William S. Rosecrans to Arthur C. Ducat, November 3, 1862

No. 4. Bowling Green, Ky., November 3, 1862. The following telegram has been received from the Secretary of War, and is published for the information of this Army:

GENERAL ORDERS, — FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

Washington, November 3, 1862. Major-General ROSECRANS:

The authority you ask, promptly to muster-out or dismiss from the service officers, for flagrant misdemeanor and crimes, such as pillaging, drunkenness, and misbehavior before the enemy or on guard duty, is essential to discipline, and you are authorized to exercise it. Report of the facts in each case should be immediately forwarded to the Department, in order to prevent improvident restoration.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

The general commanding appeals to both officers and men of this army to aid him in bringing it to a state of discipline at least equal to that of the rebels. He begs them to remember that neglect of official duty, and violation of the rights of individuals, tarnish our national honor, destroy the confidence of people in our justice, and put the greatest obstacles in the way of a speedy termination of this war.

Fully satisfied that all our soldiery demands to make it the best in the world is to have good officers, he earnestly invokes their united exertions to establish a spirit of zeal and emulation in the discharge of official duties. He announces to them that their own honor, the honor and interests of the soldiers, and of the service alike demand the rigorous ase of this authority, and that he is determined thus to exercise it.

By command of Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans :