Brigadier-General to George H. Thomas, December 14, 1861

(Received December 18, 1861.) Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding First Division, Lebanon, Ky.:

GENERAL: Since my last communication things have been quiet about Somerset. E

This evening my scouts brought in a contraband—a colored boy, about tenant Allen), then on picket guard, but, mistaking his road, fell into the hands of our scouts.

This is quite an intelligent boy, and gives the following statement: –

The enemy are principally on this side the river, fortifying at a point near Mill Springs and expecting an attack from us. His force consists of one Alabama regiment ( ); one Mississippi regiment (Newman); one Tennessee regiment (Stanton); one Tennessee regiment (Murray); one Tennessee regiment (Curran); one not known (Shaw); óne regiment cavalry (Tennessee), Colonel Bridgman; one regiment cavalry, Tennessee ( ); three single companies cavalry, Captains Sanson, Bledsoe, and ( . Major Helveti was shot in the arm, and (with have eight pieces of artillery—two brass 6-pounders, four iron guns, is not certain as to their ealiber—and two short brass pieces (howitzers). They have two regiments on the other side of the river (infantry and one company of cavalry), the latter kept as scouts. What shall I do with the contraband?

Very respectfully, yours, A. SCHOEPF,