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.

Captain: I embrace this the earliest opportunity of submitting the [68] following report of the movement of the Twenty-fourth Brigade from the 8th of June until our junction with the remaining brigades of the Seventh Division at Rogers' Gap on the afternoon of the 16th instant:

In pursuance with General Orders, No. 39, of the 5th instant, I moved my command on the 8th, consisting of the First, Second, and Fourth East Tennessee Regiments (which last was temporarily attached to my brigade), Lanphere's battery, and a detachment of Lieutenant-Colonel Munday's cavalry, under command of Captain Roper, from Cumberland Ford, and took up the position at the Moss house (2 miles on the Cumberland Gap road), indicated in said order. By order of the commanding general the Nineteenth Kentucky Volunteers, Colonel Landram, was temporarily detached from the Twenty-seventh Brigade and placed under my command. It remained encamped on the Clear Creek road, some 2 miles from the Moss house. As the rebels were known to have a very considerable force at Cumberland Gap it was necessary to use the utmost care to guard against an attack from greatly superior numbers. Captain Roper, with his company of cavalry, was constantly employed upon the Gap road, and performed the duty assigned him in the most creditable manner. I would take this opportunity of expressing my high commendation of the captain for his untiring energy and zeal.

Owing to delay in obtaining transportation I was unable to take up the line of march in the direction of Lambdin's until the 11th instant, on the morning of which day the column was put in motion. According to your orders Capt. S. S. Lyon, acting topographical engineer, had the road blockaded in our rear as we advanced. We bivouacked on the first night on Poplar Creek, some 12 miles from our starting point, having experienced no little difficulty in getting the artillery and long train over the Pine Mountain.

At 2 p. m. on the 12th instant we reached Lambdin's, and encamped with the forces (except the Nineteenth Kentucky, which proceeded on to Boston). At Lambdines I was met by a courier from the commanding general with orders to march my force to Williamsburg, Whitley County. During the afternoon I was joined by the balance of my brigade, consisting of the Third Kentucky, Colonel Garrard, and Fortyninth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Keigwin.

On the morning of the 13th instant I was directed by the commanding general to proceed with my whole command to Big Creek Gap via Boston, and from thence to join him and the remainder of the brigades at Rogers' Gap, Powell's Valley, East Tennessee. My force now consisted of the following troops: First East Tennessee, Colonel Byrd; Second East Tennessee, Colonel Carter; Third Kentucky, Colonel Garrard; Forty-ninth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Keigwin; Nineteenth Kentucky, Colonel Landram; Fourth East Tennessee, Colonel Johnson, and Lanphere's battery. Encamped that evening at Boston, and on the morning of the 1 4th instant left for Big Creek Gap. During the day I was again joined by Captain Roper's company of cavalry, which I had ordered up from Williamsburg, whither it had gone by your orders. The head of the column arrived at the foot of Pine Mountain about 9 a. m. and commenced the ascent. By the united exertion of all the troops, and the most untiring industry during the day and night, all the artillery and trains made the ascent and descent of the mountain by 9 a. m. of the 15th instant. To one who has not passed over the route it would be hard to imagine the difficulties to be overcome in transporting artillery and a heavy baggage train over it. But officers and men, eager to meet their rebel enemies and to gain an entrance into long-looked — for East Tennessee, went to work with the greatest [69] energy, and by main strength carried wagons and artillery over a road which many would pronounce impassable to either.

On the following morning (15th) I received a dispatch from Brigadier-General Spears, dated Big Creek Gap, sunrise, stating that his pickets were then engaging the enemy, and requesting me to come up rapidly to his support. The order was given to advance, and so eager were the men to get in front of the enemy that, notwithstanding the fatigues and hardships of the preceding day and night, a portion of the force crossed Little Cumberland Mountain, and before meridian had made a junction with Brigadier-General Spears at Big Creek Gap, a distance of 10 miles from their camping ground of that morning. The Fourth Tennessee, Colonel Johnson, was ordered to join General Spears, to whose brigade he belonged.

On the morning of the 16th instant I left Big Creek Gap with my command and moved up Powell's Valley through Fincastle, and in the afternoon of same day reported the arrival of my force to the commanding general. On my way up the valley we found a quantity of rebel stores, belonging to the Thirtieth Alabama Regiment, at the house of a Mrs. A. Kincaid, which I had destroyed.

In closing this report I must express my admiration, not only for the zeal and perseverance of the officers and men under my command, but for their uncomplaining, orderly, and soldierly deportment during the whole march. Notwithstanding the fears which have been felt by some that, owing to the great wrongs and barbarities to which the Tennessee soldiers and their families have been subjected by the rebel troops and their sympathizers, there would be much trouble in restraining them from wreaking vengeance on their enemies, I do not know of a single instance in which they failed to conduct themselves as soldiers of the Union should, from the day we reached Big Creek Gap until we joined the other forces at Rogers' Gap.

Respectfully, &c,. P. Carter,