Richmond, November 10, 1861
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| Col. D. Leadbetter |
| |
| Colonel, |
| Herewith you will
receive an order to report to Tennessee, to keep up the line of
communication by rail between Bristol and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Upon arriving in Tennessee you are authorized to call upon the
railroad companies {East Tennessee &
Georgia and East Tennessee & Virginia}, and also upon
communities in vicinity of railroad, for aid and material, employing
both where necessary, giving certificates usual in such cases. While
reconstructing bridges and repairing the roads you will give due
care to the telegraph communication, re-establishing it where
interfered with, exercising in this the authority granted with
regard to the road. To enable you to carry out these instructions
Stovall's battalion, with a light battery, will be ordered to report
to you at Bristol, and a regiment ordered from General Bragg at
Chattanooga, to be so disposed of as may best secure successful
accomplishment of your orders. You will report to General A. S.
Johnston by letter your arrival in Tennessee, the nature of your
instructions, also advising General Zollicoffer to the same effect.
Full and frequent reports are desired of your operations, respecting
condition of the road, and disposition of the population adjacent
thereto. |
| I am, sir, respectfully, &c., |
| S. Cooper |
| Adjutant
and Inspector General |
|