Brigadier- General to Prime and a Major Helveti were taken prisoners at Somerset, December 13, 1861

Columbia, Ky., December 13, 1861.

(Received December 14, 1861.) Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding First Division, Lebanon, Ky.:

GENERAL: The people,even the good Union people, circulate the most devilish lies in regard to the enemy, and our own scouts, without they are selected with care, are not reliable. We have had every form of rumor in the last two days, and nearly the whole of them are false. ‘The rebels were at Rowena, and shot two or three men, but killed none.

They wounded old man Williams and took him off. They robbed sev- :

eral stores and houses in Jamestown and took off a good deal of clothing. They took off a number of horses with them, and it is reported took off eleven of the citizens.

The scouts and people from Monroe and Allen Counties say there is no enemy in that direction. I keep scouts out for from 12 to 25 miles and even farther. I think it likely the enemy have 350 Texas Rangers in Metcalfe County to-night. They intend to defeat the election. I had purposed to send more cavalry down to enable the people to hold the election. I may send a force to one precinct in the morning.

Colonel Hindman is still at Bear Wallow, so far as I can learn. I cannot hear of any advance in this direction; he cannot be far from the railroad and not very distant from Munfordville. I believe it is a feint, to deceive his men with the idea that they are to fight.

Captain Flynt addressed a note to the colonel of the Fifty-ninth Ohio in regard to their wagons. I ordered the colonel to retain the wagons, and he is in no sense to be blamed. I did it for the reason that they have not the necessary transportation, and that there was reason to believe it would be required here.

Respectfully, &e., J. T. BOYLE, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

LEBANON, Ky., dern 14, 1861. Brigadier-Genéral BUELL, Louisville, Ky.: The five companies of First Kentucky Cavalry have not arrived here

yet. General Boyle wrote me day before yesterday that he had sent

Colonel Wolford towards Jamestown to watch the enemy. The whole regiment was absent when the order reached Columbia. I think it likely they will be here by to-morrow or next day. GEO. H. THOMAS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers.

LEBANON, Ky., December 14, 1861. Brigadier-General BUELL, Louisville, Ky.:

I have received no letter from General Schoepf since the 10th. An officer was here yesterday direct from the Thirty-fifth Ohio. He left Somerset on the 12th. General Schoepf believed at that time that the enemy was returning across the Cumberland, but he could get no positive information, as he could not rely on his cavalry. Schoepf’s position is on Fishing Creek, between Somerset and Mill Springs. +

GEO. H. THOMAS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers.

HDQRsS. First DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Lebanon, Ky., December 14, 1861. Brigadier-General SCHOEPF, Commanding at Somerset, Ky.:

GENERAL: General Boyle writes me from Columbia that the enemy’s cavalry eame down the Cumberland from Mill Springs as far as Jamestown, doing much damage, but returned between 12 o’elock and daylight on the night [morning] of the 12th. He further says that Colonel Wolford reported to him that there is a considerable force of cavalry encamped on this side of the Cumberland, opposite Mill Springs, and that very few of the infantry have crossed.

I also learn from a man who says he has been into their camp that their force is not over 6,500, if that. They have but eight pieces of artillery. Ihave written to General Buell about the cavalry, but I am afraid with but little success. He has no cavalry which can be relied on very much, and has ordered five companies of Wolford’s cavalry tq go to Prestonburg.

` Respectfully, &c., GEO. H. THOMAS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, Somerset, Ky., 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 26 years of age, who states that he is or was the servant of Lieutenant Allen, of a Tennessee regiment, C. S. Army. This boy was sent out from the enemy’s eamp about 12 m. to-day with the dinner of his master (Lieutenant 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 15 men of the Thirty-fifth Ohio) will be sent to Nashville to-day. They 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,

Brigadier- General.

LOUISVILLE, December 15, 1861—12 p. m.

Major-Gencral MeCLELLAN:

Captain Prime and a Major Helveti were taken prisoners at Somerset.

It was not reported to me until I inquired, seeing it published. Weare

gradually moving up, and kave occasionally a few shots with pickets.

We shall in a few days have two bridges over Green River; have one

now at Munfordville. Ishall commence a general inspection this week.