| Headquarters Department of Western Virginia |
| Dublin |
| January 1, 1863 |
| |
| Lieut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith |
| Knoxville |
| |
| General, |
| Your telegram of the 29th was received
about 10 o'clock the next morning. One from Brigadier General
Marshall was received at the same time. I immediately ordered all my
available troops, Brigadier-General Marshall commanding, to Bristol, and communicated the information to Brigadier-General Floyd.
Marshall
reports that he is in pursuit of the enemy. Floyd is also moving
against them, and if they attempt to escape into Kentucky
by way of Pound Gap, I have strong hope that they will be overtaken
and severely punished. I regret exceedingly that I did not receive
earlier information of this movement of the enemy, and of your
inability to meet them with a sufficient force. I was under the
impression that one of your general officers was commanding at Cumberland Gap, and I supposed with a sufficient
there either to have prevented
the passage of so large a body of cavalry so near the gap or to have
given information of their approach. On the 19th instant I addressed
a letter to Brigadier-General Heth, commanding Department of East
Tennessee, suggesting that it was desirable I should have the
earliest information of any movement of the enemy in that direction,
and asking that he would keep me advised on that point, but have not
heard from him in reply. I shall send, by the train to-day, to
Bristol Captain Robinson, of the engineers, on my staff, to examine
and report the extent of the damage done the railroad in East Tennessee, and to make an estimate of the time and cost of repairs. I am sure
you will pardon me for sending an officer into your department on
that duty. The interest of the service seems to me to require it.
Captain Robinson is an accomplished engineer, and he will, of
course, not interfere with any one you may have sent on the same
duty. |
| Very respectfully, &c. |
| Sam. Jones |
| Major-General |
|