Unknown to Don Carlos Buell, November 12, 1861
Washington, November 12, 1861.
âBrig. Gen. D. C. BUELL, Commanding Department of the Ohio:
GENERAL: Upon assuming command of the department, I will be glad to have you make as soon as possible a careful report of the condition and situation of your troops and of the military and political condition of your command. The main point to which I desire to call your attention is the necessity of entering Eastern: Tennessee as soon as it ean be done with reasonable chances of success, and I hope that you will, with the least possible delay, organize a column for that purpose, sufficiently guarding at the same time the main avenues by which the rebels may invade Kentucky. Our conversations on the subject of military operations have been so full, and my confidence in your judgment is so great, that I will not dwell further upon the subject, except to urge upon you the necessity of keeping me fully informed as to the state of affairs, both military and political, and your movements. In regard to political matters, bear in mind that we are fighting only to preserve the integrity of the Union and to uphold the power of the General Government. As far as military necessity will permit, religiously respect the constitutional rights of all. Preserve the strictest discipline among the
2 — troops, and while employing the utmost energy in military movements,
be careful so to treat the unarmed inhabitants as to contract, not widen, the breach existing between us and the rebels. d
I mean by this that it is the desire of the Government to avoid unnecessary irritation by causeless arrests and persecution of individuals. Where there is good reason to believe that persons are actually giving -aid, comfort, or information to the enemy, it is of course necessary to arrest them, but I have always found that it is the tendency of subordinates to make vexatious arrests on mere suspicion. You will find it well to direct that no arrest shall be made except by your-order or that of your generals, unless in extraordinary cases, always holding the party
making the arrest responsible for the propriety of his course. It should
be our constant aim to make it apparent to all that their property, their comfort, and their personal safety will be best preserved by adhering to the cause of the Union.
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If the military suggestions I have made in this letter prove to have been founded on erroneous data, you are, of course, perfectly free to change the plans of operations. McCLELLAN.