Today in History:

254 Series I Volume IV- Serial 4 - Operations in the South and West

Page 254(Official Records Volume 4)  


OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

and 64 pounders I informed you of, which were at Dover, on the Cumberland River, are to go with this division. They have also eight 6-pounder and four 12-pounders. Troops sickly and discontented. Ammunition rather scarce. All armed with mixed description of muskets and rifles.

I telegraphed you on the 12th to Roaring River, Virginia, of Tennessee and Arkansas troops going by White River to Pocahontas and Pitman's Ferry; to this I have to add that on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th instant about 12,000 troops from Union City, Randolph, Memphis, and other points left randolph by steamer John Walsh and four more boats for New Madrid, Mo., distant from Bloomfield, on the other side of the Great East Swamp, about 30 miles, over which I have just discovered a good plank road.

Bloomfield id distant from Pitman's ferry 55 miles by good county road. A portion of the troops landed at New madrid are to march to Bloomfield and join the troops from Pocahontas and Pitman's Ferry, thence proceed to Thebes, Ill., opposite Cape Girardeau. All boats are to be stopped going down the Mississippi at Cape Girardeau, while the forces at New Madrid are to stop all boats coming up, and the troops going down the Tennessee River are to stop all the boats on the Ohio, and a simultaneous made on Cairo and Bird's point from Thebes and the Ohio bank, in the rear of Cairo, and the expedition from New Madrid.

The rebels have taken possession of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad for their exclusive use. I know the camp at Cairo and Bird's point is full of spies, good fellows, and gay ladies, who are bestowing their favors on and spending their money liberally with the general and regimental officers. I do not say they reside in the camp, but they visit it daily, and by some means also at night. The rebels are in possession of accurate drawings of the whole defenses at these points, corrected daily when necessary.

Rosecrans telegraphs me from Clarksburg, Va., that he fears there is something wrong Cox, as he had not heard from him since the 26th. All was right when my men left Cox. He is reported to have left Charleston - direction of the Gauley - Wise retreating. i advised Cox fully of the dangerous points between Charleston and the Gauley. Will send men there and investigate and report to you and rosecrans, as he desires.

E. J. ALLEN.

GENERAL ORDERS, } WAR DEP'T, ADJT. General 'S OFFICE, Numbers 57. } Washington, August 15, 1861.

I. The States of Kentucky* and Tennessee will in future constitute a separate military command, to be known as the Department of the Cumberland, under the command of Brigadier General Robert Anderson, U. S. Army. * * * * * * *

By order:

L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General.

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* So much of this State as lay within 100 miles of the Ohio River had constituted the Department of Kentucky, under General Anderson's command. - (General Orders, Numbers 27, A. G. O., Washington, May 28, 1861.)

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