Letter

H. G. Wright to Nashville, Tenn, November 20, 1862

Cincinnati, Ohio, November 20, 1862.

Hon. THomas Ewine, Lancaster, Ohio:

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, calling attention to the danger of bands of robbers and horse thieves, under the name of guerrillas, forming on the opposite shore of the Ohio, and, after the river is frozen, crossing over and committing depredations in this State. As the troopsin Kentucky are dispersed, there would seem to be little danger of such raids in any force. That it may be attempted by small bands of thieves is very possible, and to guard fully against such incursions will be hardly within the power of the military. The citizens living upon the border must aid in their own protection, All the troops in the department, if scattered

Cuar. XXXII.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 1%

along the line of the Ohio from Cairo to Wheeling, could not entirely guard against small thieving bands. The large forces they can best take care of as they are now located.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major-General, Commanding.

November 21, 1862—11.15 p. m.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief :
It seems necessary to make some provision for gunboats, to patrol
the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, in order to co-operate with us,

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, N. Alabama, S.W. Virginia, Pt. 1. Location: Cincinnati, Ohio. Summary: Major General H. G. Wright warns of potential small guerrilla raids across the frozen Ohio River and emphasizes the need for local citizen vigilance due to limited military capacity to prevent such incursions.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 20, Part 1 View original source ↗