Major-General to Henry W. Halleck, November 6, 1862

“Bowling Green, Ky., November 6, 1862—11.30 p. m. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief: Reports, deemed nearly authentic, show Kirby Smith in East Tennessee; McCown at the gap. Two brigades at Big Creek Gap. All Bragg’s command pushing for Nashville. Foote, at Murfreesborough, said they would have 100,000 men in Tennessee in ten days. They will, doubtless, make a strike to live in Tennessee. They cannot live elsewhere. They ought to abandon Mississippi, except a few points, and come here. I doubt the wisdom of sending any forces from Kentucky now. Take troops [from] Illinois, lowa, and Minnesota. You may want all you have in Ohio and Kentucky on this line. Our two corps are advancing on Nashville rapidly. McCook will enter there to-mor. row. Crittenden will probably be at Gallatin by to-morrow night.

: W. 8S. ROSECRANS,