Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.
RICHMOND, September 26, 1861.
General A. SIDNEY JOHNSTON, Columbus, Ky.:
Do the best you can in respect to engineers. Employ any officers you can find. The law, however, does not authorize the President to appoint, but they can be compensated.
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
CAMP BUCKNER, September 26, 1861.
Lieutenant-Colonel MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Nashville:
SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, but not until I had ordered an expedition that may possibly draw me into collision with the enemy, which I am apprehensive from your first paragraph General Johnston does not consider expedient at present.
At Laurel Bridge, in Laurel County, from 36 to 40 miles from here, is an assembly of Home Guard companies to dispute our passage. I am not able to learn their number definitely, but reports say from 100 to 500. At the salt works on Goose Creek, in Clay County, is a large amount of salt, which it is desirable we should possess. The works are about 35 miles distant, and about 18 miles east of Laurel Bridge. I desire to reconnoiter the country to that distance in advance, and it occurred to me to feel of the guard at the bridge, and under cover of the movement to send all the empty wagons I could command to load with and receipt for the salt. I sent an infantry regiment before day this morning with three companies of cavalry and a section of artillery to take possession of the bridge; a battalion of infantry and two companies of cavalry follow to take position 8 or 10 miles from the bridge, toward the salt works, and a regiment of infantry with two cavalry companies proceed to the works to load with salt and return.
The movement at the bridge is designed to attract attention and mask the movement to the salt works. All are instructed to communicate with each other and with me by express messengers, and to give each other mutual support. I have two cavalry companies watching the road between here and Barboursville, and I have here two infantry regiments and two sections of an artillery company. The bridge is about 50 miles from Camp Dick Robinson, and the movement may draw a force from that camp, which would require me to support my advanced force; but I do not believe this probable. I expect the whole expedition back in five or six days.
I am without information as to the strength or movements of Camp Dick Robinson. Any information you have might be of service to me. The population here is so generally hostile I cannot push spies through. The male population has nearly disappeared between here and Barboursville. I am carefully respecting the rights of the citizens, and am making some favorable impression on their sentiments I hope. I have no engineer officer of military education, but will do all in my power to strengthen the positions I hold. Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.
P. A. - The proclamation shall be circulated as widely as possible.*
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* See p. 420.
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