ORs: (US) Col. J. B. Fry to Gen. G. W. Morgan - July 16, 1862

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 16, Part 2, Page 167

HEADQUARTERS,
Huntsville, July 16, 1862.

General GEORGE W. MORGAN,
Cumberland Gap:

Your telegram of 14th received. It is hoped and expected that you will be able at least to convoy your trains, and you should try and strengthen your position sufficiently to spare some troops to guard your line. Your division does not depend on the Louisville and Nashville road. Your suggestion, however, that two regiments of cavalry be put
upon it was a sound one and would have been anticipated if the cavalry had not been wanting. That road is still safe. Your recommendation that a like force be put on your line of communications would also have been complied with, and perhaps more promptly than in case of Louisville road, had it not been for want of force to do so—a difficulty which
still exists. A force of rebel cavalry on Sunday attacked Murfreesborough, and at 4 p. m. our troops—near two regiments of infantry, a battery of artillery, and perhaps some cavalry—surrendered, and according to reports have been marched toward McMinnville; Starnes, of Tennessee, in command of rebels.

JAMES B. FRY,
Chief of Staff.