OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
advancing upon this place, upon the John's Creek road, from Louisa. On yesterday Captain Holliday, with a small command, met this column from John's Creek. A skirmish took place. I sent him a re-enforcement of 20 men, which checked their advance. The night was occupied in preparing to fall back in the direction of Pound Gap, but our transportation is so limited that we shall be compelled to abandoned some public property. The enemy is perfectly equipped, with plenty of artillery. They are well instructed, and fight with courage. We have nothing in the world upon our side but bravery. The disparity in the loss was due alone to our position. Infantry armed with rifles are the men for this country. Cavalry is almost useless, except for picket duty.
With regard to the point at which we will be likely to meet I cannot say positively. I shall continue to fall back until I can make a stand or am re-enforced. Our route will be towards Abingdon.*
We have now nine companies of infantry, four of them not yet full, and five companies of mounted men, and two of these not full-making in all an aggregate of 1,100 men, poorly armed and badly clothed, and with scarcely any discipline.
Allow me to congratulate you upon your appointment.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. S. WILLIAMS, Colonel, C. S. Army.
Brigadier General HUMPHREY MARSHALL, Wytheville.
CAMP NEAR POUND GAP, November 13, 1861.
GENERAL: Since my last report to you I have been compelled to abandon Pachytene by an overwhelming force that advanced upon me in two columns, one directly up the river from Prestonburg, 1,600 strong, with a battery of six pieces, and the other from Louisa up John's Creek, a breach of the Sandy, numbering 1,800 men, with a battery of field pieces. Both of these columns converged upon Pachytene.
My whole force consisted of 1,010 men, including sick, teamsters, and men on extra duty. I did not believe that the advance of the enemy would be so rapid, and hoped that the artillery and re-enforcements promised would arrive before they could disturb me at Pachytene. Under this confident hope I commenced gathering supplies, explored the leather resources of the country, found them abundant, and organized a corps of shoemakers, and that them at work. Major Hawes had purchased 1,000 fat hogs and a number of beef cattle, and was making preparations to salt them. My men were badly clad and badly armed, with not a knapsack, haversack, or canteen. They carried their powder in horns, gourds, and bottles. This was our condition when the enemy commenced the advance upon us. Retreat was inevitable, but there was too much public property to be abandoned without an effort to save it. I at once ordered all the transportation possible to be collected, and sent the sick, wounded and the live stock to the rear on the Pound Gap road, for the Tazewell route with written orders to turn back the artillery and all public wagons to a point of safety in Virginia. I then sent Captain Holliday, with a small mounted party, on the John's Creek road, and Captains Thomas and
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*See Marshall to Cooper, November 11 and 12; and Cooper to Marshall, same dates, in "Correspondence, etc.-Confederate," pp. 538, 540.
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