Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, December 26, 1861

Zollicoffer had ordered a steamer to ascend the Cumberland to Celina, and if deemed safe to press on to Mill Springs with army stores for his command. In order to make a diversion in favor of this boat Colonel McNairy was ordered to go down the north side of the river in the direction of Burkesville, with his own, Branner's and McClellan's Battalions, in all about six hundred and fifty men. Setting out from Beech Grove, as above directed, with First Battalion, under Captain Allison, in front, McNairy moved at the head of the column until he neared Jamestown, the county seat of Russell County, when, on learning that he would meet the enemy at that place, he halted to hurry up Branner and McClellan, who in the meantime had dropped somewhat behind.

When the head of our battalion got within about two hundred yards of town the enemy opened on us, but without doing any damage except the killing of one man (James Tate, Company B) and one horse belonging to Adamson, who was a member of Allison's Company, and F. W. Horn's horse was wounded and fell. Allison then fell back a short distance and awaited the arrival of McNairy with the other two battalions. As soon as our Colonel came up he ordered one battalion to move round rightward and attack the north side of town, while he would move forward and attack the east side of the place with the other two battalions. A messenger from the battalion moving to the right reported to McNairy that the town could not be approached from that direction. Therefore, as it was now about nightfall, the Colonel withdrew the troops without making an attack. Falling back about two miles, we halted and fed, after which we scattered along the road about four miles further, where we remained till morning

I shall here relate the following incident: Before reaching Jamestown this afternoon, McNairy's groom, “Johnnie,” happened to be riding alone some distance in rear of our battalion, when a gentleman rode up and commenced a conversation with him. Soon learning that his companion was a Federal soldier, Johnnie¹ quickly drew his revolver, saying, “Sir, you are my prisoner.” On marching his prisoner up to the battalion, he proved to be no less than that of a Federal corporal, who had been home on a visit and was on his way back to camps, not knowing or suspecting that there were any Confederates in the neighborhood.

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¹ Johnnie was a white man, but I do not remember his surname.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 101-3

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, December 27, 1861

McClellan's and Branner's Battalions returned to their camps at Beech Grove. Our battalion recrossed the river and went into camps near Mr. West's, where we left our wagon train the 25th.

At nine P. M., Colonel T. E. Bramlette (First Kentucky Infantry), who was at that time in command of General Boyle's Brigade at Columbia, wrote as follows to General Thomas:

The enemy is at Jamestown, eighteen miles from here, some three thousand strong.

He has ascertained the strength and position of Colonel Wolford's camp, and threatens to destroy that before moving further. He has one thousand seven hundred mounted men, armed mostly as infantry.

I would not be surprised if the whole of Zollicoffer's forces were to be on us in two or three days.

We will, however, strike a blow, even if left to ourselves, that shall terrify the rebel hell-hounds wherever they hear of us. Retreat we will not, and if they come upon us we will fight the fight of desperation to win.¹

Notwithstanding McNairy did not go so far down the river as Zollicoffer had instructed him to go, yet it would seem from the above communication that the object of the expedition, at least to some extent, had been accomplished. That is to say, the attention of the Federals had been attracted from the river, and Colonel Bramlette was now holding his brigade in readiness at Columbia, awaiting an attack from Zollicoffer.

The long looked for “reserves” are coming in at last. Colonel William B. Wood, with a battalion of his regiment (Sixteenth Alabama), and Captain H. L. W. McClung, with his battery of artillery (six guns), have arrived. Colonel Samuel Powell's Regiment will be here soon, having started from Knoxville the 24th instant, Colonel Moses White's Regiment, of General Carroll's Brigade, is also on the way from Knoxville.

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¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., P: 517.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 103-4

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Monday, December 9, 1861

General Zollicoffer now had with him. six and a half regiments of infantry, a six-pounder battery of eight guns, and McNairy's, Branner's and McClellan's Battalions of cavalry; also two companies of Brazelton's Battalion, and two independent companies, commanded by Captains Bledsoe and Sanders. Total, about five thousand five hundred present for duty. Two regiments of infantry, two pieces of artillery and McNairy's Battalion were left on the south side of the river; all the other troops were now encamped on the north bank, opposite Mill Springs, intrenching as rapidly as possible.

General D. C. Buell was now in command of the Department of the Ohio, with headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky. General G. H. Thomas was in command of First Division of Buell's army, with headquarter's at Lebanon, Kentucky.

Thomas's Division, which was now in front of Zollicoffer, was composed of five brigades, four regiments each, distributed as follows: The First Brigade, under Brigadier-General A. Schoepf, was now at Somerset; the Second, under Colonel M. D. Manson, and Third, under Colonel R. L. McCook, were posted at Lebanon; the Eleventh Brigade, under Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle, at Columbia; and two regiments of the Twelfth Brigade, the First and Second East Tennessee, under Colonel S. P. Carter, set out from London on the 7th, and arrived at Somerset on the 9th instant, leaving Garrard's Kentucky Regiment at London. Carter's other regiment, the Thirty-first Ohio, was at Camp Dick Robinson.¹

Besides his own brigade, which was composed of the Thirty-third Indiana, Colonel John Coburn; Seventeenth Ohio, Colonel J. M. Connell; Twelfth Kentucky, Colonel W. A. Haskins, and Thirty-eighth Ohio, Colonel E. D. Bradley; General Schoepf had with him at Somerset the Thirty-fifth Ohio, Colonel F. Van Derveer, from McCook's Brigade; First East Tennessee, Colonel R. K. Byrd; Second East Tennessee, Colonel J. P. T. Carter, from S. P. Carter's Brigade; First Kentucky Cavalry, Colonel Frank Wolford, and ten pieces of artillery.²

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¹ See Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 461, 467, 479 and 480.
² See Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., pp. 479, 484 and 486.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 92-4

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Sunday, November 24, 1861

The clothing for our battalion having been received and distributed, Colonel McNairy again took up the line of march, and, passing through Wartburg, encamped for the night some fourteen miles from that place on the Jamestown road.

The main portion of our brigade camped within eight miles of Albany, where Zollicoffer awaited their arrival, while Colonel Stanton pressed on in the direction of Mill Springs, Kentucky, with two regiments and McClellan's Battalion of cavalry.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 83-4

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, November 29, 1861

We returned to camps a little after dark at the same place we started from the morning before. It was a cold, rainy day.

We learned that quite a sad affair had happened in camps that day-the result of card playing. W. K. Natcher had shot and killed George Aiken. Natcher was put under arrest. Both from Company A.

On the above date, Colonel T. E. Bramlette, who was stationed at Columbia with his regiment (First Kentucky Infantry) and a part of Wolford's and Haggard's Cavalry, made the following report of our visit to Burkesville, in a dispatch addressed to General G. H. Thomas:

I received a dispatch before day this morning from Burkesville that two hundred rebel cavalry were at the ferry on the south side of the river. A few of them crossed over and went to Boles', saw and arranged with him and his partners for the slaughter of hogs, and returned. The courier informed me that the men who are acting for the rebels are killing and packing a large number of hogs at Burkesville, viz : J. B. Alexander, J. R. Ryan, James and Sam Boles, and Robert Cross.

I have no doubt but steamboats will be up in a few days and carry off the large amount of pork, wheat, etc., the rebels are gathering upon the river. The rebels are now in possession of the river from Mill Springs down. . . . . . . . . .

I sent Colonel Wolford to the aid of Colonel Haskins with five hundred cavalry, embracing part of Colonel Haggard's command.

As I have before advised, the rebels are at Mill Springs, in force about eight thousand, but as yet have not crossed the river, and I do not believe will.¹

Colonel Haskins, with his regiment, the Fourth* Kentucky Infantry, was now encamped on the north bank of the Cumberland, some ten miles above Mill Springs.

General Zollicoffer, having reached the vicinity of Mill Springs late in the afternoon, established his headquarters at one Mr. A. R. West's, within about one mile of the river. As a portion of Captain Allison's company had gone through with the General, and was still acting as escort for him, Allison and his men put up at the same place.

Colonel Stanton, who had arrived at Mill Springs with two regiments of infantry and McClellan's Battalion and Sanders' company of cavalry, about two days in advance of Zollicoffer, had failed to secure any boats, from the fact that Colonel Haskins had taken the precaution to have them sunk; and for want of transporta[tion] he (Stanton) had failed to cross the river, as directed by Zollicoffer, to cut off Haskins' Regiment.
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¹ Col, Thomas E. Bramlette to Brig.-Gen. George H. Thomas, November 29, 1861

* Afterward the Twelfth.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 86-7

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Tuesday, November 5, 1861

Our battalion moved (twelve miles) from Camp Buckner to within four miles of the Gap, where we remained until Thursday, November 7th.

McNairy's Battalion marched out of Kentucky, through Cumberland Gap, thence along a fertile valley in the direction of Jacksborough, Tennssee, and bivouacked eighteen miles from the Gap.

General Zollicoffer set out for Jacksborough yesterday from the Gap. Four regiments of infantry (Battle's, Cumming's, Newman's and Statham's), four cavalry companies (Branner) and a battery of artillery (six 6-pounders and two Parrott guns) were now in the neighborhood of Jacksborough. The Twenty-ninth Tennessee (Colonel Powell) and a battalion of the Sixteenth Alabama (Lieutenant-Colonel Harris)¹ were on their way to the same place, leaving Colonels Rains' and Churchwell's Regiments well intrenched, and seven guns in good positions at the Gap, with two companies of Brazelton's Battalion to scout in front of that position.

A military engineer, Captain Victor Sheliha, had been sent to Zollicoffer, and was now reconnoitering the mountain passes in the vicinity of Jacksborough.

Before leaving Cumberland Gap yesterday Zollicoffer received the following dispatch from Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan, stationed near Jamestown:

I have information that is entirely reliable that the enemy is approaching this point 6,000 strong-1,500 cavalry and the balance artillery and infantry. The infantry and artillery camped last night, the 3d, five miles east of Monticeliu, a portion of the cavalry in town, their pickeis seven 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.²

This was the information that Zollicoffer had been expecting to receive, and, in anticipation of which, he had previously (October 31st) ordered Colonels, Stanton, Murray and McClellan to concentrate their commands, and throw up intrenchments at some suitable point, near Jamestown,³ and was now moving as rapidly as possible with the force above named, including McNairy's Battalion, by the way of Jacksborough, Clinton and Montgomery, to their support.

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¹ Colonel Wood had the other battalion of this regiment with him at Knoxville. He was in command of that post.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 514.

³ Ibid, p. 493.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 71-2

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, November 8, 1861

In the saddle early that morning, our battalion arrived at Jacksborough late in the afternoon (about twenty-two miles). Zollicoffer had left orders here for McNairy to follow the brigade by a forced march in the direction of Clinton. After allowing his men to halt long enough to feed their horses and take supper, McNairy pressed on thirteen miles further and bivouacked for the rest of the night.¹ Here he was met by a messenger, with orders for him to halt.

Nelson and Bob Smith were sick of the measles at Jacksborough and discharged at Clinton.

The rest of the brigade had also halted, and I shall now endeavor to explain why.

The First Kentucky Infantry, under Colonel Bramlette, and the Fourth, under Colonel Haskins, and Wolford's Cavalry were at that time encamped at or near “Camp Goggin," on the north bank of the Cumberland, some nine miles above Mill Springs and twenty from Monticello, Kentucky.² On the 3d, Colonel Wolford set out from the above named camp with four hundred of his regiment and one piece of artillery on a reconnoitering expedition in the direction of Monticello, and, if necessary, he was to send a messenger back and Colonels Bramlette and Haskins were to follow with all their available force—1,200. Colonel Wolford went as far as Monticello, and, finding no “Rebs” there, he returned to Camp Goggin.

It appears that Madam Rumor had swelled Wolford's four hundred to 6,000 before she delivered her “entirely reliable” report to Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan, for on the next day, the 4th, he wrote the dispatch which has been previously given, under the 7th instant. On the 5th, he moved his battalion down to Camp McGinnis, and sent some of his men out toward Monticello to meet the enemy. They went as far as Monticello, and sent a messenger back, who reported that a few cavalry had been there, but had gone back to Camp Goggin. So, just as Zollicoffer entered the road from Knoxville to Wartburg, within twenty-two miles of the latter place, a messenger met him with a dispatch from Colonel McClellan, stating that the information which he had given on the 4th was founded in error. Therefore, our General decided to fall back to Jacksborough, and completely blockade the two wagon roads through the mountains in that vicinity.³

_______________

¹ I had been on the sick list ever since our battalion left Flat Lick, but had still followed the command until the above night. Not being able to go any further, I put up with one Mr. Bowling, who lived on the Clinton road, six miles south of Jacksborough, the county seat of Campbell County, where I remained for about ten days, and was quite sick with a fever during the time. J. W. Kennedy first stopped with me, but as I continued to grow worse for some days, my brother, B. A. Hancock, resigned as assistant commissary of our battalion and came to see that I was properly cared for. Ben and I rejoined the battalion at Clinton, on the 18th. B. J. Mullinax, P.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 328.

³ Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 530.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 72-4

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Wednesday, November 20, 1861

Setting out from Clinton, the First Battalion moved about fifteen miles and camped on the Wartburg road, in the north corner of Roane County.

Having set out from Knoxville in the afternoon of the 17th, General Zollicoffer rejoined the brigade at Wartburg, 19th, and on the 20th he wrote to A. S. Johnston as follows:

I am moving as expeditiously as possible, with four and a half infantry regiments, a battalion of cavalry and Rutledge's Artillery, to unite with Stanton's command (his and Murray's regiments and McClellan's cavalry) beyond Jamestown, with a view of taking a strong position on the Cumberland River beyond Monticello. . . . . .

I hope, by scouring the country on the north bank down to Burkesville occasionally, to command the river, and draw supplies from Nashville when the roads to Knoxville are bad. From this camp as a base of operations I hope in mild weather to penetrate the country towards London or Danville, or in other directions, and command the approaches to Cumberland Gap or Jacksborough.

. . . I sent a few men up to Greeneville to arrest Andrew Johnson's sons and son-in-law.¹

According to Zollicoffer's official report, the following shows the aggregate present at Wartburg:

Sixteenth Alabama (battalion), 401; Fifteenth Mississippi, 701; Seventeenth Tennessee (Newman), 538; Nineteenth Tennessee (Cummings), 603; Twentieth Tennessee (Battle), 637; McNairy's Battalion, 341 ; and Rutledge's Battery (eight guns), 126—total, 3,565, but only 2,995 were able for duty. Thirty-five of McNairy's Battalion were reported absent.²

Zollicoffer ordered Colonel Stanton, with his regiment, Colonel Murray's Regiment and Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan's Battalion of cavalry, encamped at Camp McGinnis, some ten miles north of Jamestown, to make a rapid and stealthy forward movement to capture as many ferry-boats as possible along the Cumberland River, between Burkesville and Mill Springs.³

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¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 686.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 687.

³ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 690.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 81-2

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

JAMESTOWN, November 4, 1861—1 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

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer to Colonels Sidney S. Stanton, John P. Murray and George R. McClellan, October 31, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Cumberland Gap, October 31, 1861.

Colonel S. S. STANTON, Colonel MURRAY, and Colonel McCLELLAN,
        Near Jamestown:

Lieutenant-Colonel Mackall, General Johnston's assistant adjutant-general, telegraphs from Bowling Green that "Stanton has been ordered to Wolden Pass; also the available force of Murray and Bledsoe to Jamestown, Tenn. Both come under your [my] orders."

Where Wolden Pass is I do not know. It is important I should immediately have a perfect understanding and communication with Colonels Stanton and Murray and Captain Bledsoe. There is reason to believe the enemy intends advancing in force upon East Tennessee. Whether the route by Cumberland Gap, by Jacksborough, or by Jamestown will be selected, cannot be definitely determined. I have seven cavalry companies scouting back to Barboursville on this road, four back to Williamsburg on the Jacksborough route, and I wish Lieutenant Colonel McClellan to scout on the  road from Jamestown back to Monticello, and, if practicable, to Sta[e]gall's Ferry, to get the earliest possible reliable information of the enemy, and communicate it to me by express messengers. I am moving two regiments to Jacksborough this morning. Two others will be placed at Big Creek Gap. Four will remain here or in the neighborhood.

I wish Colonel Stanton and Colonel Murray to take a strong position near Jamestown and throw up entrenchments, looking to the protection of the commissary stores and the stopping the enemy’s advance. Let the cavalry communicate to them promptly any intelligence received; and if any movement of the enemy is made in force, let information be given to me and to General Albert S. Johnston simultaneously by the quickest possible mode of conveyance.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-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. 493-4

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer to Samuel Cooper, November 8, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AT OLIVER'S,        

Twenty-three miles from Montgomery, November 8, 1861.

General S. COOPER,
        Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond:

SIR: On the 4th instant Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan sent me a dispatch, stating that he had information "entirely reliable" that 6,000 of the enemy—l,500 cavalry and the balance infantry and artillery—were encamped in 5 miles of Monticello, and were advancing towards Jamestown. He stated that he knew nothing of the whereabouts of Colonels Stanton and Murray, and that he had determined to retire with his cavalry force towards Pikeville, fearing he might be cut off if he attempted to retreat towards Montgomery.

I inferred that the enemy's force would advance towards Loudon Bridge, through Montgomery, and conceived the plan of intercepting them at Winter's Gap, in a mile of this place, or at the pass down the mountain, 18 miles from here, on the road from Montgomery to Kingston. I sent cavalry forward to pass up both roads and ascertain which way they were coming, I got the news two days ago at Cumberland Gap, and reached here this evening with my disposable force, a distance of 71 miles, one regiment having started from that gap and got up to within 15 miles of this position.

Just as I entered the road from Knoxville to Montgomery a messenger was passing from Colonel McClellan to Colonel Wood, at Knoxville, and I found he had a dispatch for me, stating that the information he had given on the 4th was founded in error. This letter is dated yesterday. He says there is a camp of the enemy 5 miles east of Monticello, but he does not know its strength or character. His pickets have been into Monticello. He is encamped at Camp McGinnis, 8 or 9 miles north of Jamestown. He says that he has not heard of Stanton and Murray for two days, but understands they are approaching.

I have determined to fall back to Jacksborough and completely blockade the two wagon roads through the mountains in that neighborhood. I have written to Stanton, Murray, and McClellan to unite their forces, and make a stand in a strong position, if they can find it, where the wagon road ascends the mountain from Monticello to Jamestown, forming intrenchments for the infantry commanding the pass. I left the regiments of Colonels Churchwell and Rains at Cumberland Gap, busily engaged in completing the works there. Within a week or ten days I think the defenses there will be very strong. I think the Jacksborough routes can soon be made effectively impassable, and then I hope to move by the Jamestown route and advance.

If you will examine the topography of the country you will perceive I have passed to this point along a valley at the foot of the mountain. The road is good. To pass from Jacksborough direct to Huntsville or Montgomery or Jamestown direct, I would have to pursue a mountain road, poor and broken, and the mountain is generally 30 or 40 miles wide.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

(Same to Col. W. W. Mackall.)

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. 530-1

Robert L. Owen to Judah P. Benjamin, November 11, 1861

BRISTOL, November 11, 1861.

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

I have just returned from the burned bridge. We have at the next bridge, 10 miles beyond, about 250 men, under Captain McClellan. They have two cannon, which they found on the cars, and which were given to them by General Charles Clark, who stopped until this morning with them. The camp of the enemy is at N. G. Taylor's, 5 miles distant, with about 400 men. Another camp, at Elizabethtown, 2 miles farther, is said to contain 500 men. The two may be confounded. There is no doubt but that re-enforcements are every moment reaching them from Watauga County, North Carolina, and Johnson, Carter, and Washington Counties, Tennessee. These counties can furnish about 2,000 Lincolnites, and each fresh occasion emboldens them. They threaten to burn Watauga Bridge to-night. Should they be successful, it will bring forward hundreds now quiet. It is all-important they should be disposed of before they unite their different forces, now ranging from 50 to 500. A fight occurred last night between 22 of our scouts and the main camp of the enemy. We captured 2, killed 9, and lost none. I have given orders for all trains to give way to the troop trains now coming forward. They will reach here to-morrow morning. Can I do anything for you?

RO. L. OWEN,        

President Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.

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. 235-6

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer to Lieutenant-Colonel William W. Mackall, November 20, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Wartburg, one mile from Montgomery, November 20, 1861.

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

SIR: I am moving as expeditiously as possible, with four and a half infantry regiments, a battalion of cavalry, and Rutledge's artillery, to unite with Stanton's command (his and Murray's regiments and McClellan's cavalry) beyond Jamestown, with a view of taking a strong position on the Cumberland River beyond Monticello. The country is sterile from near Clinton to beyond Jamestown, Tenn. The counties of Wayne and Clinton and the western half of Pulaski, in Kentucky, are, I learn, comparatively good counties for subsistence and forage. If I can find a good position on the Cumberland for hutting in winter I hope, by scouring the country on the north bank down to Burkesville occasionally, to command the river, and draw supplies from Nashville when the roads to Knoxville are bad. From this camp as a base of operations I hope in mild weather to penetrate the country towards London or Danville, or in other directions, and command the approaches to Cumberland Gap or Jacksborough. I hope it may be practicable, by scouring the intervening country occasionally by detachments from both camps, to establish and safely maintain a line of express messengers between General Buckner's outposts and my camp.

My information, when at Knoxville, induces me to believe that the numbers under Clift, in Hamilton County, were greatly exaggerated. I doubt whether he had at any time more than 100 to 200 followers. They are not now to be found, having dispersed. The tories in Sevier seem also to have retired where as yet our troops are not able to find them. I sent a few men up to Greeneville to arrest Andrew Johnson's sons and son-in-law. Have no late news from Carter and Johnson Counties. By this time I presume General Carroll is at Knoxville, in command, and instructed to make proper dispositions to guard the railroads and crush the tory combinations.

The recent burning of the bridges brought a crisis which I think demonstrates that but comparatively a small proportion of the population will now give countenance to hostile acts against the Confederate Government, and that those who are still hostile are only running upon their own destruction. They should now be dealt very severely with. Leniency and forbearance have gradually won many thousands over who would have been driven to the enemy had our policy been severe two months ago, but those that are yet hostile can only be cured of their folly by severity. They should be made to feel in their persons and their property that their hostile attitude promises to them nothing but destruction.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

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. 686-7

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer to Samuel Cooper, November 22, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Jamestown, Tenn., Nov. 22, 1861.

General S. Cooper,

        Adjutant and Inspector-General, Richmond:

SIR: Heavy rains have made the roads slippery and will somewhat retard our progress. Day before yesterday I ordered Colonel Stanton, with his regiment, Colonel Murray's and Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan's cavalry, encamped about 10 miles north of Jamestown, to make a rapid and stealthy forward movement to capture the ferry-boats at four or five crossings of the Cumberland, and, if practicable, the enemy's cavalry said to be on this side of the river. I have not heard whether the movement has been made. I see it stated in the Nashville newspapers that General Ward has 2,000 men at Campbellsville, 1,200 at Columbia, and a regiment at Lebanon. It is reported to Colonel Stanton that the two or three regiments between Somerset and the river have moved towards Columbia, to join other forces there. He communicates also a rumor of the crossing of the Cumberland by a force of the enemy at Green's Ferry; but all these reports seem to be uncertain.  I have no dispatches from Knoxville since I left there, but hear through various scouting parties that the tories in Lower East Tennessee are dispersed, a number of prisoners taken, a few Lincolnites killed and wounded, and several hundred guns captured. Citizens have turned out in large numbers and assisted the soldiers in scouring the mountains and hunting down the fugitive traitors. They should now be pursued to extermination, if possible.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

[Similar report to Colonel Mackall.]

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. 690

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer to Colonel John P. Murray, October 28, 1861

CAMP BUCKNER, KY., October 28, 1861.

Col. JOHN P. MURRAY, Near Albany, Ky.:

SIR: I felt of the enemy's intrenched camp at Rockcastle Hills, on the road from London to Mount Vernon, on the 21st instant; found the position almost a natural fortification. My information [was] that the enemy was nine regiments strong there, and large reserves between there and Cincinnati. I fell back on the 22d, and will retire to Cumberland Gap, where I have placed a number of guns in position. The Log Mountains will soon be impassable, making this position difficult to hold. If the enemy advances, the approach is likely to be by way of Jacksborough or Jamestown. So soon, therefore, as I can complete the work, strengthening the pass at the Cumberland Gap (now in a few days), I will dispose my forces so as to be ready to meet the enemy on either of the other routes.

I hope you and Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan will co-operate to watch that border, and give me early and frequent reliable intelligence.

Learning that the enemy had retired from Albany, and desiring to see that the guns were all in position at the gap, I determined to return this way.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

[Brigadier-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. 483