Geo. H. Thomas, ` to AND TENNESSEE. [Cmar. XIT. |, September 22, 1861

Louisville, Ky., September 22, 1861.

Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding Camp Dick Robinson :

GENERAL: Your two notes of September 20* have been received. Messrs. Hoskins and Howard have been authorized to procure tents. We have none here, and no proper material for making them. i

The danger in which Louisville is at this time renders it impossible for me to comply with your request that I would send you four welldrilled regiments and a battery of artillery. The latter has already been forwarded ; the former cannot be obtained from any source.

A rally has been ordered of the militia and Home Guards, and I trus that you will have a force of true men, who, battling for their firesides and their homes, will soon drive the bandits from our Soil. ;

God save our eountry ! : :

Respectfully and sincerely, yours,

ROBERT ANDERSON, Brigadier-General, U. $. Army, Commanding.

Lits a iplo v Mes Pio

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION, 267

CAMP ROBERT ANDERSON, September 22, 1861—3 p. m. General THOMAS:

linelose letter just handed to me by Judge Buckner.* He informs me that steps are taken to have forces fall in here and at Camp Robinson—Home Guards, &e., to act under your command—and that I am expected to protect the place, and, if you think right, move forward to secure the railroad, part of which is now in possession of General Mitchel, with 2,000 forces.

lean’t hear from my family at Columbia. If any letters or news comes from there to me, do me the great kindness to forward it.. I rest uneasy for news from my wife and little children at that place, now held, as I learn, by traitor troops. Respectfully, . E : THO. E. BRAMLETTE.

CAMP ROBERT ANDERSON, September 22, 1861—11.30 p. m.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

I have just sent out two companies to watch the various passes, and seize guns, whieh my scouts think will be attempted to be moved tonight by the rebels. While engaged in instructing the commandants

-of the different squads I received the inclosed letter, which I forward

to you, as I have no eavalry with which to operate at the distance from here required. Lawrenceburg is about 25 miles from Camp Robinson, and there is no doubt in my mind but it is in the direct line of the rebel movements. I have it from so many reliable sources, that I am well assured that their line of communication and for stealing purposes lies

“through Versailles, Lawrenceburg, and Spencer County.

Some point which could be secured, and which Morgan Vance, of

Harrodsburg, could designate, ought to be secured by 200 or 300 cavalry, so as to intercept arms, &c., and seize any armed traitors who may attempt to move in that direction. :

We are getting along pretty well here, and I think our presence here has greatly alarmed and disconcerted them in their movements.

Breckinridge and others fled the night we reached here and in advance of our arrival, having been warned by a seamp by the name of Smith, from Nicholasville. They are not far, I learn to-day, from Mount Sterling, at alittle place ealled Hazel Green, and it is thought are concentrating forces in that vicinity. I send this by the same gentleman who brought the letter inclosed. Captain Hoskins’ indorsement of them is sufficient. j : In haste, respectfully, . THO. E. BRAMLETTE.

: VERSAILLES, Ky., September 22, 1861. Colonel BRAMLETTE, Commanding at Camp Anderson: ;

DEAR SIR: We believe, from reliable information, that many of the secessionists from the surrounding country are collecting in Anderson County, for the purpose of joining our enemies in Tennessee or the southern part of this State. They are constantly moving in that direc-

* Probably Fisk to Buckner, p. 268,

tion hy way of Lawrenceburg. I was informed to-day that they had taken possession of the State arms in that county for the purpose of taking them with them to the Southern Confederacy. I state these facts for the purpose of suggesting the propriety of sending a sufficient force on that line to intercept them. I send this by my friends H. €. McLeod, &c., and recommend them to your confidence. * Yours, truly, J. E. HOSKINS,- Captain, Woodford Home Guards.

FRANKFORT, Ky., September 22, 1861. Hon. R. BUCKNER:

Please send speakers [regiment], as desired by Mr. Gill. The track .

this side of Falmouth is torn up for 2 or 3 miles. Humphrey Marshall is

assembling a force at Drennan Springs. Dowtlet General Thomas send —

too much force against Zollicoffer, but let him open the Covington and

Lexington Railroad promptly. Our munitions must come that way. The -.

mountaineers will whip Zollicoffer as soon as they get ammunition. By all means send them lead, lead, lead ! ; Respectfully, yours,

HEADQUARTERS FiRST KENTUCKY BRIGADE, ‘Camp Dick Robinson, September 22, 1861. Brig. Gen. ROBERT ANDERSON, U.S. A., : Commanding Department of the Cumberland :

GENERAL : Mr. Corcoran arrived here last evening. I am constantly beset with importunities from citizens near the border to advance to their relief; and to do so with these troops in their present disorganized

state will lead to certain disaster, and in that event we shall have to

fall back upon the Ohio, and lose all the advantages we now have-by holding this place. I cannot think of it for a moment, unless I could have 4,000 well-drilled men and a battery of artillery.

My latest advices from Barboursville are to.this effect, that the enemy

are concentrating in East Tennessee, both from Virginia and the far. South. This looks like an invasion of Kentucky in force, and we should be prepared to meet them; but my hands are completely tied, unless the Government will give me an organized force to work with. .

It is absolutely necessary that an engineer, a quartermaster, and the four regiments of infantry, and a battery of artillery above referred to,

all equipped for the field upon reaching here, should be sent to me with- .

out a moments delay. lam assured by the most reliable people from East Tennessee that

an invasion of Kentucky from that quarter is intended, and I beg that the Government will place me in a condition to defend this part of the –

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. H. THOMAS, `
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