L. Markbreit to William W. Averell, October 21, 1863

Brigadier-General AVERELL, Clarksburg : Six of our scouts just in from the front. They were 5 miles beyond Big Spring. Report Captain McNeill’s cavalry company at Huntersville, parts of Hutton’s and Marshall’s companies on Elk Mountain, near Edray; about 100 infantry at Greenbrier Bridge. Colonel Arnett commands all these forces. Headquarters at Greenbrier Bridge. No forces at Green Bank or Dunmore. The force in all that country not over 300. They also report that they were told by one Sharp, a very reliable Union man living beyond Big Spring, that an officer of Jackson’s command told him about a week ago that the forces of Jones and Jenkins were en route to the Kanawha Valley, and that Jackson would endeavor to capture Bulltown, and then join forces near Charleston. Nothing known of Jackson since his repulse.

L. MARKBREIT,