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

portion of the enemy's force has advanced to London. Their force at and on this side of the Rockcastle River is reported at 9,000. There are three main roads by which, if an invasion of East Tennessee is contemplated, an enemy might approach. On this, by Cumberland Gap, we have heretofore concentrated nearly our whole force, and we now have seven guns in position at Cumberland Gap. The most yesterday road is by Monticello, in Kentucky, and Jamestown, in Tennessee. The counties of Fentress, Scott. Morgan, and Anderson are poor, mountainous, and disaffected. Should a force select that route of invasion I could meet them at the mountain passes near Clinton and between Kingston and Morgan Court-House, and keep them on that broad, sterile region until it would be practicable for General Buckner to throw a force in their rear and cut them off.

In view of this danger they may select the middle route, by Williamsburg and Jacksborough. The road over the Log Mountains will soon become almost impassable between here and the Cumberland Gap. The Gap is a much stronger position than this. While I am watching the road from here to Laurel River, the enemy might be advancing on the Jacksborough or the Jamestown road without my knowledge. For these reasons I sent four cavalry companies to scout on the roads from the neighborhood of Jacksborough into Kentucky, and I have ordered one infantry regiment to Jacksborough, one 6 miles east to Big Creek Gap, two about half way between Jacksborough and Cumberland Gap, while four will remain at present at Cumberland Gap. I leave six cavalry companies to observe this road. One cavalry company is posted on the road from Williamsburg, Ky., to Huntsville, Tenn., and six cavalry companies and (I suppose) Colonel Murray's regiment of infantry are in the neighborhood of Jamestown.

It is currently reported that an invading force, from 20,000 to 30,000, is ont he road from Cincinnati to East Tennessee, but I have no means of knowing anything of the accuracy of the rumor. Except cavalry scouts, my force will be withdrawn from this to-morrow. Acting upon my best judgment, I have supposed the disposition of my forces I have described the very best under the circumstances. Had I a military engineer, in whose judgment I could rely, to reconnoiter the mountain roads, gaps, and passes from Cumberland Gap to Jamestown, I would feel much more capable of making a judicious disposition of troops. I have had rumors that re-enforcements of Confederate troops were to be thrown upon this part of the border, but as I have no official information, I take it for granted the rumors are erroneous.

Very respectfully,

F. W. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.

CAMP HARNDON, October 29, 1861.

Colonel W. B. WOOD:

SIR: I reached the neighborhood of Jamestown the 27th instant. From all the information I could get, I determined immediately to station the three companies of battalion for the present at this point, which is 14 miles north of Jamestown, on the main road to Albany, Ky. This point is 5 miles north of Camp McGinnis. There are four companies of cavalry at Camp McGinnis, with a force of about 275 men; the the companies with me number about 270 men. I received a dispatch yesterday evening from Colonel Murray, that he and Colonel