SAINT Louis, February 7, 1862.
Brig. Gen. D.C. BUELL, Louisville, Ky.:
GENERAL: My telegrams of to-day are so full that I have very
little to add in answer to your letter of the 5th. You say you regret that we
could not have consulted on this move earlier. So do I, most sincerely. I had
no idea of commencing the movement before the 15th or the 20th instant till I
received General McClellan's telegram about the re-enforcement sent to
Tennessee or Kentucky with Beauregard. Although not ready, I deemed it
important to move instantly. I believe I was right. We must hold. Fort Henry
must be held at all hazards. I am sending there every man I can get hold of,
without regard to the consequences of abandoning posts in this State. If the
rebels rise, I will put them down afterwards. Grant's force is small—only
15,000. Eight thousand more are on the way to re-enforce him. If we can sustain
ourselves and advance up the Cumberland or Tennessee, Bowling Green must be
abandoned. I suppose the mud there, as it is here, is too deep for movements
outside of railroads and rivers.
The enemy has the railroads, and we must use the rivers—at
least for the present. Unfortunately our gunboats are badly disabled. They will
be repaired as soon as possible. In the mean time we must push on with infantry
and artillery on transports I have no train, and most of the regiments are
without means of transportation on land. I hope you will help us all you can. I
deem the holding of Fort Henry of vital importance to both of us.
I write in great haste, but you will understand the purport
of what I wish to express.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
H.
W. HALLECK,
Major-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
7 (Serial No. 7), p. 593
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