OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

morning, bringing Colonel Whittlesey, a military engineer, We examined the Kentucky Hill, opposite the city, and decided on a plan of defense. The engineers are at work. General Buckingham and myself then reviewed carefully the condition of all the fragments of regiments in this State, and I ordered into Camp Dennison all regiments more than half full. We then prepared the necessary papers and instructions to inaugurate greater alacrity in recruiting volunteers.

Monday morning General Morris arrived from Governor Morton, of Indiana, with the most earnest appeal for arms from Ohio. After consultation, Governor Dennison and Governor Morton were called to the city by telegraph to concert measures, and General Anderson was desired to come or send a confidential representative. The meeting was held Monday afternoon and evening, and resulted in this State furnishing Indiana 3,000 muskets for the emergency, and a determination to urge forward troops to possess and hold the strong points in Kentucky.

I have already a regiment in possession of the hither extremity of the Covington and Lexington Railroad. To-day a regiment proceeds to Cynthiana and Paris to hold the entire road, and will be followed by another this evening to hold the Lexington and Louisville Railroad. These will be followed by a force sufficient to tender it possible (when combined with the troops under General Thomas at camp Dick Robinson, 130 miles from this) to commence active and immediate operations to drive Zollicoffer and Breckinridge out of the State or to capture them.

Holding as I hope the entire region based on the Ohio from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Louisville, Ky., with the two railways already mentioned, with secure lines of communication by rail with Cincinnati and Louisville and by turnpike with Maysville and Portsmouth, a powerful force may be moved from the region near Lexington and Frankfort, and may operate either towards the Cumberland Gap, or, after shutting up that pass, concentrate a powerful column and drive the enemy back from Muldraugh's Hill, secure Louisville, and threaten Nashville.

Such are my present ideas. I have no knowledge of the views of General Anderson further than he begs me to aid Lexington and Frankfort and General Thomas.

I have thus presented in as few words as possible the position in which I am placed and the general outline of defense for my Department of Ohio and Indiana.

I have directed the staff officers to send forward to General Rosecrans supplies of all kinds without consulting me, up to the point where it becomes a doubt whether if more be sent it will not endanger the safety of this department; then to stop and be governed by my orders. In line manner I am ready to send troops to Virginia or to Washington so long as in my judgment I retain a force sufficient to insure the protection of Ohio and Indiana. In adopting this course I am, as I conceive, acting strictly up to my orders.

I deem the immediate occupancy of Kentucky as a matter of the greatest importance and that fall of Louisville as a disaster the consequences of which cannot be overestimated. I therefore urge the necessity of, placing in supreme command if this expedition to Kentucky and to Tennessee and experienced general, who will command the entire confidence of the Government.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. M. MITCHEL, Brigadier-General, Commanding Dep't of the Ohio.