Unknown to Horace Maynard, November 25, 1861
November 25, 1861.
: Camp Calvert, November 25, 1861. Hon. HoRACE MAYNARD:
My DEAR SIR: A day or two after I wrote you I received orders to break up at this place and join General Thomas. I had sent on a portion of our sick to Crab Orchard and a portion of our commissary stores, butfortunately I was unable to obtain wagons enough to move the whole and was detained until this morning, when I received other orders from department headquarters to remain at London. I know not what will bethe next move, but hope most sincerely it may be towards Eastern Ten470 OPERATIONS IN KY., TENN., N. ALA., AND S. W. VA. [CHAR XVIDâ
nessee. If something is not done, and that speedily, our people will be eut up and ruined. A column should be ordered to move into Eastern Tennessee, one detailed for that purpose and no other, to go without reference to any other movement, with the specific object of relieving our people, simply on account of their loyalty and as though it were entirely disconnected with any military advantages. I intend to say that our people deserve protection and should haveit at once, and inde- – pendently of all outside eonsiderations.
I sent on 21st between 600 and 700 men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Spears, to Flat Lick, a point 8 miles below Cumberland Ford, for the pur- â pose of obtaining information of the enemy, and with the hope they would fall in with a portion of them and eut them up. Some of our men went nearly to the Ford. None of the rebels were there. From best information the force at the Gap was only about 2,000. Zollicoffer, with some 6,000, was at Ross, in Anderson County. i
If we had a battery I believe we could go into Tennessee, and then, if we could carry arms or even powder and lead to furnish to our people, I believe we could stay there.
Will help evercome? Ido not mean contingent aid, but special and direct.
We are getting along well. Most of our men have returned who left on night of 13th, and all are elated at the orders to remain here. If it be possible, have it so arranged that the Kastern Tennesseeans shall not again, except in case of urgent and pressing necessity, be ordered back towards Central Kentucky. Many would sooner perish in battle than turn their backs towards the Tennessee line again.,
Will you please write me if the President has ever acted on the petition which you forwarded from the officers of the two regiments to eommission me as brigadier-general, and, if so, the reason for his non-compliance, as well as what you ean learn of his intentions in regard to that matter.
With best wishes, I am, yours, very truly, . “8. P. CARTER: [Indorsement.] DECEMBER 3, 1861.
Please read and consider this letter.