A. Mod. McCook to Lieutenant-Colonel DuUcAT, November 7, 1862

Lieutenant-Colonel DuUcAT, Acting Chief of Staff, Bowling Green, Ky. :

COLONEL: I arrived here at 8 a. m., and found everything all mght in Nashville. The troops are in excellent fighting order, and ready; want nothing but sugar and coffee, shoes and blankets. The sugar and coffee they will have to-night.

My troops will encamp on the right bank of the Cumberland. There is no room on the Nashville side, unless I go beyond the defenses of General Negley. We have two admirable bridges over the river. The railroad bridge is also a wagon bridge, and the pontoon bridge is a good one, and can be secured against any rise in the river.

General Negley reports the enemy at Murfreesborough, and extending within 8 miles of the city, 25,000; artillery, thirty-five pieces, chiefly field artillery, well mounted, and principally heavy caliber.

Cheatham’s division is concentrating at Tullahoma, on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. You will be much pleased with the military condition of things here when you arrive; but the Union sentiment is decreasing every day, and the miserable inhabitants are very bitter. General Negley has furnished 250 wagons, which are now on the way to Mitchellsville for supplies. Feed Mitchellsville Station well, and I will deliver all in Nashville promptly. ~ :

I will communicate twice a day.

Respectfully, &c.,