F.K. Zollicoffer to W. B. Woon, Knoxville, November 12, 1861

Col. W. B. Woon, Knoxville :

SIR: The expressman reached me this evening at 9 o’clock with two letters from you, both dated 11th November. You say that the force at Papaw Hollow is augmenting from theadjoining counties. Please state what county Papaw Hollow is in. You say you inclose me a dispatch from John L. Hopkins, Chattanooga; but no dispateh was inclosed. I have two cavalry eompanies under Captain Rowan, near Oliver’s, on road from Knoxville to Montgomery, and two near Huntsville, on road from Chitwood’s to Montgomery ; but your omission to send the dispatch of Hopkins and only incidental allusion to cutting somebody off near Kingston leaves me at a loss what orders to send them. Please give me all the information you have which will enable me to intercept

any body of tories attempting to pass towards Montgomery, Jamestown,

Huntsville, or Post Oak Springs. I rejoice that you have caught six of the bridge-burners. I am yet unadvised what precise bridges are actually destroyed, or whether my

intended telegraphic dispatches are really transmitted over the wires. _

Have you any news from Colonel Carroll’s regiment or any other reenforcement? I will to-morrow send dispatches to the forces near Jamestown, the cavalry near Huntsville, that near Oliver’s, and start out the cavalry here, to commence simultaneously disarming the Union inhabitants. You will please simultaneously send orders to all detachments under your command to inaugurate the same movement at the Same time in their various localities. Their leaders should be seized and held as prisoners. The leniency shown them has been unavailing. They have acted with base duplicity, and should no longer be trusted.

Very respectfully,