strong, and if the numbers are too great to fall back until I can re-enforce him. The country abounds in mountain passes and ravines, and a position well selected can be easily held against largely superior numbers. This movement will not delay the prompt execution of your order, as the place mentioned is near my line of march to join General Zollicoffer. During the time I have been here I have continued my exertions to procure arms from every source where they were likely to be obtained, though almost entirely without success. A few days ago I dispatched one of my officers to General Johnston, at Bowling Green, with a statement of my condition, and an urgent appeal for arms of some description, if he should have any at his disposal; but he dispatches me that none are to be had. I have also sent a competent armory officer to Memphis upon a similar mission. From him I learn that 500 of my rifles will be ready by Monday next. These will be forwarded immediately. He further informs me that the remainder will soon be repaired and sent on, as they are being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Two hundred of those left at Nashville were sent me some days ago, but so imperfectly repaired as to be wholly unfit for use, as you will see from the inclosed report from the ordnance officer at this place. The repairs on these I am having completed here, and will have them finished as soon as possible.

I have here now three regiments fully organized and another in process of formation, besides seven companies of cavalry, amounting in all to about 4,000 men, who could be brought immediately into the field if I could only supply them with arms. Out of my entire force I could not muster more than 300 men efficiently armed. A few hundred more have old hunting guns, but they are of little or no service in their present condition. I still hope that all my guns will be ready in a very short time. I send to Richmond Lieut. Col. E. J. Golladay, one of my best-informed and most discreet officers, to represent to you more fully the true condition of my command. His suggestions may perhaps be of service in shaping the policy proper to pursue in the region of country of which I have spoken.

For a detailed statement of the operations of my command since taking the field, together with an account of all the other forces now in East Tennessee, I beg to call your attention to my report made to Maj. Gen. G. B. Crittenden on the 9th instant, and by him forwarded to the office of the Adjutant and Inspector General. Colonel Golladay can also give you much valuable information of the strength, condition, &c., of the different commands in this portion of the State, together with the state of public feeling and real condition of the country here.

I have the honor to be, yours, respectfully,

WM. H. CARROLL,        

Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.

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. 764-6

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Tuesday, January 7, 1862

The First Battalion had the honor of going on dress parade in the presence of Major-General George B. Crittenden, who had arrived at Mill Springs and assumed command on the 3d instant.

Colonel S. Powell's Regiment (Twenty-ninth Tennessee) came with General Crittenden, and I think a part of Colonel M. White's Regiment (Thirty-seventh Tennessee), of Carroll's Brigade, arrived at the same time.

Good news! good news! A small steamboat, the “Noble Ellis,” has arrived at Mill Springs loaded with army stores, coffee, sugar, molasses, etc.

General Boyle, who had returned to Columbia and was now in command of Eleventh Brigade, wrote as follows to General Thomas, Lebanon, Kentucky:

A rebel steamboat passed Burkesville yesterday (6th) at twelve o'clock, loaded with men and cannon and other arms, clothing, etc.

 

I send three hundred cavalry to heights on this side to intercept it, if possible. I will move with three hundred of Third Kentucky and Nineteenth Ohio to an advantageous position at the mouth of Renick's Creek, two and a half miles above Burkesville, on the Cumberland. I shall move the whole force here to Burkesville. It is only four miles further from Glasgow than Columbia.

 

I am not willing to see the Cumberland surrendered without a struggle to Zollicoffer and the rebel invaders.

 

We have no cannon, and must rely on our rifles to take off the men from the boats. With one piece of artillery the boats could be torn to atoms or sunk.

 

Can you not send me a section of a battery?*

Fortunately for us, Boyle did not stop our boat.

_______________

* Rebellion Records, Vol. VII. p. 535.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 106-7

Brigadier-General William H. Carroll to Major-General George B. Crittenden, December 9, 1861

HEADQUARTERS RIFLE BRIGADE,        

Knoxville, Tenn., December 9, 1861.

Maj. Gen. G. B. CRITTENDEN, Knoxville:

SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit a report of the strength and condition of all the forces now in East Tennessee for the past few weeks acting under my command, together with their location, field of duty, &c. My immediate command, assigned by the Secretary of War, is as follows:

Senior (Thirty-eighth) Regiment: Colonel, Robert F. Looney; lieutenant-colonel, E. J. Golladay; major, D. H. Thrasher. Organized September 23, for twelve months. Stationed at Knoxville. This regiment is but imperfectly armed, having but 250 guns, consisting of rifles, double-barreled shot-guns, and muskets. Of these not more than 50 are perfect. This regiment is now stationed at this place, except one company, which is on detached service at Morristown. Strength of regiment, 988.

Second(Thirty-ninth) Regiment:¹ Colonel, Moses White; lieutenant-colonel, Hunter P. Moffit; major, W. M. Hunt (acting). Organized October 11, 1861, for twelve months. This regiment is also stationed at Knoxville, except one company, which is on detached service at Morristown. The arms of this regiment consist of about 200 rifles, shot-guns, and muskets, mostly unfit for use except in an emergency. Strength of regiment, 771.

In addition to the two regiments above mentioned there are seven companies that have been mustered into service that have heretofore been nominally under the command of Col. W. T. Avery, which were also assigned me by the Secretary of War. These have not yet been organized into a regiment, for the reason that three of them which I left at a camp of instruction at Germantown were ordered to Fort Pillow by General Pillow, commanding at Columbus. The other four companies are in the neighborhood of Knoxville.

I have written to General Pillow, protesting against this interference  with my command, and requested him to order the three companies now at Fort Pillow to move immediately to this place. Should he do so, the regiment will be organized at once. Should he not do so, I shall appeal to the Secretary of War.

When I reached Chattanooga with my command, on the march to this point, I was joined by the following regiment:

[Thirty-second Regiment]: Colonel, E. C. Cook; lieutenant-colonel, W. P. Moore; major, ——— Brownlow. Organized ———, for twelve months. This regiment is still at Chattanooga, awaiting further orders. It is armed with 500 flint-lock muskets, in good order. Strength of regiment, 850.

When Colonel Cook reported to me he informed me that he was assigned to no command and requested me to attach him to my brigade, which I did until such time as I should receive orders from you. Should it meet your approval, I should be glad to have him continued under my command. I would also suggest that he be ordered to this place, as there is no further necessity for the services of his regiment at the place where it now is, as every indication of a rebellion in that section of country has entirely disappeared.

Col. J. W. Gillespie, of this city, has reported to me the following companies, with the request that they should be organized into a regiment and attached to my brigade, viz:

Capt. A. J. Cawood, stationed at Loudon, partially armed; Capt. S. T. Turner, stationed at Loudon; Capt. L. Guthrie, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. John Goodman, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. D. Neff, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. W. J. Hill, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. A.W. Hodge, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. W. L. Lafferty, stationed at Calhoun; Capt. W. H. McKamy, stationed at Charleston; Capt. J. W. Phillips, stationed at Rogersville.

The strength of this regiment will reach about 850 men. Some of these companies are partially armed with old country rifles and shotguns. I have ordered all of them to rendezvous at Camp Key, in the vicinity of this city, and will organize them into a regiment early next week.

The following detached companies have also reported to me, viz: Capt. W. D. Smith, stationed at Charleston; Capt. J.P. Brown, stationed at Madisonville; Capt. J. B. Cook, stationed at Athens; Capt. W. C. Nelson, stationed at Philadelphia; Capt. H. Harris, stationed at Sevierville; Capt. W. G. McCain, stationed at Knoxville.

These companies are also partially armed with such guns as could be secured in the surrounding country. So soon as these companies can be relieved from duty at the places where they are now stationed I will concentrate them at this or some other convenient point and organize them into a regiment.

Artillery.—Captain George H. Monsarrat; first senior lieutenant, E. Baxter; first junior lieutenant, Brian; second senior lieutenant, Freeman; second junior lieutenant, [C.] Freeman; 140 men, 4 guns, 3 caissons, 103 horses.

This company is now stationed near this city; is under the command of one of the most active and efficient officers in the service. It is thoroughly drilled and disciplined. Six more guns will be obtained in a few days and the command increased to 250 men.

Cavalry.—The following cavalry companies have reported to me and have been acting under my orders, viz:

Captain McLin, stationed at Lick Creek; Captain Brock, stationed at Knoxville; Capt. J. F. White, stationed at Maryville; Capt. W. L. Brown, stationed at Cleveland; Capt. D. C. Ghormley, stationed in Cocke County; Capt. R. W. McClary, stationed at Cleveland; Capt. S. W. Eldredge, stationed at Loudon.

The foregoing comprised all the force attached to my immediate command. Other forces, however, have reported to me and acted under my command, consisting of the following:

Col. W. B. Wood's regiment, at present stationed new this place, numbering about 800 men, armed with flint-lock muskets. This regiment is attached to the brigade of Brigadier-General Zollicoffer.

Capt. H. L. W. McClung's battery, consisting of two 6-pounder and two 12-pounder guns, with caissons, horses, &c., numbering about 100 men; Captain Gillespie's cavalry, numbering about 100 men, armed with double-barreled shot-guns. Both these companies belong to the command of General Zollicoffer.

There are other forces stationed at various points in East Tennessee from the commanders of which I have received no official report and have no certain information concerning them. The following is the most reliable I have been able to obtain:

Col. Samuel Powell's regiment, stationed at Greeneville. Of its strength, arms, &c., I have no knowledge, nor do I know to what command it is attached.

Col. S. A.M. Wood's regiment is stationed 10 miles east of Chattanooga; is thoroughly equipped, and with Springfield muskets. This regiment belongs, I understand, to the command of Brigadier-General Bragg, and was sent by him from Pensacola to Chattanooga for temporary service until such time as I could reach there with my command.

Col. R. B. Vance's regiment is stationed at Greeneville; numbers about 800 men, and is efficiently armed. I do not know to what command it is attached.

Col. D. Leadbetter is stationed, with his regiment, somewhere in the neighborhood of Morristown, on the line of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. I have no other information concerning his command.

Lieutenant-Colonel Stovall's battalion is stationed at Greeneville, numbering 500 men, and is efficiently armed.

The foregoing is all the organized force of which I have any knowledge in East Tennessee, except Colonel Churchwell's regiment, which I understand is a portion of General Zollicoffer's command. I do not know its present location.

Another of General Zollicoffer's regiments, commanded by Colonel Statham, is, I learn, stationed at Cumberland Gap.

There are various companies, I am informed, being organized in the surrounding counties, and should the necessity arise and arms could be procured I have no doubt but an additional force of 4,000 or 5,000 men could easily be brought into the field from East Tennessee.

RECAPITULATION.
Strength of my immediate command:

Infantry.	4,400
Cavalry.	450
Artillery.	150
Total	5,000
Other forces in East Tennessee	6,000
Whole amount of force in East Tennessee.	11,000

The foregoing report is as perfect a one as I am able to make with the meager information at present before me. My own command being as yet to a great extent unorganized and stationed in small detachments at so many different points, I have not been able to obtain regular and official reports. But in the main the above statement of its strength, condition, &c., is very nearly accurate in point of numbers, as well as in other particulars.

The other forces to which I have alluded were not under my command, and therefore I had no right to require the official information from them, but have had to rely upon such statements as were reported to me by others.

Respectfully,

WM. H. CARROLL,        

Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.

_______________

¹ Appears on Register as Thirty-seventh Regiment.

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. 749-52

Brigadier-General Feliz K. Zollicoffer to Lieutenant-Colonel William W. Mackall, December 23,

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Beech Grove, Ky., December 23, 1861.

Lieutenant-Colonel MACKALL,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Bowling Green, Ky.:

SIR: I feel it my duty frankly to say that the failure to receive the reserves and supplies I ordered up a month ago, and upon which in part the plan of campaign was predicated, has given and is likely to give serious embarrassment. I now receive no responses to communications addressed to Knoxville connected with the most important details. I have five regiments north of the river and two south. The strength of the enemy is unknown, but it is reported by the country people to be very large. There are now, I learn in East Tennessee, besides the force at Cumberland Gap, eight full regiments and the Georgia battalion, a battery of artillery, and eight cavalry companies. I beg respectfully to say that it cannot be that half this force is required there. On the other hand, were this column strengthened properly, the enemy could not venture to pass London to attack Cumberland Gap. We could open the Cumberland and drive the enemy from Somerset and Columbia.

I trouble you with these suggestions, about which I feel the deepest concern, because I learn that Major-General Crittenden has gone to Richmond.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

P. S.—Inclosed I send copies of a general order* and a proclamation I have deemed it expedient to print and circulate.

_______________

* Order not found.

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. 786

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Monday, December 16, 1861

According to orders from Zollicoffer, McNairy moved his battalion back to Camp Hall, where he remained for about nine days longer.

COMMENTARY.

It would seem that while at Richmond, in the latter part of last month, Major-General George B. Crittenden was directed by President Davis to proceed to East Tennessee, assume command of all the forces under Zollicoffer, and with ten additional regiments, to be furnished by the President, move into Kentucky at once. Accordingly Crittenden arrived at Knoxville and assumed command “about the first day of December.¹

On the 6th he dispatched for the ten regiments,² and on the 8th he received the following from the Secretary of War:

The President desires that you return to Richmond and report to him without delay.³

 On the 13th he was ordered to return to his department, which he did, but without bringing any troops with him.

On the 16th he wrote to the Adjutant and Inspector-General, S. Cooper, at Richmond, as follows:

General Zollicoffer is threatened by a much superior force in front and one nearly equal on his left flank. He has been ordered by me to recross the river.

 

He asks for six pieces, twenty-four pounders or eight inch howitzers. Colonel Powell's regiment has been ordered from the railroad to join Zollicoffer immediately, and Colonel Leadbetter informed, so that he can replace the guard it withdraws.

 

To make General Carroll's brigade effective it is necessary to obtain eight hundred muskets, which are known to be in ordnance office at Memphis. Please order William R. Hunt, ordnance officer at that point, to forward them immediately to this place, subject to my order.⁴

 Three citizens from the vicinity of Auburn, Cannon County, Tennessee—Messrs. Franklin Odom, Henry Dougherty and Hop Kennedy—arrived at Camp Hall in the afternoon of the above date, the 16th. Each of them had sons, and also many other relatives and friends, in Captain Allison's Company. They came to spend a few days with us, and we appreciated and enjoyed their visit very much. Three of our company who had been home on a visit and two recruits came with them.

_______________

¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 763.

² Ibid., p. 740.

³ Ibid., p. 745.

⁴ “So ordered same day.” Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 770.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 98-9

Major-General George B. Crittenden to Judah P. Benjamin, December 13, 1861

RICHMOND, December 13, 1861.

Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN,
        Secretary of War:

SIR: I arrived at, Knoxville about the 1st day of December, assumed command, and established my headquarters there. At that time Mr. W. G. Brownlow was absent from Knoxville, where he resides. Very soon some friend or friends of his approached me on the subject of his return to Knoxville, and I had several interviews with the son of Mr. Brownlow, who was interceding and acting for his father in the premises. During several days Mr. Brownlow's son was very importunate in calling upon me and making solicitations in behalf of his father of some sort or another. In the beginning, the letter of Mr. Brownlow to General Carroll, dated November 22, and received about the time of my arrival, was handed to me and discussed between myself and the son of Mr. Brownlow. In this letter Mr. Brownlow stated that he was willing and ready at any time to stand a trial upon any points before any civil tribunal, but sought protection from troops and armed men on a return to Knoxville, denying at the same time having had any connection with arming men or with armed bodies of men or with bridge-burners or bridge-burning. General Carroll also handed to me his reply to this letter.

In the several interviews between the son of Mr. Brownlow and one or more of his friends and myself Mr. Brownlow's innocence of any treasonable conduct was vouched as the basis of any disposition to be made towards him, and I stated to Mr. Brownlow's son, who was acting for his father, that if he came to Knoxville he must submit to the civil authorities.

Finally, about the 4th or 5th of December, I think, Mr. Baxter, a friend of Mr. Brownlow, together with his son, called upon me, and Mr. Baxter delivered to me an open letter from yourself, brought by him, dated November 20, and referring to Mr. Brownlow's departure beyond our lines. Thereupon, and on the solicitations made to me in behalf of Mr. Brownlow, I directed my assistant adjutant-general to inform Mr. Brownlow in writing that if he would come to Knoxville within a given time I would give him a passport and send him with an escort beyond our lines. I designed this escort to convey him directly through our lines, so that he could see nothing of our forces and fortifications. At the given time Mr. Brownlow came, and I made arrangements with him as to the time and manner of his departure, which were satisfactory to him. I designed sending him off the next day, but he desired to stay over a day, and on that day, before his departure, was arrested with a warrant by the civil authorities on a charge of treason.

Mr. Brownlow addressed a note to me, stating his arrest, and that he had come home upon my invitation, and claimed to be under my protection. As I had stated explicitly to Mr. Brownlow's son, who acted for his father, and who went after and did conduct his father into town, that if he came he must submit to the civil authorities, and as his innocence of any treasonable conduct was considered in the arrangements for him, I directed one of my aides to reply to his note to the effect that, in view of all the facts, I could not interfere with the civil authorities so as to protect him from an investigation by them of charges made in their tribunals against him, which I clearly understood from himself and his friends he would not seek to avoid.

Of course, if the civil authorities release Mr. Brownlow, I shall proceed at once to give him a passport and send him with an escort beyond our lines.

I remain, very respectfully, yours, &c,

G. B. CRITTENDEN,        

Major-General, C. S. Army.

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. 763-4

Major-General George B. Crittenden to Samuel Cooper, December 6, 1861

KNOXVILLE, December 6, 1861.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL C. S. ARMY:

Will you please send me, without delay, the ten regiments promised by the President whilst I was in Richmond, and I will move into Kentucky at once?

G. B. CRITTENDEN,        

Major-General, Comdg. Eastern Division, District Kentucky.

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. 740

Judah P. Benjamin to Major-General George B. Crittenden, December 8, 1861

RICHMOND, December 8, 1861.

Major-General CRITTENDEN, Knoxville:

The President desires that you return to Richmond and report to him without delay.

J.P. BENJAMIN,        

Secretary of War.

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. 745

Major-General George B. Crittenden to Samuel Cooper, December 16, 1861

KNOXVILLE, December 16, 1861.

S. COOPER,  Adjutant and Inspector General:

General Zollicoffer is threatened by a much superior force in front and one nearly equal on his left flank. He has been ordered by me to recross the river. He asks for six pieces, 24-pounders or 8-inch howitzers. Colonel Powell's regiment has been ordered from the railroad to join Zollicoffer immediately, and Colonel Leadbetter informed, so that he can replace the guard it withdraws. To make General Carroll's brigade effective it is necessary to obtain 800 muskets, which are known to be in ordnance office at Memphis. Please order William R. Hunt, ordnance officer at that point, to forward them immediately to this place, subject to my order.*

G. B. CRITTENDEN,        

Major-General.

_______________

* So ordered same day.

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. 769-70

Judah P. Benjamin: Special Orders, No. 216, November 11, 1861

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 216}

ADJT. AND INSP'R GENERAL'S OFFICE,        

Richmond, Va., November 11, 1861.

1. Col. Danville Leadbetter, Provisional Army, is hereby assigned to the command of the troops to be stationed for the protection of the railroad between Bristol and Chattanooga, Tenn. He will reconstruct bridges, repair and keep open the line of communication between those points, and will call upon railroad companies for such aid as he may require to carry out this order.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

3. Maj. Gen. G. B. Crittenden, Provisional Army, will immediately proceed to Cumberland Gap, Ky., and assume command of the troops in that district, reporting at once by letter to General A. S. Johnston at Bowling Green, Ky.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,        

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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. 538

Colonel Theophilus T. Garrard to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, October 2, 1861

CAMP WILDCAT, October 2, 1861.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

Since General Carter arrived we have been over considerable country. The general thinks when the work is completed we will be secure against almost any force. With strangers they could not find passways, but persons acquainted with the country could get into our camp really ways. Still, they could not do so if we had a small force at each point. The distance from Little Rockcastle River to Big Rockcastle is some 3½ miles. A considerable portion of this distance is defended by natural cliffs, so that it relieves us from performing much labor at those places. Ten miles of the road south of our camp is almost a dense thicket on each side of the road, and could be defended, or at least we could annoy the enemy with infantry the entire distance, whilst we would be comparatively secure, provided we acted cautiously. General Carter can explain more explicitly.

Colonel Brown desires me to say to you that he can supply his command of twelve-months' men with beef and bread, but will be dependent on you or General Crittenden for sugar, coffee, soap, candles, and such other articles as are furnished. He has no tents or camp equipage. Many of his men are bare of shoes, clothing, and blankets.

Colonel Brown desires to know whether or not he must open a correspondence with General Crittenden or must he address you on all matters connected with his military affairs? He desires such instructions as you may from time to time think proper to give.

Colonel Brown has now enrolled and in camp some 250 twelve-months' soldiers. He has muskets, but no cartridge-boxes, caps, pouches, nor bayonet scabbards. He desires to hear from you as soon as convenient. Mount Vernon is the post-office, if sent by mail.

I have not heard anything of the rebels since they reached Barboursville. The last account is that some 100 or upwards were in Barboursville. I have heard, but do not say that it is reliable, that there is a robbing party going through Knox County, plundering every person (almost) they come across, and that it is headed by men by the name of Arthur, citizens of Knox County, Kentucky.

I have got Colonel Brown to move all of his men to the river except one company, and they are outside our camp in a rock house. We have been much annoyed by them, as well as visitors and others who were driven before the rebels. Some of them returned this evening part of the way home, but heard of the rebels below London, and they returned to camp. The report, I am satisfied, is false.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. T. GARRARD,        

Colonel Third Regiment 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. 289-90