CHAP.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - UNION.

until they heard of my approach (which was really at the time a false report, as it was started about the time you ordered me forward); they were then suddenly overtaken with alarm, and left as before stated. Huff says they are armed with stolen Home Guard muskets, with pistols, shot-guns, common rifles, &c., just what they can lay their hands upon; that most of the men are very much dissatisfied with their condition, and swear if they could get away they would, never to be drawn in again. The cavalry are generally well mounted, having seized all the fine horses they could lay hands upon, but badly armed. They had no artillery. At Camp Zollicoffer Huff says he overhead the colonels talking the day before he got off that they were to remain there ten or twelve days, till they got orders. There is a report that the rebels have at Jamestown, just in the rear of the cavalry, 180 wagons. I have set on foot an investigation, and if I find this to be certain, it will be an incentive to capture which I can't resist, but will do it cautiously and with entire safety to my men, as we should have nothing to do but to frighten the cavalry again and go forward and take them. There is some plausible grounds for belief that those wagons are there for the purpose of hauling the hogs they expected to steal and carry off from along the border as soon as fattened.

And this suggests the propriety of my forming a camp forward at Monticello, and having Colonel Haggard to resume his camp at Burkesville. At Burkesville the whole Upper Cumberland can be controlled, ascent and descent of the river be regulated, and with sufficient cavalry force to keep up a regular line of pickets between the two posts at Monticello and Burkesville the entire central border can be assured protection against these marauding wretches or they intercepted and cut off.

At Monticello I can, when you desire it, either move forward or turn to Whitley County, join any movement made via Huntsville, or on toward Barboursville or in a descent of the river; it is 5 miles from the Cumberland at one of the shipping points. It is a rich agricultural country about Monticello, abounding in subsistence and forage.

I make these latter suggestions for your consideration and instruction. I do so only because of my thorough knowledge of the geography and topography of the country, without any purpose of obtruding my opinions, but simply to give you the facts, and then rigidly to conform to your directions.

Respectfully,

THO.E. BRAMLETTE, Colonel First Regiment Infantry Kentucky Vols.

LOUISVILLE, November 12,1861. (Received November 13.)

General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding, Crab Orchard:

SIR: I sent a special dispatch to you last night, intimating the necessity of withdrawing your forces farther back.

I am convinced from many facts that A. Sidney Johnston is making herculean efforts to strike a great blow in Kentucky; that he designs to move from Bowling Green on Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati. I may be in error, but he has pressed into service some 1,500 wagons at and near Bowling Green, and his force is not far short of 45,000 men, with a large proportion of artillery.

The movement may depend on new circumstances, but I think the

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