[CHAP. XXVIII.

[Inclosure A.]

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
October 21, 1862.

Brigadier-General SMITH, Commanding Fourth Division:

GENERAL: You will immediately send forward a brigade to destroy the Salt-Works at Manchester. Order them to return promptly as soon as that object has been accomplished, reporting their position at least every day to these headquarters.

By order of Major-General Crittenden:

LYNE STARLING,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Referred to General Cruft October 22.)

Numbers 3.

Report of Brigadier General Charles Cruft, U. S. Army.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND BRIGADE, FOURTH DIVISION,
Rockcastle Ford, October 25, 1862.

CAPTAIN: On the morning of the 22nd instant, in pursuance of a written order from Brigadier-General Smith, commanding division (a copy of which is hereto attached,*) I marched this brigade from camp at Mershon's Cross-Roads to the Salt-Works, five in number, situated upon Goose Creek (see plat hereto appended), near Manchester, Ky., a distance of 26 miles.

On the 23rd and 24th instant these Salt-Works were so far destroyed as to render them ineffective for the future manufacture of salt, without the lapse of considerable time, large expense, and most probably the boring of new wells. The manufactured salt on hand at the various works was destroyed as effectually as possible. The manner in which the works and salt were destroyed is set forth in the written report of Colonel Enyart (First Kentucky Volunteers), Lieutenant-Colonel Hanson (Twentieth Kentucky Volunteers), and Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer (Second Kentucky Volunteers) acting as a commission under Special Orders, Numbers 3, from headquarters of this brigade. A copy of this report and the special order on which it is based are hereto appended.#

The time allowed me (by subsequent communication from General Smith) for the destruction of the works was too limited to thoroughly complete the job. Over 1,000 men were worked in details for one night and a day and a half in handling the salt and dismantling the works.

I recommend that a special commission or commissioners be appointed by the Government of the United States to repair to the works and take evidence as to the quantity and price of the salt destroyed, the permanent damage to the works, and the amount of any remote or consequential damage that may ensue to the owners or lessees from the stoppage of their manufactories. This appears to be the only proper means to do even-handed justice between the parties interested and the Government.

In regard to the propriety of the destruction of these works as a military necessity, a matter that is, I am aware, the special province of my superiors to decide, I may still be pardoned to remark that everything

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*See above.

#See Numbers 4.

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