S. P. Carter to George H. Thomas, U. A, October 2, 1861

General GEORGE H. THOMAS, U. $. A., Commanding Camp Robinson, dc. :

My note of yesterday advised you that I had dispatched your letter

to Colonel Landram. I saw some of the Home Guards this morning

from Madison, and directed them to move a portion of their force to ford of Big Rockcastle, and obstruct the road at once. I suppose the work will be commenced this afternoon.

If you design sending a force to Big Hill by way of Lancaster and Moore’s, will it not be advisable to keep the road open north of the river? Yesterday only about 150 of the rebels (according to report) were left in Barboursville; all the rest had fallen back to Cumberland Ford. Only some 2,000, according to best information I can get, came as far as Laurel Bridge; perhaps. 150 cavalry entered London. Theirs seems to have been a mere marauding expedition. They gutted the houses at Barboursville before the infantry left on Monday. We are all safe here.

I hope to return to Camp Robinson to-morrow evening.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,