OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
Holston River was burned on Friday night and the track torn up, induces me to apply to you for a small force, to be detailed to guard the bridges in this State until we can make some arrangement to do so ourselves. There are two regiments-Trigg's and Moore's-now at Abingdon and Wytheville, if the men could be spared for a few days. I go with carpenters and lumber to Tennessee this evening to assist in rebuilding bridge. I make my application to you direct, confident it will receive attention.
RO. L. OWEN, President Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
RICHMOND, November 10, 1861.
R. L. OWEN, President Railroad, Lynchburg:
Your dispatch received. Colonel Leadbetter, of Engineer Corps, will leave in the morning with a battalion and battery of field pieces. He is charged with the duty of restoring and guarding the communications. Other forces will be sent to him via Chattanooga. Your earnest co-operation with him is relied on by the President.
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.
RICHMOND, November 10, 1861.
General B. BRAGG, Pensacola:
The President desires that you send one regiment of your command with the least delay to Chattanooga, with orders to report to Colonel Leadbetter, of Engineer Corps, who is charged with the special duty of restoring and maintaining the communications that have been interrupted by the burning of the railroad bridges by band of traitors. He thinks it best to send one of the Alabama regiments now at Mobile, but leaves you to exercise your own discretion in choosing the regiment to be sent. This is so urgent as to admit of no delay, but the regiment will be restored to you the moment we can replace it. Other forces are dispatched from here to perform the same duty at Bristol, where another bridge has been burned.
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.
RICHMOND, November 10, 1861.
General W. H. CARROLL, Memphis:
Proceed with the least possible delay to re-enforce General Zollicoffer with all your armed men, and leave some reliable officer to arm the remainder, and move them to Zollicoffer's aid as fast as possible.
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.
RICHMOND, November 10, 1861.
Colonel D. LEADBETTER:
COLONEL: Herewith you will receive an order to report to Tenneses, to keep up the line of communication by rail between Bristol and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Upon arriving in Tennessee you are authorized
