Brigadier- General to S. Cooper, December 14, 1861

North of the River opposite Mill Springs, December 14, 1861.

SIR:

On the 2d instant I informed you that I had, from the south bank of the river, shelled the enemy out of their camp on the north bank, and was rapidly constructing boats at Mill Springs with which to cross the river. On the 3d I threw over a few cavalry pickets, who drove back the enemy’s pickets, found a mile from the ferry, capturing a pistol, a saddle, and some other trappings. The Seveuteenth Ohio Regiment, 24 miles distant, fled 12 miles. On the 4th, our cavalry pickets captured, 6 miles north of the river, after a chase of more than a mile, Major Helveti, of the First Kentucky Cavalry, Captain Prime, of New York, engineer officer, of General Buell’s staff, and a corporal of Colonel Hoskins’ Kentucky regiment. The major and captain were

both severely wounded. On the 5th, 6th, 7th, and Sth we were employed crossing, by aid of a few boats we had- constructed (finding a strong position in the bend of the river on thé north side), leaving two regiments, some-cavalry, and two pieces of artillery on the south bank. On the 5th we found that the enemy were intrenching a strong position on the east bank of Fishing Creek, 11 miles north of us. ‘The bed of the ereek is a deep ravine, 200 to 300 feet deep, the summit-level on one side being distant from that on the other side from three quarters of a mile to one and a half miles. They also had a force at a lower crossing, 7 miles from us. Both crossings were on roads leading to Somerset, On the “th we found that they had fallen back from both positions, and learned that they were intrenching 2 miles beyond Somerset. On the Sth our cavalry pushed across the creek at the upper crossing, met a cavalry and infantry picket at the fortifications, drove them to the enemy’s camp near Somerset, killing 10 or 12 and capturing 17 prisoners, all of the Thirty-fifth Ohio Regiment, except 1 of the First Ken- . tucky Cavalry. Our loss, 1 man wounded and 2 horses killed. Our party captured a number of muskets, pistols, accouterments, articles of wearing apparel, &c.

On the south side of the river I have had the ferries patrolled with eavalry from the forks of the Cumberland down to Burkesville. On the — our picket at Creelsborough was fired at across the river and by some men in a boat. They killed 2 in the boat, and lost a horse. On the 9th and 10th the enemy on the north bank fired across the river at our cavalry patrolling Rowena, 30 miles below here. I determined to punish them, and sent down an expedition on the north bank on the 11th, which dispersed: the enemy, killing 3 and capturing 11. Our only loss was L man drowned in attempting to eross the river. Last night a party of our cavalry, who had crossed the South Fork of the Cumberland, were fired on, losing 1 man killed and 1 wounded. It being difficult to keep them here safely, I to-day sent 33 prisoners of war to Nashville, retaining 1 too badly wounded to move at present. General Johnston has ordered a steamboat to Gainesborough on the 18th, loaded with supplies for this brigade, on which the prisoners will take passage. This country is abundant in flour, pork, beef, and many other supplies. There are from eight to ten regiments of the enemy at Somerset, five at Columbia. I have four and a half regiments on this side intrenched—flanks and rear protected by the river—and two regiments on the south bank. MajorGeneral Crittenden has assumed command of this district, and is at Knoxville. ;

Very respectfully, F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,

Brigadier- General.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.

DECEMBER 4-7, 1861.—Expedition to and destruction of Bacon Creek

‘ Bridge, Ky.

Report of Capt. John H. Morgan, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate).

Camp BuRNAM, December 7, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of orders, I left