Jeremiah T. Boyle to George H. Thomas, December 10, 1861

Columbia, Ky, te December 10, 1861. Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Headquarters, Lebanon, Ky.:

SIR: My scouts sent out yesterday at noon, under Captain Owens, of Colonel Wolford’s cavalry, have just returned, and report the enemy across the Cumberland on this side. The scouts approached within 6 miles of the enemy’s eamp. “Their camp is 31 miles of this place, near the Columbia and Somerset road.

Captain Owens is à native of Pulaski County, and is thoroughly acquainted with the country and distances and with all the people. He learned from a trustworthy Union citizen in the vicinity of their camp that most if not all of their forces had crossed the Cumberland. They claimed to have others yet to cross. They claimed to have 30,000 men. Captain Owens believes they have from 10,000 to 12,000 men. They effected the crossing by an extensive raft of logs.

The rebels beat up for recruits in Wayne County last week and enlisted over 200 men. Their forces are increasing from recruits of rebels in Kentucky and new forces from Tennessee.

The enemy are between General Schoepf and the forces here. It is believed and understood to be their purpose to hold with part of their torce the forces of General Schoepf in check, and with the greater portion of their army move on Columbia, and, cutting us off, join Buckner’s

iJ ESY Y forees or hold this section, and prevent a flank movement on Bowling Green.

Would it not be well to inerease the force here, and throw suffieient numbers here to protect the sick and stores, and move on the enemy by the road to Somerset, General Schoepf making a simultaneous movement upon them from the other side? I notify you now that the enemy is in force on this side the Cumberland, and will most probaply move in this direction.

The forces here are greatly disabled by sickness. The morning report showed over 1,000 sick and absent, and the strength of the forces here does not exceed 2,500 effective men who could be brought into action, exclusive of some 300 of Wolford’s cavalry and including Haggard’s cavalry.

The forces here cannot fall back with all their sick and stores. Three of the regiments have no ambulances, and some have no wagons, and only one, the Nineteenth Ohio, is supplied fully with transportation. The sick and the stores here must be protected.

Concentrate your forces here and with General Schoepf and move them simultaneously upon the enemy, and you will effectually cut him off. If this is done, it must be done immediately. I shall expect forces to defend this place and move on the enemy. If you have a brigadiergeneral of experience, you can place the forces under his command, or I will lead them with such ability as I possess.

Let me hear from you.

Respectfully, &c.,