John P. Murray to Colonel Murray, October 16, 1861

Colonel MURRAY, Camp Myers :

SIR: I am 10 miles on the march toward a camp of the enemy on Rockcastle River, having left Cumberland Ford this evening with the greater part of my command. I learned that the enemy at Albany has retired. My plan has been to fall in their rear and cut them off. Now that Colonel Stanton and our eavalry have left the neighborhood of Jamestown, the enemy may return in force near the line. I have ordered stores of subsistence for my troops to be placed at Jamestown by the 25th instant, and have ordered the same cavalry companies to return to that neighborhood almost the same time, to prevent the enemy from seizing and appropriating the stores. Perhaps the cavalry from above would not be sufficient to prevent an incursion. I expect to pass down by Somerset and Monticello or by Columbia and Burkesville, in the hope of capturing. any forces they may be threatening your position with. As secrecy is the element of success, I must beg of you not to mention to any solitary person this enterprise. My object in writing to you is to ask you, about the 25th, to move in such a way as to insure, by the aid of the cavalry, the safety of the stores, until I can reach the neighborhood. Inform – General Caswell at Knoxville what you can do, and he will communicate with me. :

Very respeetfully,

BOWLING GREEN, October 21, 1861. : General ZOLLICOFFER : a GENERAL: Your telegram from London received. The information we have of the enemy in your front is this: 10,000 at Camp Dick Robinson ; of these 4,000 are in advance towards Cumberland Gap, buthow – far is not known; it is commanded by Garrard; and 10,000 dotted from – Robinson to Oineinnati. General Polk ordered 2 howitzers, 1 Parrott, and 3 iron guns to be shipped for youto Knoxville October 15. A company to man this battery will be sent in a few days. E W. W. MACKALL, $ Assistant Adjutant-General. :

CmaeXIL) ‘ ACTION AT ROUKCASTLE HILLS, KY., ETC.

: Camp RED SULPHUR, October 92, 1861. General F. K. ZOLLICOFFER:

DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of yours of 16th instant. I am much pleased to learn that you are moving in direction of the interior of Kentucky. We are to-day within 32 miles of Burkesville; will reach and eapture the Federal forces there by the 25th of this instant. We will then move to Albany by the 26th of this instant. Will you inform me

of your position at Albany, as I will wait at that point for orders from you? J have no fears of our success at Burkesville. In the mean time our forces will prevent the Federal forces from capturing your supplies at Jamestown. Yours shall be strictly confidential. lam,

your obedient servant, ;