Unknown, November 8, 1861

Camp Gauley Mountain, November 8, 1861.

Your two dispatches and copy of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton’s just received. When the other scouts come in from Colonel Siber collate carefully all the information they have, and from them ascertain the exact nature of the roads or paths the troops have to pass over, and, if ‘possible, the immediate approaches to the enemy’s camp. Our information goes to show a small camp at Dickerson’s and a larger one in the

immediate vicinity of Warner’s Mill. So far as at present informed —

there is where the main body is. You want to know what the road is

to this point; what paths, if any, diverge right and left from the one

you would follow down Laurel, and what room there is for the display of your troops; also, whether there is any path leading from the

top of your line to the top of Cotton Hill. It would be necessary to

have the command and we might probably want the use of such path.

I should like a report as early in the day as possible, because I want to

arrange definitely details of the operations, if possible, for to-night and

to-morrow. We have no information of firing from above. No move– ment was authorized.

Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp, Loop Creek Mouth. rociar No. 20.]