HISTORY OF THE ORPHAN BRIGADE. 881

In September, Gen. Buckner had in consideration to send this regiment to Rochester, reinforced by some troops under command of Col. Geo. B. Hodge, to destroy the lock and dam on Green River, at that point; but nothing was done at the time. Later, however (Nov. i7), a part of the First Cavalry, under Lieut.-Col. Woodward, and a detachment of Kentucky Infantry, were sent, and a short time afterward the remainder of Helm's regiment joined them there. When Woodward's party rode into town they were fired on by Federal troops on the opposite side of the river where Capt. Netter had a considerable force. Two of the Confederates and a few of the horses were wounded. Woodward was anxious to get across and attack at close quarters, but the river could not be passed, and the assailants escaped without punishment. The Kentuckians remained in the vicinity about a week and then returned to Bowling Green, nothing else of special interest having occurred.

December ist, the regiment was ordered to Glasgow. The Federals then had a strong force at Munfordville, and their troops occupied Columbia also, in considerable strength, while a comparatively large army lay at Louisville and conveniently disposed in the vicinity. For about two months the First Cavalry was the only organized Confederate force between Louisville and Bowling Green. Helm kept active and enterprising scouting parties well forward of his position, in the direction of Munfordville, and occasionally sent others to vicinity of Columbia. He kept the commander-in-chief constantly advised as to the movement of troops towards Zollicoffer's position on the Cumberland ; while Munfordville and other points along Green River were held in close observation, at the same time providing against the possible destruction of bridges across Skeggs's Creek and Big Barren River. On the 12th of January, 1862, he reported to Gen. Johnston the movement of Federal troops across the Cumberland River above Zol-licoffer at Mill Creek, and on the iSth he expressed the apprehension that it was designed to attack him, with a view to getting into East Tennessee and so turning the position at Bowling Green instead of trying to drive Johnston by direct assault, which prediction was quickly fulfilled.

It should be noted here that two companies, recruited presumably for Helm's regiment, had little connection with it as organizations. These were the companies of Capt. Merriwether and Capt. James K. Huey, numbered I and K on the rolls filed in Richmond. Co. I, according to some record in the Richmond war office, it seems was the company afterward commanded by Capt. Joe B. Williams.

While Hopkinsville constituted an outpost of the army at Bowling Green, and Forrest was stationed there, these companies apparently

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