CHAP. XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.
be abandoned, and I can remove my headquarters either to London or Somerset, as circumstances may require; the distance between these two villages is about the same as between this and London, 30 miles.
With my headquarters at Somerset I can easily seize the most favorable time for invading East Tennessee, which ought to be done this winter. I shall not need for that purpose more than four additional regiments, but they should be well organized and drilled, and prepared to take the field on their arrival.
* * * * *
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. H. THOMAS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Paducah, Ky., November 6, 1861.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.:
SIR: The telegram of the Major-General Commanding the Army, dated at 7 p. m. on the 2nd instant, directing a report on the number and position of troops, &c., was not received until this morning. We have telegraphic communication with Cairo, put up at my instigation, by order of Major-General Fremont. A cable is laid over the river at this point. The wire is in my quarters. I answered the General's telegram by telegraph to-day. A copy is inclosed.*
There are four companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry in camp at Old Fort Massac, badly armed with old carbines. The whole of this regiment was under my orders, but, at the request of Brigadier-General Grant, I detached six companies to him at Cairo. I forwarded a requisition for arms for the regiment-sabers and pistols; no carbines-to the headquarters of the Department of the West many weeks since, which, I understand, was sent to Washington. The Chief of the Ordnance Department, in answer to a telegram of mine on the subject, said he could not furnish them. I want very much the services of these four companies here, but have not brought them for want of their proper arms. They are doing good service where they are, by guarding the line of telegraph and stopping the passage of contrabands across the river; at last I hope so. By direction of General Fremont I have occupied Smithland, the mouth of the Cumberland, with 300 men. They have erected two respectable earthworks, which are protected with two 32-pounders and one 8-inch columbiad. Two field guns (a 6 and 12 pounder howitzer) are needed there, but I cannot spare them, and I see no probability of getting them from Saint Louis. I made a recent inspection of Smithland. The works are well constructed, and, although they will not be completed for a fortnight or so, can make a respectable defense. My orders are to hold Paducah and Smithland at all hazards.
I inclose herewith a sketch of Paducah and its vicinity,* pointing out the defenses and stations of troops. It is a flat, wooded country, not much susceptible of defense at first, but by an unsparing use of the ax a very sufficient abatis, several hundred yards in width, renders all approach, except by the roads, which are guarded by the earthworks, very difficult, if not impracticable. The sketch, however, sufficiently explains itself. The line of defense is long, say 2 miles from the re-
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*Not found.
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