OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

must have omitted it in closing the letter. Please send it immediately, as I am preparing estimates for appropriation at the session of Congress which is close at hand.

JACKSBOROUGH, November 10, 1861.

(via KNOXVILLE, 11th.) General S. COOPER:

Colonel Churchwell, Cumberland Gap, writes that General Nelson was advancing on the 3rd from Hazel Green, Ky., on Prestonburg, and Colonel Williams fell back to Piketon. Information received from Kentuckians passing through Pound Gap.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.

TREDEGAR IRON WORKS, Richmond, November 11, 1861.

The HonorableSECRETARY OF WAR:

SIR: The inclosed letter from and influential gentleman of Memphis, Tenn., speaks for itself, and believing that you fully appreciate the position of matters at the point referred to, we have nothing to add to the contents of Colonel Tate's letter.

We have the honor to be, the Secretary's most obedient servants,

J. R. ANDERSON & CO.

[Inclosure.]

HUNTSVILLE, ALA., November 2, 1861.

JOHN F. TANNER, Of Messrs, J. R. Anderson & Co., Richmond, Va.:

I have just returned from Kentucky, and from the best information I could get I am satisfied that Zollicoffer's command is in great danger, and Virginia and the Army of the Potomac are in great peril of being cut off by the line of road in Estern Tennessee falling into the hands of our enemies, and unless the Government will send re-enforcements to that point, and that without delay, we are in the utmost peril. We have as much as we can do to prefect Nashville and Memphis, and cannot spare a man. We now have ten or twelve regiments in the field without a gun. There is no want of men, but we are ruined unless we get guns. Go to your friends who have influence with the War Department, and urge them to help Zollicoffer, and do it specially, unless they are willing to be cut off from the West, and suffer disaster and ruin. I regard this the most dangerous point we now have. There are as many enemies in the rear as in front. Do not delay. Cannot some of the troops in Western Virginia go into winter quarters of Cumberland Gap as well as anywhere else? We look alone to the Department to support this point. Walker's brigade here cannot move for want of guns. Johnston has ordered it to support Zollicoffer, but Walker says he has not a gun and cannot move, and does not know when he can.

Yours, truly,

SAM. TATE.