of the general-in-chief of this date, saying that I had been "directed some time ago to investigate and report upon the conduct of Brig. Gen. Morgan in evacuating Cumberland Gap" and that "no report has yet been received."

Soon after the command of General Morgan reached the Ohio River I saw and conversed with many of the higher officers of the command in regard to the circumstances attending the evacuation, and was satisfied, even before General Morgan's official report came to hand, that the course adopted by him was one of unavoidable necessity. This I stated in my letter of the 15th October last, transmitting the report of General Morgan, and I considered this report as being all that I was called upon to furnish, being satisfied myself of the propriety and actual necessity of the evacuation of the Gap. I conceived that report to be conclusive, unless the commanding general desired some further investigation.

I would further remark that subsequent statements of officers of General Morgan's command have confirmed the correctness of the opinion expressed in my letter of October 15, above referred to, and have satisfied me that he could not have held out more than twenty days longer at the utmost, and then only on much reduced rations, with no provisions with which to subsist his troops on the march, and with a loss of animals meanwhile for want of forage, which would have compelled him to abandon his artillery and wagons.

No formal investigation was instituted, because I did not conceive it to be called for by the general-in-chief or to be necessary.

Referring to my letter of October 15 and General Morgan's report, transmitted therewith for further information, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General, Commanding.

EXHIBIT H.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 22, 1862.

General MORGAN, Cumberland Gap, Tenn.:

Hold on firmly; you will very soon be re-enforced. Do no yield an inch. Fight the enemy wherever he appears, and I will see that you are very soon supported by other troops. Try to open communications with General Buell. If you cannot do this, telegraph General Wright at Cincinnati.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

EXHIBIT I.

[See Report No. 2, of date October 12, 1862, p.992.]

EXHIBIT J.

[See September 10, 1862. Operations at Rogers' Gap and Big Creek Gap, Tenn., and Barboursville, Ky. Report of Brig. Gen. George W. Morgan, U. S. Army, p.957.]