This will render it necessary for me to withdraw a part of my force from Forts Henry and Donelson. Do send me more troops. I have sent every organized regiment from Saint Louis. This place is virtually without a garrison. Buell cannot move on Nashville for two or three weeks. Let him held me, and we will cut the line between Columbus and

------

* and paralyze both places.

H. W. HALLECK.

HEADQUARTERS, Saint Louis, February 19, 1862

Major-General McCLELLAN:

Brigadier General Charles F. Smith, by his coolness and bravery at Fort Donelson when the battle was against us, turned the tide and carried the enemy's outworks. Make him a major-general. You can't get a better one. Honor him for this victory and the whole country will applaud.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,

Saint Louis, February 19, 1862

THOMAS A. SCOTT,

Assistant Secretary of War, Louisville, Ky.:

Have just heard that the railroad bridge at Decatur across the Tennessee is destroyed. Communication between Columbus and Nashville is thus cut off. If General Buell will come down and help me with all possible haste we can end the war in the West in less than a month.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

SAINT LOUIS, February 19, 1862

Brigadier General W. T. SHERMAN, Paducah:

Don't let any troops go north to Kentucky, but hurry them down to Paducah and Cairo. Look out sharp for a movement from Columbus.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Fort Donelson, February 19, 1862

General G. W. CULLUM,

Chief of Staff, Department of the Missouri;

GENERAL: Clarksville is evacuated, and I shall take possession on Friday next, with one division, under General Smith. If it is the desire of the general commanding department, I can have Nashville on Saturday week. To do this I will have to retain transportation as it arrives. Please inform me early of the desire of the general commanding on this point-at as early a day as possible.

As soon as I got possession, of Fort Donelson, I commenced sending the sick and wounded to Paducah, as seems to have been the desire of

---------------

*Illegible cipher word; probably standing for Nashville.

---------------