The brigade of which the Seventh formed a part was camped in the main Holston Valley about three miles above Rogersville.
The hospital, commissary and quartermaster’s department, with a provost guard, occupied the town.
Great caution was used by Col. Garrard in guarding these approaches, and for this purpose one company of the Tennesseeans was kept in Carter Valley, five miles from the brigade camp. This Valley being the first one north of the Holston, they sent scouting parties daily, over into Stanley Valley and Hickory Cave, which are further north.
On the night of the 5th of November, scouts reported the enemy advancing in force down the Holston Valley from Kingsport.
Lieut. Murphy was ordered to take two companies of the Seventh, on the night of the 6th, which was very dark and the rain pouring down in torrents, and make a scout up the Holston Valley.
After marching about six miles he met the enemy’s advance and at once engaged them, and notified the Colonel of their approach.
The enemy finding their advance resisted, threw a force across the mountain into Carter Valley, which was estimated at 2000 strong, and upon reaching the valley they dashed upon this Tennessee company capturing and scattering them.
This Valley now being cleared, they continued down it about two miles to a road crossing into Holston Valley, which road struck the Valley about the center of our brigade camp.
Here their force was divided, one half going across the mountain, secreted themselves under the cover of the night in a cedar grove, near the road leading down the main valley to Rogersville.
The other part of their command continued down the valley to where it comes into the Holston, one-half mile above Rogersville, where they again divided their force, leaving a part here and sending the remainder around a spur of the mountain, striking the valley one-half mile below the town.