[CHAP. XXVIII.

enemy as making his way with a force of 15,000, under Kirby Smith, to Burkesville. I don't believe it; but he is positive. General G. Clay Smith is under your command. Give him such orders as above instructions and the information you have make necessary.

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
Louisville, Ky., August 23, 1862.

Major General LEW. WALLACE:

GENERAL: Your two telegrams received.* Stop your advance at Lancaster.

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
Loiusville, Ky., August 23, 1862.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

I urgently request that orders at once be given to muster in men between eighteen and twenty-one, without requiring consent of guardians or oath of officers. These men will be subject to draft, but many of them belong to organizations nearly or quite complete in this State. If not authorized it will retard and probably break up these organizations.

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General, Commanding.

DECHERD, TENN., VIA CORINTH,

August 24, 1862-2.15 p.m.

Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

The intimations of various kinds, which I have heretofore alluded to, of a design on the part of the enemy to attempt a formidable invasion of Tennessee are being verified, and there can be no doubt that Tennessee and Kentucky are in very great peril. It is impossible to ascertain with any certainty what the force of the enemy is. It probably is not less than 60,000 men, independently of irregular cavalry and the force operating toward Kentucky in rear of Cumberland Gap. They have crossed at Chattanooga, Harrison, Blythe's Ferry, and Kingston, and are marching on McMinnville. Upon the receipt of this information I ordered the forces at Battle Creek to move up the Sequatchie River; one division to stop on the Little Sequatchie at the Higgin-bottom road leading to Tracy City and the other to the Anderson road, which leads directly from Chattanooga to McMinnville through Altamont. Thomas, with two divisions, was ordered to watch the Sparta road, by which the Kingston column would advance, and be prepared to concentrate on Altamont or in the Sequatchie Valley, according to the circumstances. Owing to the mountainous character of the country,

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*Not found.

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