[CHAP. XXVIII.

way to Abington, Va. I should say 1,000 or 1,200 of his men had deserted him. I captured 150 and 50 horses, besides muskets, pistols, &c. His horsemen remain behind in Kentucky to plunder and ruin the people. On Saturday I heard of 600 under Witcher and 400 under Camron in Morgan and Bath Counties, and 150 in Powell, beyond Staunton, under Gay, Bradshaw, and other thugs, murdering, plundering, and burning.

General, my district has sent six infantry regiments to the Federal Army, and in addition the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry was principally raised in that district. The Government has never sent us the least assistance except the Twenty-second Michigan, ordered away fore it could serve us an hour. After our whole State was evacuated, except Covington and Louisville, your ordered away the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry from this place, just raised and mounted hereabouts, and left us naked to bands of mounted rebels. These bands yonder around and beyond Mount Sterling still ruin the people. Smith, Bragg, and Marshall retreat beyond pursuit and no help comes.

Unless your order a force of mounted men, supported by some infantry, to clear out the region beyond Mount Sterling and Owingsville all this part of the State will be infested and plundered all fall and winter.

I find here colonel Lucy and part of the One hundred and fifteenth Ohio. There are 400 cavalry at Ripley. The balance of the One hundred and fifteenth is at Cincinnati. Colonel Lucy is anxious to go on this duty. We have no use for a soldier at this point now, not one. I beg you will send him with these forces at once to Mount Sterling, with orders to clear away these rebel robbers. I do hope you will also support him with some of the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry or some other mounted force. They should also have some pieces of mountain howitzers. Troops at Mount Sterling, Owingsville, and West Liberty will protect and relieve a third of this State.

General, if you could see my ruined people and their desolate homes you would move up the brigades under your command and excuse the feeling I show in their behalf. I have done all I could for them without help from State or nation, and will not give it up. The President has shown himself friendly toward me, and I will beg him for protection against the damned villains.

Respectfully, your obedient, &c.,

W. H. WADSWORTH.

Major General HORATIO G. WRIGHT.

OCTOBER 18, 1862.-Acting at Lexington, Ky.

REPORTS.

Numbers 1.-Major General Horatio G. Wright, U. S. Army, of the captured of Lexington.

Numbers 2.-Major Charles B. Seidel, Third Ohio Cavalry, of skirmish near Lexington.

Numbers 1.

Report of Major General Horatio G. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio.

CINCINNATI, OHIO, October 19, 1862-12.5 a.m.

John Morgan took Lexington yesterday morning (18th) and captured some of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry (report says 500 strong). General