Letter

Unknown to George Wright, November 1, 1862

Washington, 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.

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, N. Alabama, S.W. Virginia, Pt. 1. Location: Washington. Summary: The War Department urgently directs Major-General Wright to expedite Indiana troop reinforcements to support General Grant and criticizes slow movements in Western Virginia during the 1862 Civil War campaign.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 20, Part 1 View original source ↗