Horatio G. Wright to George Wright, November 1, 1862

Major-General WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio :

By direction of the Secretary of War, I yesterday telegraphed Governor Morton to send all Indiana troops to Columbus, Ky. Not a moment should be lost in sending re-enforcements to General Grant. We are anxious to hear from Western Virginia. The Department is not satisfied with the movements of troops there. They are too slow. Unless they move with great rapidity the campaign will be a failure. Has Morgan’s command been sent to Tennessee?

H. W. HALLEOK, General-in-Chief.

BOWLING GREEN, November 1, 1862. General W. S. ROSECRANS:

Another messenger from Nashville reports to me that General Negley said Breckinridge moved his command to La Vergne, and that 15,000 of Bragg’s advance would be at Murfreesborough this morning. Morgan was at Springfield yesterday with fully 3,000. His object is, doubtless, to annoy our army as they move down, or cut off the wagon train. I dispersed some of his men yesterday near South Union, on Russellville road, capturing 4. If cavalry force could be sent from Munfordville by Russellville and another from here with section of artillery, it would trouble him to escape.

8S. D. BRUCE, Colonel, Commanding.

November 1, 1862. Major-General HALLEOK :

Major-General Rosecrans left this morning to join his command, which was already in motion on his arrival here. He takes with him all the forces lately under General Buell, except the garrisons on the railroad and a brigade with some cavalry, at Lebanon, which are designed in part to support those garrisons. What the strength of the force thus left is, have not been able to ascertain. The small force at Louisville should be kept for the present, except two regiments of Indiana troops, sent here some time since, but which, it was stated, were designed for special service. Beyond the thirteen regiments of Illinois troops, referred to in my dispatch, I cannot, therefore, send any to Columbus without drawing them from Granger’s command, which is in the interior ie Kentucky. Shall I do this? I prefer not doing it at this moment.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Ohio, Louisville, Ky., November 1, 1862.

GENERAL: General Orders, No. 49, Headquarters Army of the Ohio, are modified in the following particulars:

1st. Recruits from the rebel army who have delivered themselves up as deserters may, on their claims as deserters being recognized, be set at liberty, on taking the oath of allegiance and giving bonds with proper security.

2d. Recruits captured by our troops, being prisoners of war, will be treated as such, and released on taking the oath of allegiance only in special cases.

3d. Persons not connected with the rebel army, but who are charged with having actively aided or abetted in an invasion of Kentucky by rebel troops within the last three months, will be arrested, and their cases at once reported to you, with the proof in such case, for your decision. As a general rule, such persons should be sent to Camp Chase, instead of Vicksburg, as political prisoners.

4th. In any special cases arising under these orders, and not included in the above, you will exercise your discretion.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,