CHAP.XII.] REVOLT OF THE UNIONISTS IN EAST TENN.
JONESBOROUGH, TENN., November 13, 1861.
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War:
The Lincolnites are forming an encampment at Elizabethton; now have from 1,000 to 1,300 men, and more coming, within 6 miles of our railroad, at Watauga Bridge. They also have from 600 to 1,000 men near Strawberry Plains Bridge, the most important and expensive bridge on our road, and still collecting in greater numbers, and threatening to take and burn the bridge and take possession of the road. If these two bridges are burned our road stops. The demonstrations are such in East Tennessee that a much larger force is necessary. They are cutting the telegraph wires as fast as we put them up.
JOHN R. BRANNER, President East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.
RICHMOND, November 13, 1861.
JOHN R. BRANNER, President R. R. Co., Jonesborough, Tenn.:
Troops are now moving to East Tennessee to crush the traitors. You shall be amply protected.
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.
NASHVILLE, TENN., November 14, 1861.
Muster all the armed forces possible without calling on Zollicoffer, and capture Clift and his men, dead or alive. Colonel Cook's regiment will reach Chattanooga to-night. Looney's regiment there, but not fully armed.
ISHAM G. HARRIS.
ATHENS, TENN., November 14, 1861.
Colonel WOOD:
General Zollicoffer writes that he has taken measures to intercept Clifth's men and others should they try to reach Kentucky, and orders 500 of Looney's regiment to press Clifth's followers. I have not telegraphed Looney, because your orders and General Zollicoffer's are substantially the same.
T. I. CAMPBELL, Major.
JACKSBOROUGH, November 14, 1861.
General COOPER, Adjutant-General:
Colonel Churchwell, Cumberland Gap, reports his pickets at Cumberland Ford attacked by enemy's pickets. Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan, near Jamestown, reports four regiments of enemy near Monticello; 500 tories embodied in Rhea and Hamilton, probably trying to get tot Kentucky. Tories said to be embodied for battle in Carter and Johnson; several hundred embodied in Sevier. One of Carroll's regiments probably arrived; will be used near railroad. I have ordered all posts and detachments to disarm Union men and seize leaders; have made dispositions to cut off and crush tories of Rhea, Hamilton, and Sevier. Blockade here nearly compete. One regiment marches for Wartburg to-day.
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.
