OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
or true and reliable men living in the specified neighborhoods, to ascertain the precise facts, if possible, and transmit them to me, to General Cooper, to Lieutenant-Colonel Mackall, and to Brigadier-General Carroll. I am in doubt whether my dispatches to those gentlemen were transmitted by telegraph. Please keep me advised as to the means of sending telegraphic dispatches.
The tories will probably circulate the most exaggerated and baseless stories, with a view to distract and cripple our movements. Our friends will readily give credence to them in apprehension of danger. It be comes us, therefore, to investigate these rumors and act cautiously, to avoid useless and harassing marches. I may send Captain Ashby's squadron down the country to look after Clift; but I wold prefer, be fore beginning to dispose of my forces, to see more distinctly the force and movements of the enemy, and to be informed how you are placing the cavalry companies with you or on the line of the railroad. Where are they now placed? I may soon move an infantry force much nearer the Loudon Bridge, but prefer to await certain knowledge of necessity for it.
Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.
JACKSBOROUGH, November 12, 1861.
Colonel W. B. WOOD, Knoxville:
SIR: The expressman reached me this evening at 9 o'clock with two letters from you, both dated 11th November. You say that the force at Papaw Hollow is augmenting from the adjoining counties. Please state what county Papaw Hollow is in.You say you inclose me a dispatch from John L. Hopkins, Chattanooga; but no dispatch was inclosed.I have two cavalry companies under Captain Rowan, near Oliver's, on road from Knoxville to Montgomery, and two near Huntsville, on road from Chitwood's to Montgomery; but your omission to send the dispatch of Hopkins and only incidental allusion to cutting somebody off near Kingston leaves me at a loss what orders to send them. Please give me all the information you have which will enable me to intercept any body of tories attempting to pass towards Montgomery, Jamestown, Huntsville, or Post Oak Springs.
I rejoice that you have caught six of the bridge-burners. I am yet unadvised what precise bridges are actually destroyed, or whether my intended telegraphic dispatches are really transmitted over the wires. Have you any news from Colonel Carroll's regiment or any other re-enforcement? I will to-morrow send dispatches to the forces near Jamestown, the cavalry near Huntsville, that near Oliver's and start out the cavalry here, to commence simultaneously disarming the Union inhabitants. You will please simultaneously send orders to all detachments under your command to inaugurate the same movement at the same time in their various localities. Their leaders should be seized and held as prisoners. The leniency shown them has been unavailing.
They have acted with base duplicity, and should no longer be trusted.
Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.
