George H. Thomas to See, December 7, 1862

Gallatin, December 7, 1862.

Major-General ROSECRANS, Oommanding the Army of the Cumberland, Nashville:

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following plan of operations in East Tennessee, after carefully studying the ground:

When we shall have moved the enemy south of Tullahoma, let McCook follow him up and watch him, to prevent his moving off to our right. He will only have to advance as far as Decherd to do so. Let Crittenden, with two divisions of his corps, follow up McCook a little to his right and rear, covering Nashville, and being in supporting distance of McCook. Send one of Crittenden’s divisions to McMinnville, to guard a depot of supplies in transition to Sparta.

Whilst McCook and Crittenden are taking up the positions above indicated, let my corps concentrate near Lebanon, keeping on hand ten days’ rations, and throw supplies into Carthage by steamers. As soon as ten days’ rations are in Carthage, and a supply train ready to start from that place for Sparta, my corps can move on Sparta, and thence to Crossville and Kingston, and from Kingston either on Loudon or Knoxville, or on both, as circumstances may justify.

Onap, XXXII.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 129

A cavalry force should precede the main column, turnnig to the right at Sparta, and move by Pikeville toward Blythe’s Ferry, attraeting the enemy to that point during the advance of my main column on Kingston and Knoxville. Have ten days’ rations reach Sparta two days after 1 pass that place. On that day I can send back to Sparta wagona enough to take the ten days’ rations to Knoxville or Loudon by the time my original supply is exhausted. By that time a depot can be formed at; the Falls of the Caney Fork, as that stream is navigable to that point, 12 or 15 miles from Sparta, when the Cumberland is navigable to Car thage, and an additional supply of ten days’ could be put in Sparta from McMinnville, making twenty days’ supply within eight days of my command, and the command supplied with ten days’. If the enemy does not abandon Chattanooga when he finds the railroad cut at Loudon. the army can concentrate at that point and drive him off.

There are two roads from Carthage to Knoxville, one by Sparta, good ; the other by Montgomery, pretty good. About 700 wagons would supply my corps after getting possession of Loudon until the.railroad could be opened.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major-General, Commanding Center.
See
DECEMBER 7, 1862.
General THOMAS:
Do you think there is any danger of the brigade at Carthage ?
[ROSECRANS. GALLATIN, December 7, 1862.
General ROSECRANS: