January 20, 1864 – Federal scout, Strawberry Plains to north side of the Holston

No circumstantial reports filed.

STRAWBERRY PLAINS, January 20, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. POTTER:

Gen. Spears reports that his scouts and officers sent out cannot find any enemy on the north side of the Holston, and from information regarded as reliable, though indirect, there are none of the enemy save barefooted and sick at New Market and Morristown. All reported to have passed toward and crossed the French Broad. The direction taken after crossing is not known.

J. G. PARKE, Maj.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 152.

HDQRS. TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS, Near Armstrong’s, January 21, 1864—8 p. m.

Brig. Gen. E. E. POTTER, Chief of Staff:

Since writing my former dispatch Gen. Spears has come into camp on my left, having come down from Bryce’s Mill by a road parallel to the main Rutledge road. He reports a force of the enemy at Blain’s Cross-Roads this morning, which crossed the Holston a little above Strawberry Plains last night. Says they were both cavalry and infantry, and formed a skirmish line near a mile long. He regards his information as reliable.

I send this to you, as Gen. Parke is in telegraphic communication with you, as I suppose, and the information can reach him quicker through you, though I suppose he has it from other sources already.

Very respectfully, &c.,

J. D. COX, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. II, p. 164.