Brigadier-General Simon Bolivar Buckner to Major George B. Cosby, October 2, 1861

HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF KENTUCKY,        

Hopkinsville, Ky., October 2, 1861.

Maj. GEORGE B. COSBY, Assistant Adjutant General:

SIR: Accompanying this is an order assigning you to the command of this district. The general purposes to be accomplished are: To cover the left flank of my line of operations and the right flank of the line of operations of General A. S. Johnston; to disperse assemblages of troops which may be collected in the interest of our enemy and to prevent other similar assemblages; to collect the arms which may be the property of the enemy; to muster into the service of the Confederate States all organized bodies of Kentuckians who may present themselves for that purpose. You will consider Green River your northern line of defense, and, as soon as possible, it is expected that you will occupy Ramsey, and disable the navigation of Green River if you should find it necessary to evacuate that point. In collecting arms you will adopt the most conciliatory policy, and avoid the searching of private houses; and in searching any portion of the premises of individuals, you will see that it is not done without the strongest reasons for doing so. My object is to protect the civil rights of all citizens, without regard to their political opinions, as far as is consistent with the safety of the army. With this view, you will visit with the severest penalties every act of the soldiers of your command which may violate this rule. As far as possible you will co-operate with the civil authorities, and give them all necessary assistance in enforcing their police regulations. You will have authority to subsist and quarter bodies of men previous to their being mustered into service, when they shall have assembled with that view. Special returns and accounts will be rendered, to distinguish them from the troops.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. B. BUCKNER.        

Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 4 (Serial No. 4), p. 435