OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

I have gravely considered the duty before me under the light of your dispatch and my position, and have determined for the present not to alter my instructions to Colonel Trigg, who, I presume, is on his line of march to this point, at any rate, to-day. My reason it this: The town of Jeffersonvile is situated on the headwaters of the Clinch River, 45 miles from Wytheville. From it to the westward open two valleys, which unite again in the country of Scott. Down one of these (the southern), running a little south of west, is a good turnpike valley road to Lebanon 38 miles, thence to Hansoville 7 miles, making hence to Hansonville 45 miles. The road from Abingdon to Hansonville is 21 miles, and the regiment moving from Abingdon to Pound Gap passes Hansonville on the way to Galdesville. The distance from Wytheville to Abingdon is 56 miles by the road, or to Hansonville from Wytheville 77 miles; to which add the day's march of Trigg to return to Wytheville, 16 miles, makes 93 miles to go to Hansonville. By this point to Hansonville, from the end of this day's march, 73 miles, to wit: 45 and 28=73; so that if I must go to Pound Gap road, and leave this country open, by this point from where Trigg is to-night is 20 miles nearer than to return by Wytheville. The wagons must move by the road, and the companies cannot go forward without the wagons. Transportation cannot be had at Abingdon; so Colonel Moore intimated to me at Wytheville. Again, 1 mile from this town to the southeast the road from the Tug Fork of Sandy comes into the road hence to Wytheville, and a force may be approaching by that route to cut this line of communication, though I do not known such is the fact.

From this point to Richland is 20 miles on the road Piketon, and thence across to Lebanon road is 5 miles, but a bad road for wagons. At Richland the road to Piketon makes a turn northward towards Buchannan Court-House. At Richland my force would be within 30 miles of Hansonville, by which Moore must pass to the Pound Gap, and at that point I would cover the way to the salt works and Abingdon should the enemy follow the Witheville road, which Colonel Williams leaves open, and yet pickets can communicate from the Tug Fork road. Richland is the wealthiest neighborhood in Tazewell County, and most productive.

My plan is to send forward scouts on the Tug Fork road to ascertain if any force is coming in that direction; to send forward force of scouts on the Wytheville road, to see if he approaches by that direction; to move Trigg and the battery to Richland, if proper to do so, and there to determine my course, whether to advance on Piketon by this road or to re-enforce Moore and Williams at Pound Gap, and contest that ground with the enemy, if he is pursuing Williams on that road. The people on this road are much alarmed at the aspect of affairs and have urged me to call out the militia. I know of no legal authority for me to do so, unless instructed by the President, and shall not exercise it unless so instructed. The officer in command of this brigade informs me he will send a messenger to Richmond, and I avail myself of the chance to send you this, requesting that you will consider my views, and unless your own mind is made up (I mean the Secretary's, of course), that you will leave the movements here to my judgment and responsibility, satisfied that I shall act only upon such reasons as have in view the public interest and the success of my arms. Had I listened to the spasmodic efforts of the popular mind I should have been launched into East Tennessee to guard the railroad and burning bridges or to defend Bristol. Dispatches and couriers have pursued me with the same intent. I mention because I infer you own ear is assailed by the