January 3, 1862 to Lorenzo Thomas, January 3, 1862
Washington, January 3, 1862.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding Department of Missouri :
GENERAL: It is of the: greatest importance that the rebel troops in Western Kentueky be prevented from moving to the support of the force in front of General Buell. To accomplish this an expedition should be sent up the Cumberland River, to act in concert with General Buellâs command, of sufficient strength to defeat any force that may be brought
528 ^ OPERATIONS IN KY., TENN., N. ALA., AND S.W. VA. (Omar. xm. Vu
against it. The gunboats should be supported by at least one and Do j haps two divisions of your best infantry, taken from Paducah and other points from which they can best be spared. At the same time such a demonstration should be made on Columbus as will prevent the removal of any troops from that place; and, if a sufficient number have already been withdrawn, the place should be taken. It may be well also to make a feint on the Tennessee River, with a command sufficient to prevent disaster under any circumstances.
As our success in Kentucky depends in a great measure on our preventing re-enforcements from joining Buckner and Johnston, not a momentâs time should be lost in preparing these expeditions.
I desire that you give me at once your views in full as to the best method of accomplishing our object, at the same time stating the nature and strength of the force that you can use for the purpose and the time necessary to prepare.
Very respectfully, GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, Commanding.
JANUARY 3, 1862.
General LORENZO THOMAS,
Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:
Two regiments alone could only remain at Caseyville through the inactivity of the superior force of the enemy at Hopkinsville. That is
possible; but if it should happen otherwise, it would be inconvenient to
re.enforcethem. It would not be quite so bad at Uniontown. The frequent presence of a gunboat up the river would have almost as good an
effect.