OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP. XII.
thus keeping me continually in a false position with my superior officers and the country. So far as a forward movement is concerned, I have never urged it; do not now urge it; but on the contrary believe that in the present condition of my command (having a large sick list) it would be most decidedly imprudent. I am nevertheless ready to obey your order to advance, come when it may. That is a question for my superiors, and not for me, to determine.
After eight days of labor ont he part of Captain Everett, he has returned the regimental monthly returns to the respective commanders, to be forwarded direct to your headquarters; Captain Everett having declared his inability to obtain from any one regiment anything like a passable document, or even the data upon which he could frame one.
My consolidated morning reports will be commenced on the 10th and promptly continued as per orders every ten days, and forwarded upon the days upon which they are made.
Please furnish the regimental commanders with blanks in time for the close of the present month, when, perhaps, by "line upon line and precept upon precept," they may be brought to produce a more businesslike sheet in future.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. SCHOEPF, Brigadier-General.
HEADQUARTERS KENTUCKY MILITIA, Frankfort, November 9, 1861. (Received November 11.)
General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Crab Orchard:
SIR: Information has reached this department that Captain Munday and a body of men (Kentucky volunteer cavalry) presented themselves to you a few days since, and were sworn into the service of the United States.
By the terms of General Orders, Numbers 78, of the War Department, U. S., all the volunteers in the loyal States are placed under the command of the governors of those States (I send a copy of order), and General Sherman's orders Nos. 10 and 13 direct that all persons raising recruits int he State are directed to report to the adjutant-general of the State, &c.
I beg to suggest, with great deference, that the exercise of authority in mustering in detached companies by the Federal authorities at the same time the military board is striving to compel a consolidation of fractional companies and regiments must produce great confusion, and may operate prejudicially to the public service.
There are now in the various camps in Kentucky, in fractional companies and regiments, a large number of men. The purpose of the board is to organize them into regiments as quickly as possible.
Many persons raising regiments under permit from War Department and General Anderson are disinclined to consent to a consolidation because they may lose their places.
It will be seen, therefore, if a consolidation is desirable, it can only be effected by a rigid adherence to the order giving the board exclusive control over the recruits.
Truly, yours,
JNO. W. FINNELL, Adjutant-General Kentucky Militia.
