Letter

William S. Rosecrans to P. Gareschb, December 2, 1862

DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,

No. 29. Nashville, Tenn., December 2, 1862.

I. The commanding officer of every corps, division, and brigade in this army will detail from his command a competent officer to act as topographical engineer. The officer so detailed will collect all the information accessible to him in relation to the roads, fords, ferries, bridges. mountain passes, defiles, the general configuration of the country, its resources, &c., and prepare sketches of the same. The information thus collected will be promptly reported to Capt. N. Michler, chief topographical engineer, on duty at these headquarters.

I. I. There will be likewise detailed in every corps, division, and brigade of this army, a firm, sensible, and energetic officer as provostmarshal, with a suitable provost guard, whose especial duty shall be to put down all straggling, marauding, and pillaging, whether among the officers and soldiers or among the followers of this army, and to arrest and bring to trial, or, in minor cases, inflict summary punishment on all offenders.

By command of Major-General Rosecrans:

. P. GARESCHB,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
NASHVILLE, December 3, 1862—11 p. m.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
We have this large army here, and our chief quartermaster has not
a cent to pay for the veriest trifle. His estimates have been long in.
You cannot conceive the embarrassment and loss in various ways resulting. Please remedy if possible.
Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, N. Alabama, S.W. Virginia, Pt. 1. Summary: Major-General Rosecrans orders the appointment of topographical engineers and provost marshals in every corps, division, and brigade to gather terrain information and enforce discipline within the army.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 20, Part 1 View original source ↗