Assistant Adjutant-General, &c., Bowling Green:
SIR: I lose not a
moment in communicating through you to the general commanding the Western
Division the condition of affairs at this post. I had hoped that the picture
sketched to me of matters here might not have been realized, but I am compelled
to think it not too highly colored. Under all the circumstances, I doubt not
General Alcorn has made the best of things, his camp being merely one large
hospital, with scarce men enough on duty to care for the sick and maintain a
feeble guard around them, with insufficient pickets at prominent points. Over
one-half the entire command are on the sick list, with very grave types of
different diseases. Those remaining and reported for duty have not enough
really well men to do more than first stated. The Kentucky Battalion of
Infantry, numbering 547, have only 45 cases reported sick. The measles have
made their appearance, and the battalion will average 20 new cases per day,
judging from to-day's report. The morning brigade report, herewith inclosed,
shows only 716 for duty out of a total of 2,237. Of this number, you will see
that the Kentucky Battalion furnishes 376, one-third of whom only are armed,
with no equipments.
Of cavalry we
have nothing to count on, save Captain Meriwether's company of untutored
recruits. Captain Huey's company of cavalry is entirely unarmed. Captain
Wilcox's company not yet recovered from the Eddyville affair.
On the score of
artillery I have merely to say, that there is not an organized squad for a
single gun that could be taken into action. There are five pieces of artillery—two
6-pounders, two 9, one 12—none of which I think fit for service on account of
the wretched manner in which they are mounted; a total ignorance of all
mechanical principles evidenced in the construction of the carriages. The guns
seem to be pretty fair. On the subject of clothing and equipments, equipage,
&c., I can only say that I find nothing more encouraging. The commissary
department is pretty well supplied; the quartermaster's department entirely deficient.
I have thus
fairly sketched the condition of things. Major Hewett will be able to give you
some particulars that I have not time now to do, but will write by the next
mail. I have commenced at the root of things, and mean to work out the best
result I can. I write not thus discouragingly in any spirit of complaint, but
to lay before the commanding general the plain facts of the case. They are
plainly these: I have no force here available for any purpose save protecting
the sick and depot. I have reason to think that the enemy are in full
possession of this fact, and are calculating on it. I have no force with which
to operate in any direction, and our people are suffering terribly within the
lines assigned me for my operations. In front and on my left they need a check.
The defenses of the Cumberland cannot I believe be perfected, unmolested,
unless my position is strengthened for this purpose.
A movement has
taken place at Henderson. A courier reached me to-night with the inclosed paper*
from a committee at Henderson. The Union men have been very busy here to-day.
They are too open-mouthed, and must be checked. The stage is waiting, and I
have not time to say more than this. I deem it absolutely necessary that I
should as soon as possible be re-enforced. A cavalry force is indispensably
necessary to cover my front and prevent the removal of a large amount of wheat,
flour, corn, and hogs, now drafted daily on heavily by scouting parties. Of the
latter item, there are not less than 50,000 hogs. This service would require
the whole time of not less than 500 cavalry. For practical purposes I am
without infantry and artillery, and desire that a due proportion of both be at
once sent. I beg you to say to General Johnston that I need the assistance of
some graduates, for artillery especially. Could I not have the services of the
two young men mentioned by General Buckner? (See him.) I will prepare full
estimates for all my wants and forward them.
I beg you to
pardon this hurried communication. I have not had time to read it over. Major
Hewett will give you facts as to a landing at Eddyville by our people.
* Not found.
