William S. Rosecrans to Braxton Bragg, November 29, 1862

General BRAXTON BRAGG: GENERAL: Your communication of this date, inclosing a communication in reference to Adjutant Hawkins, stating to have been the bearer of a flag of truce, and detained and imprisoned at Alton, is received. The troops who are said to have disregarded the flag were then, and are still, under the command of Major-General Wright, to whom your letter and inclosure has been referred. I have received no information, official or unofficial, in regard to the matter. The remoteness of the point to which this flag was directed, the fact that subordinate officers have taken the liberty, at least in one instance during my command, to make use of a flag of truce to communicate with the outposts of our army, induces me to call your attention to the necessity of giving such instructions as are needful to preserve the legitimate use of it. The flag must come from the senior officer commanding, and follow the most direct route. I shall endeavor in this, as in all other things, to conform to the laws and usages of war, and I doubt not such conformity will be reciprocated by you.

W. S. ROSECRANS,