I telegraphed, therefore, after several unsuccessful efforts to attain my object, from Piedmont to Grafton, where the troops were to have their dinner, that I desired the train ahead to stop just long enough for me to step from one train on board another. I did this especially because I considered it important to be at the head of the column before crossing the Ohio, as I had two Ohio regiments partly raised in that neighborhood and had to expect to lose many men by strag gling away unless proper measures were taken. All this would have been done without the least loss of time, especially as we would have avoided the frequent delays caused by the straggling of the men, and by the irregularities occurring in getting on and off the cars. In fact, we would have gained time by it. That the progress of the troops was not in the least impeded is apparent from the fact that at Bellaire we had to wait nearly three hours for transportation. This is the explanation I have to offer. You may possibly have acted on the supposition that I might have remained behind for my own comfort then trying to stop the trains in order to rejoin my troops. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was, in fact, aside of the corps commander, the only general officer in this corps who remained with his troops throughout the whole journey, traveling over thirty hours in a soldiers' car, without leaving my command a single moment. When an officer endeavors to perform his whole duty without the least regard to his personal comfort, and uses every exertion in his power to keep order and to insure the success of an enterprise, it is a little hard for him to find himself censured and threatened with disgrace in so cutting a manner, especially as he may come to the conclusion that he might have escaped censure by being less devoted to his duty. If I have done any wrong, I am willing to submit to any punishment I may deserve. But if, upon a closer examination of the facts, you have arrived at the conclusion that I was innocently condemned, then I would most respectfully request you, as an act of justice, to withdraw the censure which you inflicted upon me. Conscious as I am, to have endeavored to do my whole duty, I feel that I might justly claim this reparation. I am, sir, your obedient servant, C. SCHURZ, [Indorsements. ] HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS, October 5, 1863. No delay occurred through General Schurz, and certainly none was intended. The within explanation is explicit, and will probably do away with any unfounded suspicion of remissness on the part of the general. Respectfully, O. O. HOWARD, Major-General. OCTOBER 8, 1863. Respectfully forwarded. It is fortunate if the repeated efforts of General Schurz to delay his train caused no delay in the general movement. The accidents referred to as having happened on the way were caused by the men falling off the tops of the cars while under way, a luxury they would indulge in whether their officers were with them or not; at all events no orders to the contrary checked it. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding. LOUISVILLE, KY., October 1, 1863. His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States: In reply to your inquiry, will say have sent south fifteen trains troops, with 9,470 men from east and 1,340 from Cairo; total, 10,810, and one battery of artillery. Ten trains had passed Nashville up to 9.30 a. m. this morning, and all of them are at Bridgeport before this hour. Everything that has reached this point has gone forward. We are hoping to get another battery and about 1,600 men by midnight. Will ship them before daylight. Could handle them more rapidly if Eastern roads could let us have them. General Hooker left at 8 this morning, General Howard at 4.30 Eleventh Corps all gone, and part of Twelfth. p. m. THOMAS A. SCOTT. Hon. E. M. STANTON: BALTIMORE, MD., October 1, 1863. Your dispatch of inquiry received. As the movement is now entirely completed on our line, except a small remnant of horses about starting from the Manassas road, and as all the reports continue of uniformly successful character, I thought it would be tedious to send you more bulletins unless some change occurred, which I am happy to say is not the case. The only place where any real impediment has been threatened is Indianapolis, and I am now more than ever satisfied of the correctness of my judgment when I advised you and General Hooker, this day a week ago, that the troops should have been sent to Cincinnati direct by rail, and taken steamers for Louisville. The change of cars at Indianapolis, with the march of over a mile across the town, has been very tedious and difficult, because there was no track-room or other facilities for such an occasion. Nor were they familiar in that quarter with the details of such things on such a scale. Under all the circumstances, however, wonders have been achieved even there, the average delay at that point being only six hours. Up to 12 o'clock noon yesterday (Wednesday) 14,000 out of the 20,000 men had passed Indianapolis, and by dark last evening that number had reached Jeffersonville. The last trains of troops proper crossed the Ohio River at Bellaire yesterday afternoon, and are now nearly due at Jeffersonville. Some of the batteries are following closely, but even they have crossed the Ohio River, and are on the way to Indianapolis. I hope to send you the final report to-morrow. In summing up results I find over 20,000 men, ten batteries and their horses, besides other horses, and more than 100 cars of baggage, &c., have gone, being, in the whole movement, an average of 35 per cent. beyond the requisition and our expectations, and we only wonder that under such circumstances such results have been secured. I am glad to say, however, that even without previous notice, we feel ready to undertake it again, with all the anxiety and constant effort involved. W. P. SMITH. Hon. E. M. STANTON, NASHVILLE, TENN., October 2, 1863. Secretary of War: The last of the infantry of the Eleventh Corps reached their destination yesterday. The Twelfth are now passing through this city. I hope the movement will be satisfactory to you. I shall go to the front this morning. Major-General HOOKER, HOOKER, WAR DEPARTMENT, October 2, 1863-9.35 p. m. Nashville, or wherever he may be: Thanks for your telegram of yesterday. The movement is satisfactory. Any one would be hard to please that is not satisfied, except the enemy, who only found out two days ago where you were gone. All success attend you and your operations. EDWIN M. STANTON. NASHVILLE, October 2, 1863. Brigadier-General GARFIELD : I leave here to-day; expect to reach Stevenson, as ordered, by daylight to-morrow. Eleventh Corps all en route from here, except the artillery. Head of the Twelfth Corps will leave here to-day. No artillery up yet. I have no cavalry. Eleventh Corps aggregate for duty September 20, 5,834; Twelfth Corps aggregate for duty, 9,245. These numbers will be increased somewhat. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General HOWARD: NASHVILLE, October 2, 1863. The Meet General Hooker on train at Tullahoma or Wartrace. general directs that you stop the troops of the Twelfth Corps at Stevenson. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. ALEXANDRIA, Capt. GEORGE S. KOONTZ, Washington Depot: October 2, 1863–12.20 p. m. The horses and men remaining of the Twelfth Corps at Bealeton were cleared out with last loaded train sent you, and no more cars needed. I thank you for your prompt attention throughout. J. H. D. [DEVEREUX.] LOUISVILLE, KY., October 2, 1863-10 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Up to this hour we have sent south twenty-one trains with 13,615 men, and four batteries of artillery. We expect about 2,000 men and one battery to arrive by morning. We could handle them more rapidly from this point south if they were delivered here. We have in from Bridgeport to-night three full trains of troop cars. Circle is now complete, and we could keep up the present rate of movement without difficulty. Have had full consultation with Mr. Anderson to-day He has ordered 100 new cars at Michigan City, through Colonel Parsons, of Saint Louis, and assessed balance of equipment on Western roads, making it a light tax upon each. Will get nearly all the cars needed under the estimate within the next thirty days. Have ordered 4 engines to be used at the principal depot stations. We get 6 from Grant's department, that are now at Cairo. Will not order any more until we know what has been done by Mr. P. Wood, who was in the East buying locomotives for General Rosecrans. If you find Mr. Wood he should telegraph immediately to Mr. Anderson, and let him know exactly what has been done. Colonel McCallum may know of his movements. THOMAS A. SCOTT. CLEVELAND, OHIO, October 2, 1863. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Have set several parties to work preparing rolling stock, but am embarrassed for want of definite orders. Please instruct me. A. STONE, JR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, October 2, 1863-3.35 p. m. AMASA STONE, JR., Esq., Cleveland: On your declination reaching me I sent John B. Anderson, former superintendent, to Nashville to ascertain what amount and description of stock was required, and it was arranged that he should com municate with you and have you meet him at Columbus. He left here four days ago, and I had supposed you and he were in communication. I will telegraph him, and desire very much that you would look into the matter, and favor me with your aid and judgment, in which I have great confidence. Please telegraph to Anderson at Louisville what you are doing, and meet him there or at Cincinnati. EDWIN M. STANTON. Major-General MEADE, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 3, 1863—2.30 p m. Army of the Potomac : Quartermaster-General Meigs telegraphs that the trains of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps be sent to Nashville. Colonel McCallum will immediately arrange for cars, for mules, and wagons. General Ingalls must have these trains at convenient places for loading. He will communicate with Colonel McCallum. H. W. HALLECK, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, October 3, 1863-3 p. m. General-in-Chief: The whole trains of the Eleventh Corps, and the ammunition and small-arms of the Twelfth Corps, accompanied those corps to Alexandria. The balance of the Twelfth Corps train has been issued as supply trains to the cavalry, and such regiments of infantry as were entitled to increased allowance for conscripts. Your telegram has been sent to General Ingalls, now in Washington, who will communicate with you in person. GEO. G. MEADE, CHATTANOOGA, TENN., October 3, 1863-8.20 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: The destruction of the train by rebels yesterday makes it more necessary that the trains of the troops coming from the east be forwarded after them with all dispatch. Lieutenant-Colonel Mackay, chief quartermaster Thomas' corps, has visited the scene, and reports that about 350 wagons have been burned, and the mules killed and driven off by the rebels. A few mules will be gathered in the woods, and some recaptured. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General. |