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| General Albert Jenkins |
MARIETTA, [OHIO,]
March 30, 1863-11.30 a. m.
General A. E. BURNSIDE:
The rebels on Lower Kanawha are below all our troops, except one company at Point Pleasant. If any of your troops are passing, it would be highly desirable for a regiment or two to stop at Point Pleasant till the whole magnitude of the raid is known, and communication with General Scammon at Charleston reopened. I will send you further news as fast as I get it.
I have been informed that about 700 of your men were expected at Parkersburg this morning; if so, the loan of them for a few days might put everything right.
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, [OHIO,]
March 30, 1863-12.30 p. m.
Lieutenant-Colonel CHESEBROUGH, Baltimore:
Dispatch from Gallipolis, just received, says the rebels have taken Point Pleasant. All sorts of exaggerated rumors as to numbers. There are no troops along the Ohio line, and the river is probably sufficient protection, but, if the force is large, I fear they may move northward toward the railroad. I have informed General Burnside also of the condition of things.
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, [OHIO,]
March 30, 1863-12.30 p. m.
General KELLEY, Cumberland:
Dispatch, just received, says the rebels have taken Point Pleasant. This would look as if their force was larger than first reported, and their being on the north bank of that river will make it necessary to look out for them farther north.
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, [OHIO,] March 30, 1863-2 p. m.
(Received March 30-3 p. m.)
Major-General BURNSIDE:
The number of the enemy at Point Pleasant first sent you is best corroborated by late reports, but even that number is larger than all you troops between here and Portsmouth. I am trying to get volunteers at Gallipolis to go up and relieve Point Pleasant, where, at latest accounts, the company still held the court-house. Is there anything at Portsmouth which can be ordered up?
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, OHIO, March 30, 1863-2 p. m.
General E. P. SCAMMON, Charleston, via Clarksburg:
The best information puts the rebel force below you less than 500. I have ordered a boat down for Zeigler's regiment, and am trying to raise citizens enough, with the company at Gallipolis, to relieve Point Pleasant. Am also urging General Burnside for aid from the Department of the Ohio. You had better push as large a force as you can mount rapidly down the river, and sustain them by what can be spared without abandoning posts above. I am practically without command, but assume this much as a necessity. Be assured everything possible well be done below, and I am confident all will come right shortly.
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, [OHIO]
March 30, 1863.
General BURNSIDE:
Some rebel cavalry, estimated about 400, have passed from Sandy Valley and East Kentucky into the Lower Kanawha region. The Sandy Valley posts still belong to the Department of the Ohio, I believe, and as the troops in the Kanawha are necessarily concentrated near Gauley Bridge, they have to rely almost wholly on your forces at Louisa, &c., to protect their right flank. I respectfully suggest the importance of holding these positions strongly, and would like to be informed of the present condition of Eastern Kentucky, so that we may calculate accordingly in West Virginia.
Truly, yours,
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
MARIETTA, [OHIO,]
March 30, 1863-6.30 p. m.
Major-General BURNSIDE,
Cincinnati:
Rebels reported repulsed from Point Pleasant at 5 p. m., and have retired. No further particulars received as yet.
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General.
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 25, Part 2, Pages 171-174.
Jenkins men had entered Ohio in September of 1862 and had occupied early 1863 in foraging and harassing Union troops spread thin throughout West Virginia guarding the B&O Railroad. They repeated their incursion, advancing as far at the Ohio River at Point Pleasant. Jenkins was not a cavalry leader of the first rank, but to his credit had overcome the handicap of a Harvard education.
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