ORs: (CS) Message for Col. Wheeler- October 13, 1862

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 16, Part 2, Page 971

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KENTUCKY,
October 20, 1862—6 p. m.

Col. JOSEPH WHEELER,
Chief of Cavalry:

COLONEL:
Your several dispatches during the last twenty-four hours to GeneralPolk have been opened by General Smith. The general wishes me to express to you his appreciation of the thorough manner in which you have performed your important duties during this retreat, and to say that he will take especial pleasure in bringing your services to the notice of the Department at Richmond. He wishes you to select some strong position on the Barboursville road where you can still hold the enemy in check until the stragglers can all come up. There are many of them still in the rear. Colonel Taylor’s brigade is still 10 miles from here on the old State road; Colonel Wharton on the same road in his rear. Colonel Ashby has been ordered to scout the Raccoon Creek road for some distance back. Make your reports frequently to this point.

I am, very respectfully, &c.,

JNO. PEGRAM,
Colonel, &c.