OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP. XII.

Olympian Springs. A copy of this I have forwarded to General Sherman, at the same [time] telegraphing him requesting that two regiments from Lexington or Nicholasville might be immediately ordered to the assistance of Colonel Harris, and that I will go so soon as I can possibly hire wagons. General Sherman sends me the inclosed telegraph in reply. Accordingly I send Lieutenant Duke, Second Dragoons, to you, and beg that two regiments be immediately sent to the support of Harris. I have called on all the Home Guards in this and the Ashland districts, but they show great indisposition to turn out; in fact, they cannot be depended upon. They are "fireside" rangers and nothing more. I look to you for support.

Very truly,

W. NELSON, Brigadier-General.

[Inclosure.]

CAMP GILL, October 10, 1861.

Brigadier-General NELSON, Maysville, Ky.:

SIR: I arrived at this point this evening with my command, 900 strong. I found Colonel Grigsby with 300 men.

From reliable information just received I have no doubt that there are now at the rebel camp at Prestonburg, at the very lowest calculation, at least 4,000 men. They are very well armed and well mounted, and are receiving constant accessions from above and below. They have also two pieces of artillery, an 8 and 6 pounder, that we know of.

Colonel Grigsby has been very active in procuring information, and there can be no doubt of the correctness of it. It is absolutely impossible for them to subsist their force in that region for any length of time, and I feel assured that unless a sufficient force is rapidly concentrated at this point they will be down upon us in less than five days.

From information brought this evening I believe that their forward movement will commence on the 12th instant.

We will push a force of 200 men into the mountains to-night after a detachment on their way to join them. I cannot impress upon you too strongly the necessity of pushing forward as rapidly as possible, and to bring along a section, if not a full battery, of artillery of light pieces. If you have no artillery, I think that he will cheerfully accede to almost any request I may make; I also know that artillery in this region is very, very essential.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

L. A. HARRIS, Colonel Second Regiment O. V. M.

L. B. GRIGSBY, Colonel [Kentucky Militia].

JNO. S. HURT, Major [Kentucky Militia].

HEADQUARTERS, Louisville, Ky., October 11, 1861.

General NELSON [Camp Kenton]:

Send messenger to Thomas, at Dick Robinson. He has two regiments at Nicholasville. A movement from Prestonburg on Olympian Springs cannot be made so promptly. General Anderson has just