Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXII: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4-June 10, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Ed.

One of my regiments, the Nineteenth Kentucky, Colonel Landram, being detached, and afterward making the march with General Carter, .I moved from the camp on the morning of Sunday, the 7th instant, with the Thirty-third Indiana, Colonel Coburn, and the Fourteenth Kentucky, Colonel Cochran, and after three days of severe labor encamped at the foot of the mountain north of Rogers' Gap. The length of this march was 32 miles, but its difficulty, arising from the character of the country and the condition of the roads, was so great as to require many men at each wagon to assist in getting it along. Resting during the day of Wednesday, while the blockade upon the mountain was being removed, I commenced its passage at sunset upon that evening, and at — midnight took up a position by the side of Colonel De Courcy, in Powells Valley, near Rogers' house. A large detachment of my men assisted during the night in the arduous duty of bringing over the artillery.

On the morning of Thursday I learned that peremptory orders required the return of General Morgan to the north side of the mountains. Previous to moving in that direction, however, I marched my brigade, accompanied by Wetmore's battery and Munday's cavalry, for some distance down the valley, with the double object of procuring forage and examining the country. The day was extremely hot, and my men returned much fatigued, yet at 3 p. m., having previously sept forward to have the train carried to the rear and made a detachment of 200 men to aid the artillery, my command was again upon the march to the rear, and during the following day reached Lambdin's, 18 miles distant from the valley.

Scarcely had I arrived at this place when subsequent orders made a return of the division to Powell's Valley necessary, and on Sunday evening, in compliance with instructions from the commanding general, I was again encamped at Rogers' house. By this time the effect of severe labor began to be apparent; the feet of many were blistered, and those not naturally robust had given out. Our scanty supply of eight days rations was, moreover, exhausted; yet the men, pleased at the idea of moving toward the enemy, did not complain.

After two days rest, during which I was joined by Colonel Landram, with his fine regiment, eager for a passage with the enemy, and further strengthened by Wetmore's battery and Captain Martin's company of cavalry, to act as a rear guald, we again advanced, without bread, with [75] coffee for a single meal, and no other food but the fresh beef which we drove along, expecting to meet and fight the enemy, whose numbers equaled our own, in a position which had been selected in rear of Cumberland Gap. On our approach, however, this position, as well as the stronghold forwhich we had so long been striving, were abandoned, and on the evening of the 18th instant we entered and took possession.

I have in this connection to commend to the notice of the command ing general the patient fortitude with which my men, without the stimulus and 6clat of successful battle, and notwithstanding the discouraging effects of our counter-march, endured the privations they were called upon to encounter. I beg that he will-also remember the zeal, intelligence, and efficiency with which the officers in command of troops, as well as those of the staff, contributed in carrying forward the work on which we were engaged. They one and all merit my thanks. Had the identical results which have been achieved been consequent upon a severe struggle, with heavy loss of life, they would have received a reward which they can now only look for in the satisfaction of having done their duty.

To the officers in command of regiments-Colonels Coburn, Landram, and Cochran--I am especially indebted and had the opportunity of a battle offered itself the activity and soldierly qualities which they displayed, whether in bringing forward their commands or in preparing for the attacks in flank and rear to which our march was exposed, would, I am sure have brought reputation both to themselves and their regiments. Without making invidious distinctions between the other officers, I must mention by name Lieutenant-Colonel Gallop, Fourteenth Kentucky, and Major Manker, Thirty-third Indiana, who, outside of their regimental duties, gave great assistance in procuring the supplies, without which we could not have marched. I should likewise be negligent did I omit to name the officers of my staff, Capt. B. H. Polk, actingassistant adjutant-general; Lieuts. T. A. Elkin and John Cochran, aides-de-camp, and Lieut. H. B. Finch, acting assistant quartermaster, whose services were invaluable.

During the march I lost one man, Corp. Enos C. Hadley, Thirty-third Indiana, who died from exhaustion.

I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,