ABINGDON, September 6, 1863

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond:

The enemy came as far on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad as Watauga bridge, but failed to get possession of the bridge and have fallen back. My cavalry was in Jonesborough this evening. Will endeavor to get the enemy out of that part of East Tennessee.

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.,

September 6, 1863.

Major General S. JONES.

Dublin, Va.:

Send an order to General Frazer, at Cumberland Gap, to evacuate the gap, destroying all stores which he cannot bring away. His line of retreat should be directed upon Abingdon. That is Bragg's order.

S. B. BUCKNER,

Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,

Numbers 23.
Abingdon, September 6, 1863.

In compliance with orders from the Secretary of War the undersigned assumes temporarily command of that portion of Southwestern Virginia which belonged to the Department of East Tennessee and all the forces east of Knoxville that belong to that department.

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,

Numbers 24
[September 6, 1863.]

Brigadier General J. S. Williams is hereby temporarily assigned to the command of that portion of Southwestern Virginia which belonged to the Department of East Tennessee and all forces east of Knoxville that belonged to that department.

By order of Major General Sam. Jones:

J. G. MARTIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Richmond, September 7, 1863.

General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, C. S. Army:

GENERAL: Your letter of 8th August was received on the 28th, and has been duly considered. The greater portion of it has reference to matters entirely outside of the object of my letter to you of 15th July. That letter was written for the sole purpose of showing that your repeated statements of your belief that " your authority had been limited," or that any "new position" had been assigned to you by the Executive, were not justified either by fact or legitimate inference.