HDQRS. LATE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Portland, Ohio, October 12, 1862.

MAJOR: On the night of the 16th of August last the army of Stevenson, claimed by the enemy to be 20,000 strong, arrived in front of Cumberland Gap, and I immediately ordered Captain Martin, of Munday's cavalry, to proceed, by forced marches, to observe Rogers' and Big Creek Gaps. When within 18 miles of Rogers' Gap he encountered the advance guard of Major General E. Kirby Smith's army, then invading Kentucky. Martin's company was attacked and routed by a greatly superior force of the enemy. General Smith, with 25,000 men, afterward increased to 30,000, established his headquarters at Barboursville, and sent two divisions, under Major-General McCown, to occupy Cumberland Ford. We were now closely enveloped by two armies, numbering 45,000 men, and our supplies were entirely cut off. In consequence of bad roads and want of proper transportation our subsistence stores were short, and I immediately placed my command on half rations, with the determination of holding out to

the last extremity. In order to save the artillery, cavalry, and wagon horses from starvation, and for the further purpose of sending tried troops to re-enforce the column organizing at Lexington four our aid, I ordered 400 men of the Third Kentucky, under the gallant Colonel Garrard, by be mounted, and directed him to proceed, with Munday's cavalry, to join the United States forces then en route for our relief. A battalion of the Third Tennessee, under Colonel Houk, had been attacked by a greatly superior force at London, and after a brave resistance was compelled to retreat; but, after a fatiguing march through the mountains, succeeded in gaining Cumberland Gap. The other battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Chiles, did gallant service at the Big Hill and at Richmond, for which the hearty thanks of Major-General Nelson were tendered. At Richmond three battalions of my command participated in the battle against immense odds; and, though defeated, by their good conduct they preserved untarnished the honor to our flag.

The enemy's forces having been withdrawn from Cumberland Ford on September 1, I sent De Courcy's brigade to Manchester to secure supplies, though the entire country within 50 miles had been already exhausted. I the man time I seized every available opportunity to assail the enemy, and sent two expeditions against Baptist and Rogers' Gaps, one against Big Creek Gap, and small expeditions to capture the enemy's stragglers left and Barboursville and London. In all we captured about 500 prisoners and killed and wounded 170 of the enemy, with trifling loss to ourselves. We resorted to every means to draw the enemy into a fight in front of Cumberland Gap. At one time I caused the brigade of De Courcy to be placed in ambush beyond the Poor Valley Ridge, and sent Baird's brigade 4 miles up the Virginia Valley with 50 wagons for corn, which was obtained and brought in; but they enemy adhered to his adopted policy and refused to fight, though Baird formed in line of battle in his immediate front and awaited his coming till 5 p.m. The bands struck up "Dixie," but to no effect. At that time the pickets of the two armies were within hailing distance of each other. In the hope that the enemy would be defeated in front I caused Rogers' and Big Creek Gaps to be heavily blockaded and determined to attack the enemy as he attempted to escape; but the action at Richmond was lost and the country around the Gap was stripped of every stalk of corn.

On the 9th of September I addressed a letter to Major-General Wright, by Lieutenant Charles S. Medary, one of my aides-de-camp, with a