Unknown to Henry W. Benham, November 3, 1861

Colonel Woods has been ordered to you temporarily for duty. Assign him to command Tenth Regiment. Let Captain Amis and a portion of his men come up to serve the guns. Sent him an order to-day. You i et guides below. None here to be got. ORE chin e W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. $. Army. Brig. Gen. H. W. BENHAM, Camp Huddleston, m= pe ZA St ay Mer ae PR [Inclesure No. 3.] NOVEMBER 3, 1861. Your dispatch received. A boat has been ordered up, but to make sure a large paulin will be sent down to you, with which, spread under a lot of wagon-beds, you will be able to make a large scow. The wagonbeds will have to be lashed crosswise, laid on two poles, and having two poles over them; rope lashing to go between. Telegraph down to Charleston for plenty of bed-cord, in case we should not have plenty here. Woods, Siber, and Tyler must clear the other side of the river and prevent firing on teams immediately. . W. 8. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 4.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 4, 1861, Your dispatch received. Three boats will be sent you this evening. You will find the wagon-body arrangement makes a solid and capacious float of great capacity, and may be rowed across with double oars or sweeps. Have the poles 25 feet long and 4 or 5 inches in diameter. Take 6 wagon-bodies. A single wagon-body and tent-fly doubled under it makes a good boat. Conceal your movements, and clear everything up to Loop Creek. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. – [Inclosure No. 5.] NOVEMBER 4, 1861. The commanding general expects you to go up Loop Creek in force or else this side, closing the mouth of it. Will likely give final orders to-morrow morning. Push information as far as possible. Will telegraph Major Leiper to see if he can send you scout. : JOSEPH DARR, Jm., Major, First Virginia Cavalry, A. A. A. G. [Inclosure No. 6.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 4, 1861. Take what bread you need. Will not the hawser of the boat or picket rope answer? You can keep the Victor and the scow. Retain Silver Lake until the Victor comes. It was so intended. Boats are expected up that may bring the rope required. You can move over theriver to-morrow with your tents, leaving a company or two on this side for a camp guard. Tyler’s and Gilbert’s men will come up unless something occurs to prevent them, which I do not anticipate. Final orders will be given when both ends are ready. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. o A ar m M + = – KANAWHA AND NEW RIVER, W. VA. [Inclosure No. 7.] i NOVEMBER 4, 1861. Can you get ready to move by to-morrow night? If so, MeMuilin’s battery, or a part of it, will be sent down to-night. What report have you from the scouts sent out by you? y W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 8.] , HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 4, 1861. I fear your scouting parties will alarm the enemy; they are so large. However, let them go. We have had scouting party up Loop Creek. The upper end of it is well picketed by the rebels. Have you all your – preparations made? Push everything, and let me know how soon you can get ready. I think cavalry would be in your way. For artillery I – cannot decide until I hear your report about the road. Presume two mountain howitzers, possibly McMullin’s battery entire, if the rifled artillery comes up this way. It leaves Camp Enyart this morning. > W. S. ROSECRANS, DBrigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 9.] NOVEMBER 5, 1861. The general desires to know about the route as to practicability of sending artillery. He thinks the number of rebels reported to be nearer from 4,000 to 6,000. Glad to hear that MeMullin ean pass. The general desires to know something of road that leads to Laurel Creek to left of Loop. The commanding general wishes to know if you are over the river. JOSEPH DARR, JR., Major, First Virginia Cavalry, A. A. A. G. [Inclosure No. 10.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, ; Camp Gauley Mountain, November 5, 1861. It wasintended that you should have gone over to-day, and that all – would be snug there. Keep the Victor and the scow in the vicinity for service. Final orders will be given you in due time. A sketch map will be sent you, embodying such information as we possess. I wish you to be very careful in your inquiries about the nature of road up Loop. You will find that when you get up to a certain point it forks left over the ridge on the Big Mill Creek, coming im front of their position, right going around and coming into Fayette. You will beable to find guides ‘and get posted by to-morrow. -Every other man have coffee in canteens. Some whisky and quinine bitters should be provided if it could be so carried as to be safe. Some nurses must be detailed to go with the surgeons. Don’t fear numbers. I shall not send you without strong co-operation. W. S. ROSECRANS, DE Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. — — A Brig. Gen. H. W. BENHAM, Camp Huddleston. N n AN d zi y y \ ~< 262 - OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. — [Cnar. XIV. [Inclosure No. 11.] NOVEMBER 6, 1861. I regret you did not cross with your forces yesterday. Do so as soon as practicable. Indications are that we shall make a move in force up that creek ; therefore you will establish yourself solidly on that position. Men up the creek must have their tents; your supplies of provisions must be ample, and Paint Creek must be kept well scouted by hired countrymen Offer them liberal pay for good work. Maps and letters by messengers. : W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 12.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 6, 1861, I do not consider your crossing the river in the rain-storm with your command practicable, but it is desirable to have them over and well and warmly encamped, with every attention to their comfort, as soon as possible. This should be done with all your troops, and with caution and secrecy. At Loop Creek it may require only cautious and careful picketing. You know what the object is, and I leave that to your judgment. The roads should be in such repair that we can send provisions if needed up Loop Creek. Couriers just started with written instructions and map. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp Huddleston. [Inelosure No. 13.] NOVEMBER 6, 1861. The commanding general directs me to say, in reply to your dispatch No. 2, that it is now too late to make crossing very practicable to-night. You have instructions as to the object of crossing, and know what the general desires to accomplish. He expects you to use your discretion, and holds you responsible for the results. Here it is distinctly stated that he considers it too late to cross to-night. As to position in Loop ick, it is expected to be at or near best place, so as to command its mouth. s ` JOSEPH DARR, JR., Major, First Virginia Cavalry, A. A, A. G. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp Huddleston. [Inclosure No. 14.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, ; Camp Gauley Mountain, November 6, 1861. The commanding general has no objections to your remaining on this side to-night. Make sure preparations to communicate with this side. Have a boat for that: purpose and other arrangements made with that view. McMullin's battery goes down to-night. JOSEPH DARR, JR., Major, First Virginia Cavalry, A. A. A. G. . Brig. Gen. H. W. BENHAM, Camp Huddleston. e WAVES "ee eum t -> AAN s 4 Y AA M a we [Inelosure No. 15.] NOVEMBER 6, 1861. Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 received. Make the men comfortable. Have five days’ rations. Send your pioneer party up Loop. Carry out instructions so far as to know the road from Taylor’s over to Laurel with- . out alarming the enemy. McMullin, with two of his howitzers, will be down to-night. Your directions to Schneider are good. When you leave . you will have to leave a small camp guard, which will be able to secure the Fayette road up the bank of the river. Must probably hold the road above Taylors., It may prove best to close the Taylor road and follow up the Kincaid route. Endeavor by scouts and others to ascertain this. We shall have further communication before final orders for the combined movement are given. Study well the map and memoir. Be cautious in whose presence you speak, otherwise it will leak out among the soldiers right away. Favorable news came in to-night. W. 8. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 16.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 6, 1861. We must have Loop Creek up beyond Taylor’s and the ridge between it and the valley of the Fayette road. Secure this with as little discomfort to the men as is consistent with the firm execution of ihe purpose. Will send such sketch and information of it as we possess. See that everything is held with a firm hand ; that you have plenty of everything needful. W. S. ROSECRANS, DBrigadier-General, U. S. Army. [Inclosure No. 17.] TAE NOVEMBER 7, 1861. . The commanding generalis waiting to hear the result of your scouts to-day. Is your way clear, and which appear best routes? JOSEPH DARR, JR., Major, and A. A. A. G. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp Huddleston. [Enclosure No. 18.] NOVEMBER 8, 1861. Yours received. You appear to be doing well, butit seems to me the place where paths lead out into Fayette road ought not to bring us out at Huddleston’s. If so, what are we to gain over going up the river? – You must try and know that route by Laurel spoken of in the memoir. Send me the corrected distances and positions. Where did the scouts see the enemy’s camp? Refer to map and name corrections. i W. 8. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. 8. Army. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp, Loop Creek Mouth. ná M + e LA A TO, [Inclosure No. 19.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, 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.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 8, 1861. Schenck’s boats will not be ready to-night. Scouts from Lookout and — Bowyer’s Ferry report no indications of approaching force. There is a scout out to-night to go up towards Sewell. I want Nugent’s located on our map and to hear from your scouts above. We may be obliged to seize Cotton Hill by the front if strongly opposed and unable to cross above. I hope to hear again from your scouts to-night as to the road over to Laurel Creek, &c. I hope, general, you will be reserved in dis- . cussing our plans and caution the staff. A dispatch came to me in cipher to you from Lander. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp, Loop Creek Mouth. [Inclosure No. 21.] satisfactory. What I want to know is what sort of a road or path you will have to go over to reach Warner’s Mill and what sort of ground you could form or debouch on. The details of that should be well studied. If your front is narrow, the difficulties will of course increase. If you can form out of sight and deploy so as to cover the ground right and left of their position, it would be better. If the passway is clear in — the center and positions can be found for the two mountain howitzers to enfilade or even play on their camp, better still. Proceed with great caution and secrecy to get these details as far as possible. The scouts have seen the camp at a distance, as Dives saw Lazarus, but there may be a great gulf between thems Appearances indicate that your brigade, with support from Gauley properly timed, could whip them, . but let us try to make a certainty. The distance of 2 miles given by the scouts, as mentioned in No. 15; must be a mistake. It is 4 miles from the mouth of Loop to the Fayette road, mouth of Big Mill, and Peary ARDE between these is that immense ridge, on top of which they certainly are not. You say nothing of Cassidy’s Mill. Our information shown on the sketch indicates it as a key-point. Give that a little of your atoo early to-morrow. Fifteen dragoons have been ordered to report O you. [Inelosure No. 22.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 9, 1861. Yours (No. 16) received. This rain is very untoward. General Schenck’s report not yet in. Rain may prevent his crossing. He will not be ordered down until we find that it must be abandoned. I have from the beginning had but one intention about your command, It must hold and occupy that side of the river until we have disposed of the rebels, or get possession of Cotton Hill, or been driven back. Your position prevents them from going farther down to play the game they have played above; it threatens them front and rear. Hence, referring to former dispatches pointing out the primary objects of your crossing and enjoining you to establish your command solidly, hold firmly, examine thoroughly, and to make your men comfortable, to keep up your supplies, to take cooking utensils along, &e., &c., I have now to say that, in carrying out these instructions, you must use your discretion to do it effectually and insure the comfort of your men. I see no reason why they should want for cooked provisions. Why not issue them rations? No reason they should have half enough tents. I directed you to take the minimum of baggage, not that could be taken, but that would suffice. If you could not get tents up to all these men, withdraw those who have none until they can be supplied or the weather improves. I look to your dispatches for accurate information of the route to the rebels camp. None so far say what paths the scouts followed, nor where they came out on the rebels, nor how nor where their pickets. Please let me hear all about these points as far as you know them. You will observe in all my dispatches great stress laid on this, without which we must act in the dark. Awaiting early report. : neide No. 23.) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia, Camp Gauley Mountain, November 9, 1861. Yours (No. 18) received. Major Crawford just returned, and reports the river too high to cross to night, but falling; will be ready by tomorrow night. We leave three companies scouting the front of Cotton Hill opposite the ferries. Your scouts’ reports and these will determine if we are to move at once or wait until to-morrow night. In that case Schenck will cross 3,000 men, and will seize Fayette and advance down the read, and you will take them by the Laurel Creek route only or by the Nugent path only, or by both, as may be determined by the partieres of the ground, which you will learn from your scouts, and communicate to me, with your opinion thereon, as soon after they come in as practicable. I have been informed that the area between you and Mill Creek Valley, up which the Fayette road passes, consists of flattopped rolling surface, over which our scouts can go whenever they please. This was my impression, but it has been so flatly contradicted that I gave up until to-day. Brigadier-General BENHAM, Camp, Loop Oreck Mouth. [Inclosure No. 24.] NOVEMBER 10, 1861. Your dispateh received. The Eleventh, 200 strong, is over the river ] holds the erests and path well up. The First Kentucky has sent over 200, who hold farther down to near the Fayette road. Schenck will hardly be able to cross to-night, but if the rebels try to dislodge our men, you may be called on to take them in rear. Hold everything in hand. Have your men inspected, to see that no one is without ammunition or provisions. Floyd over on the hill, anxious. Will give you further orders soon. [Inelosure No. 25.] e

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN Virginia,