I have no
information in regard to the rebels more than I wrote you, except the inclosed
order of General Zollicoffer, which I have no doubt is genuine. I could not
doubt it, because they carried out the instructions to the letter. I also
inclose you a letter directed to Hon. Green Adams, &c.* The bearer of this
letter, Mr. Hurst, is reliable, and was in Tennessee sometime since and taken
prisoner. The order from Major Coffee, countermanding the blockade of the
Madison Fork of the Richmond road, was sent me this evening. If we have one
day's notice, which we certainly will have, I can have the road blocked up
completely. However, we have been doing and undoing so much, that you may begin
to think we are fickle. I should not have ordered the blockade the second time
if it had not have been for General Carter, and he was for carrying out
instructions.
You will see before
this reaches you that Colonel Brown has moved to the river some 2 miles from
us. I would be afraid to place them between the enemy and our camp. Some of his
men are, I fear, a little timid, and I doubt whether or not they will do their
duty on that side of us. There is a tolerable good camping ground about 2 miles
beyond our camp. General Carter spoke of' it as we passed it, looking out the
points to blockade. It is near Little Rockcastle, and near a point where the
road passes between the point of a ridge and Little Rock-castle River. At the
point where we are camped there is but little room, though we can stick our
tents about on points and sides of hills, and could find room enough to place
another regiment on the same kind of ground.
P. S.—Are there any
cartridges for rifled muskets at Camp Robinson? The muskets I received of
Captain Cardwell, of Harrodsburg, are rifled. I have not examined, but learn
from others the ordinary cartridge will not suit them. Surgeon Hogan has not
yet been furnished with a tent. He desires one sent, if there is any to be had.
