C. F. Smith, November 30, 1861

To the ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters Department of the Missouri, Saint Lowis, Mo. : SIR: A very intelligent person employed by me to obtain intelligence . of the movements of the enemy east of the Cumberland returned early

iiu à this morning, and states that the troops who were at Princeton (2,000,

with two guns) have gone to Hopkinsville; that with the exception of two parties of cavalry, of about 50 men each, ^vho were moving up and down from the Ohio plundering, no troops were between Ford’s Ferry and Princeton; that he learned from an old lady, who had a son (a lieu- : tenant) in the rebel army, whom she saw just as he was about marching from Princeton, that his regiment was to go to Muldraugh’s Hill, and that the force at Hopkinsville would soon move in the same direction.

Immediately after getting this statement the captain of the steamer Golden Gate, which plies between Evansville and Cairo, came to inform me that his vessel had been forbidden to go to Caseyville by Captain Seaton, of the Twenty-second Illinois Regiment, stationed at Cave in Rock, with about 40 men of his company, on the ground that a party of 600 to 1,000 were at Caseyville (in camp), and intended to take his steamer and cross over.

I have just ordered three full companies of the Eighth Missouri, with a howitzer, under a field officer, to proceed to Cave in Rock, to act as circumstances may require.

As soon as the Conestoga (gunboat) returns from up the Tennessee I will send her up to Caseyville.

I sent the Conestoga up the Tennessee to look after the rebel gunboat, which I understand had been making a reconnaissance below Fort Henry. I imagine this so-called reconnaissance was merely a trial trip. I think it advisable to have another gunboat here as an additional security.

I inclose Captain Seaton’s letter to me.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,