Horatio G. Wright to Jeremiah T. Boyle, November 14, 1862

Brig. Gen. J. T. BOYLE, Oommanding, Louisville, Ky. :

GENERAL: The letter from the medical director’s office in Louisville, dated the 9th instant, to Dr. J. W. Colescott, surgeon in charge of the United States Marine Hospital at that place, stating that the hospital was needed for the hospital department of the army, which was referred by you to these headquarters, has been received; also a letter from the acting medical director at Louisville, of the same date, to you, requesting that some dwelling-house large enough to accommodate the various men in the Marine Hospital be placed at his disposal. I understand

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that the Treasury Department has kindly granted the use of the Marine Hospital for the use of army patients, and the great need for hospital accommodations at Louisville at the present time requires that this permission be availed of. But it does not follow nor does there seem to be any reason for requiring that the patients already in the building belonging to the class for which the hospital was constructed should be removed, and, therefore, the views indorsed upon the firat of these letters by Dr. Colescott are approved. You will consequently instruct the medical director at Louisville to occupy only such part of the Marine Hospital as can be spared from its legitimate purposes, and you will authorize the use by the medical department, for the sick and wounded of the army, of such buildings in Louisville as may be needed, belonging to disloyal persons in the rebel service, and as may be adapted to hospital purposes. You will also’call upon the medical director to report the reasons for requiring the authorities of the Marine Hospital to vacate the building for the purposes of an army hospital.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,