OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

ing any support, and being nearly destitute of cartridges, I ordered my command to fall back, which it did in good order. While this was being executed the other two companies maintained their position as ordered.

I take pleasure in stating that the officers and men all acted with great coolness and firmness, such as would do credit to veteran troops, and for more than an hour sustained a heavy fire.

Killed, 11; wounded, 34.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

TAZ. W. NEWMAN, Colonel Commanding Seventeenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

OCTOBER 23, 1861.-Skirmish at West Liberty, Ky.

Report of Brigadier General William Nelson, U. S. Army.

CAMP WADSWORTH, Hazel Green, Ky., October 24, 1861.

SIR: For the information of the general commanding, I have to report that on the 22nd I ordered Colonel Harris, of the Second Ohio Regiment, and one section of Konkle's light battery, and Laughlin's company of cavalry, to move on West Liberty from the camp at McCormisck's Gap.

The morning of the 23rd I marched with the Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers, under Colonel Norton, and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteers, under Colonel Sill, and four guns, and the train towards this place. I left the Twenty-first Regiment, the train, and one section of artillery on the Blackwater to follow me, and pushed on. Major Robinson, of the Thirty-third, with two companies, had marched the night previous, arrived here at four in the morning of the 23rd, and made a complete surprise, capturing several of the most notorious secessionists in this vicinity.

The march of Colonel Harris on West Liberty was resisted by some hundreds, under a Captain May, but he drove them easily, and entered the town at 8.30 o'clock. He found a number of Union men confined in the jail and released them.

I will await the arrival of my train at this point. I am now in possession of both roads, and will move on to Prestonburg as rapidly as possible.

Very respectfully,

W. NELSON, Brigadier-General.

OCTOBER 24, 1861.-Attack on Camp Joe Underwood, Ky.

Report of Colonel R. D. Allison, Twenty-fourth Tennessee Infantry.

HDQRS. TWENTY-FOURTH REG'T TENN. VOLS., Cave City, Ky., October 25, 1861.

SIR: In compliance with your order, I left Cave City on the 23rd instant at 4 p. m. for Camp Joe Underwood, a distance of 25 miles, with the following force: 250 infantry, Twenty-fourth Regiment Tennessee