Letter

S. P. Carter to MCCLELLAN, Washington, November 22, 1861

Camp Calvert, November 22, 1861.

Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding, dec. :

GENERAL: Your dispatch of 20th [21st?] instant from Stanford, ordering me to break up the camp at London and join you with my command, has just been received.

I shall endeavor, if I cau obtain means of transportation, to start the sick and hospital stores forward in the morning, and hope to follow with the rest of my command just as soon.as I can press or hire wagons to move the subsistence stores and ammunition now at this place.

Although this brigade has a great dread of the Blue-grass country, and are most desirous of driving the rebels from East Tennessee in the quickest possible time, I trust there will be no difficulty in moving them to any point where there is a prospect of meeting our common enemy.

Owing to the condition of the roads over Rockeastle Hills it is possible that I may, in case I obtain a favorable account of the Somerset road, proceed to join you with those fit for service via that place. Should I do so, I will advise you by special messenger.

your obedient servant,

Acting Brigadier- General, Commanding.
LovISVILLE, November 23, 1861.
General MCCLELLAN, Washington :
I have a report not yet confirmed that Zollicoffer, 6,000 strong, has
crossed the Cumberland at Gainesborough, probably on his way to Bowling Green; also a rumor of the same sort that about the same number
have left Bowling Green going north. Neither is improbable.
The burned bridges are being repaired with my consent. I havea

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, N. Alabama, S.W. Virginia, 1861–62. Location: Camp Calvert. Summary: S. P. Carter informs Brig. Gen. George H. Thomas of plans to relocate his East Tennessee Brigade from London, contingent on transportation availability, to join forces against Confederate rebels.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 View original source ↗