large field of operations with important results, and without a single general engagement. In my judgment the commander merits condemnation who, from ambition or ignorance, or a weak submission to the dictation of popular clamor, and without necessity or profit, has squandered the lives of his soldiers."

Thus reasoning, General Buell proceeded with his deliberate and strictly correct preparations for battle, till he discovered that Bragg was making off from the State with his plunder. Then he made vigorous but by no means vehement pursuit, till he had dogged the rear-guard into the mountains.

Meantime the Administration, delighted with what was called, in the foolish language of those self-deceiving days, the victory of Perryville, was elate with the vision of the army rushing pell-mell after the fragments of the Rebel rout through the mountains, and relieving East Tennessee. Nothing less. than the speedy occupation of Knoxville and Chattanooga was confidently expected.

To the President and Cabinet, thus sanguine and jubilant, came a calm letter from the unmoved commander of the army in Kentucky. He regarded further pursuit, he said, as of little use; he proposed, therefore, speedily to tura the heads of his columns toward Nashville again; and for the rest, he had to remind the Government that the present was, probably, as convenient a time as was likely to be found for making the change, which it had seemed to think needful, in the command of this army! He then explained (and subsequent events were soon to vindicate his sagacity in this respect) that he had no doubt Bragg would soon be found near Nashville; so that, whether for the immediate protection of that city and the re-opening of the severed lines of communication, or for offensive operations against Bragg, the movement on Nashville was the correct one for the army to make.*

The dispatches (not hitherto accessible in any published form) may be found on the files of the War Department. They are as follows:

[Received at Washington October 17th.]
[CYPHER.]

"HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, October 16, 1862. "MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, General-in-Chief: You are aware that between Crab Orchard and Cumberland Gap the country is almost a desert.

"The limited supply of forage which the country affords is consumed by the enemy as he passes. In the day and a half that we have been in this sterile region our animals have suffered exceedingly. The enemy has been driven into the heart of this desert, and must go on, for he can not exist in it. For the same reason, we can not pursue in it with any hope of overtaking him; for, while he is moving back on his supplies, and, as he goes, consuming what the country affords, we must bring ours forward. There is but one road, and that a bad one. The route abounds in difficult defiles, in which a small force can retard the progress of a large one for a considerable time, and in that time the enemy could gain material advantage in a move upon other points. For these reasons, which I do not think it necessary to elaborate, I deem it useless and inexpedient to continue the pursuit, but propose to direct the main force under my command rapidly upon Nashville, which General Negley reported to me as already being invested by a considerable force, and toward which, I have no doubt, Bragg will move the main part of his army. The railroads are being rapidly repaired, and will soon be available for our supplies. In the meantime I shall throw myself on my wagon transportation, which, fortunately, is ample. While I shall proceed with these dispositions, deeming them to be proper for the public interest, it is but meet that I should say that the present time is, perhaps, as convenient as any for making any change that may be thought proper in the command of this army.

"It has not accomplished all that I had hoped, or all that faction might demand; yet, composed as it is-one-half of perfectly new troops-it has defeated a powerful and thoroughly-disciplined army in one battle, and has driven it away, baffled and dispirited at least, and as much demoralized as an army can be under such discipline as Bragg maintains over all troops that he commands.

to-morrow.

[CYPHER.]

"I will telegraph you more in detail in regard to the disposition of troops in Kentucky, and other matters, D. C. BUELL, Major-General." "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Camp near Mount Vernon, Kentucky, October 17, 1862. "MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: My advance has continued to follow up the retreat of the enemy, but the progress has been slow, owing more to the obstruction placed in the road yesterday and to-day by fell VOL. I.--46.

The astonished President remonstrated, and finally peremptorily forbade. He seemed quite willing to overlook Buell's suggestion as to the propriety of relieving him; but he wanted to know why the troops could not march as the enemy marched, live as the enemy lived, and fight as the enemy fought. And he added: "Your army must enter East Tennessee this fall."

General Buell replied courteously, diplomatically, but with an unanswerable array of arguments in favor of his own plan. His letter was written on the 20th of October. On the 24th, under the direction of the President, an order was issued, relieving him from the command. On the 30th General

ing trees, than to the opposition, though more or less skirmishing has been kept up. The absence of forage has compelled me to keep back the greater part of the cavalry and artillery, and depend mainly on infantry. It is possible that we may be able to strike the enemy's trains and rear-guard coming in on the Richmond road, but not much more; and if he gets beyond London without that, it will be useless to continue the pursuit; and, as I advised you last night, I shall direct my main force by the most direct route upon Nashville, where its presence will certainly be required, whether for offensive or defensive objects. I propose to take the old divisions which I brought out of Tennessee, to each brigade of which I have added a new regiment, and one other (Sheridan's), composed about two-thirds of new regiments. Kentucky should not be left with less than thirty thousand men to guard communications and repel raids. I propose, for the present, to place one brigade at Lebanon, one at Munfordsville, one division at Bowling Green, besides the necessary bridge-guards at various points. General Wright has, I believe, moved one division to Lexington. That force should be kept there, or, better still, as long as the roads are in condition so that it can be supplied, should be thrown forward to London. There should be two regiments of cavalry at Lexington, two at Bowling Green, and two at Lebanon. They should be employed actively against guerrilla bands, and concentrate rapidly against more formidable cavalry raids. There can, however, be no perfect security for Kentucky until East Tennessee is occupied. There has been no time hitherto when that could be done with any prospect of permanency with the force that was available. We should have marched into the very heart of the enemy's resources and away from our own, just as Bragg did in invading Kentucky; and, with any means that we have hitherto had, the result must have been similar. The enemy will regard the invasion of East Tennessee as the most dangerous blow at the rebellion, and will, it seems to me, turn his greatest efforts against it, limiting his operations in Virginia, if necessary, to the defense of Richmond. From this an estimate can be formed of the force with which it should be undertaken, or at least followed up. D. C. BUELL, Major-General.” "WASHINGTON, October 18, 1962-3.50 A. M.

"GENERAL BUELL, Crab Orchard: The rapid march of your army from Louisville, and your victory at Perryville, has given great satisfaction to the Government. The great object to be attained is to drive the enemy from Kentucky and East Tennessee. If we can not do it now we need never hope for it. If the country is such that you can not follow the enemy, is there not some other practicable road that will lead to the same result-that is, compel them to leave the country? By keeping between him and Nashville can you not cover that place, and at the same time compel him to fall back into the Valley of Virginia, or into Georgia? If we can occupy Knoxville or Chattanooga we can keep the enemy out of Tennessee and Kentucky. To fall back on Nashville is to give up East Tennessee to be plundered, moreover you are now much nearer to Knoxville, and as near to Chattanooga as to Nashville. If you go to the latter place and bear to East Tennessee you move over two sides of an equilatorial triangle, while the enemy hold the third. Again, may he not in the meantime make another raid into Kentucky? If Nashville is really in danger it must be re-enforced. Morgan's forces have been sent to Eastern Virginia, but we probably can very soon send some troops up the Cumberland. Those intended for that purpose have been drawn off by the urgent appeals of Grant and Curtis. Can not some of the forces at Louisville be sent to Nashville? H. W. HALLECK.” "WASHINGTON, October 19, 1862–1.30 P. M.

"GENERAL BUELL, Mount Vernon: Your telegram of the 17th received this morning, and has been laid before the President, who concurs in the views expressed in my telegram to you yesterday. The capture of East Tennessee should be the main object of your campaign. You say it is the heart of the enemy's resources, make it the heart of yours. Your army can live there if the enemy can. You must in a great measure live upon the country, paying for your supplies when proper, and levying contributions when necessary. I am directed by the President to say to you that your army must enter East Tennessee this fall, and that it ought to move there while the roads are passable. Once between the enemy and Nashville there will be no serious difficulty in re-opening your communications with that place. fle does not understand why we can not march as the enemy marches, live as he lives, and fight as he fights, unless we admit the inferiority of our troops and of our Generals. Once hold the valley of the Upper Tennessee, and the operatious of guerrillas in that State and in Kentucky will soon cease. H. W. HALLECK."

[CYPHER.]

"HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE Oп10, Danville, Kentucky, October 20, 1862 -1 A. M. "MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, General-in-Chief: I am very grateful for the approbation expressed in your dispatch of the 17th. I have also received your dispatch of yesterday, conveying orders for moving into East Tennessee. Undonbtedly the present is in many respects a favorable opportunity for the movement. Far from making objections, the ob et of my dispatch was to call attention to its importance, but, at the same time, I suggested the difficulties so that the requisite means could be provided if possible. In speaking of East Tennessee as being near the heart of the en- my's resources, I meant that he could concentrate his troops there rapidly. I have no doubt you realize that the occupa tion of East Tennessee with a suitable force is an undertaking of very considerable magnitude, and that if undertaken unadvisedly it will fail. I venture to give you my views.

"If the enemy puts himself on the defensive in East Tennessee, it will require an available force of eighty thousand men to take and hold it. If our army can subsist on the country so much the better, but it will not do to rely solly on that source. If you can obtain forage and one-half of our breadstuffs, that for the present is probably as much as we can do. Everything else must be hauled. Nashville is essential as a depot, afterward McMinnville. Gainesboro

Rosecrans presented the order, and General Buell gracefully presented his successor and took his leave of the army he had organized so well and led through such checkered scenes.

General Buell's career here practically ends. It may be best considered in its three main epochs.

The first was marked by the organization of the Army of the Ohio, which afterward came to be known as the Army of the Cumberland. Of that work it would be difficult to speak in terms of too high praise. The second was marked by the origination of the great Western campaign of 1862, and the rescue of the imperiled army at Pittsburg Landing. In that General Buell has his sure title-after some years be past-to the regard and gratitude of the country. The third was marked by the campaign which began with the object of liberating East Tennessee, and ended with the expulsion of an invader from Kentucky. Of that we may now say that it was fatally correct. General Buell followed, throughout it, the maxims of the science of war, but he followed them after his calm, deliberate fashion, with such lack of vigor and such excess of prudence as to lose the rich rewards which a more reckless commander might have won. Nevertheless, if his conduct here was not great, it was safe; and it must not be forgotten that he was pursued by the same malignity of official ignorance which harassed his successor through half the

may be an important point for us as soon as the navigation of the Cumberland opens, which may not be for two months. We can procure all of our forage and breadstuffs, and some meat, from Middle Tennessee, but Nashville and the vicinity must be rid of the enemy in any considerable force; we can not otherwise collect supplies. The enemy has repaired and is now using the Chattanooga Railroad to Murfreesboro', and is threatening Nashville somewhat seriously, as appears from a dispatch received to-day from General Negley, which I send you. This danger has no reference to Bragg's movements. If the enemy should not be there in heavy force, it would not be necessary or desirable to go to Nashville in full force. We could cross the Cumberland at various points above, and go in by Jamestown, Montgomery, Clinton, or Kingston, and there is no shorter way; that by Cumberland Gap being out of the question. "The railroad to Nashville must be opened and rendered secure, because, until navigation opens, that is the only channel for supplies. A part of the route to East Tennessee is mountainous, and destitute of supplies of every sort. As we advance, depots of forage to be supplied from the productive region must be established to carry our trains across the sterile region-say at McMinnville and Cooksville-but that will not delay the advance of the army. "From these data I make this estimate:

"Taking matters as they stand, twenty thousand men, distributed pretty much as indicated in my previous dispatch, should be kept in Kentucky; twenty thousand in Middle Tennessee and on the line of communication to East Tennessee; and eighty thousand should be available in any field in East Tennessee. Bragg's force in Kentucky has not fallen much, if any, short of sixty thousand men. It will not be difficult for him to increase it to eighty thousand men on the line of the East Tennessee Railroad. 1 could in an hour's conversation give you my views, and explain the routes and character of the country, better than I can in a dispatch, and perhaps satisfactorily; and if you think it worth while, I can see you in Washington without deferring my movements, provided you concur in the expediency of moving first in the direction of Nashville. In fact we must of necessity move so as to turn Jamestown and Montgomery. It will also help to conceal our plans. I can give good reasons why we can not do all that the enemy has attempted to do, such as operating without a base, etc., without ascribing the difference to the inferiority of our Generals, though that may be true. The spirit of the rebellion enforces a subordination to privations and want which public sentiment renders absolutely impossible among our troops. To make matters worse on our side, the death penalty, for any offense whatever, is put beyond the power of the commanders of armies, where it is placed in every other army in the world. The sooner this is remedied the better for the country. It is absolutely certain that from these causes, and from these alone, the discipline of the Rebel army is superior to ours. Again, instead of imitating the enemy's plan of campaign, I should rather say that his failure had been in a measure due to his peculiar method. No army can operate effectively upon less than this has done in the last two months. A considerable part of the time, it has been on half rations. It is now moving without tents, with only such cooking utensils as the men can carry and with one baggage wagon to each regiment, but it can not continue to do this during the cold wet weather which must soon be expected, without being disabled by sickness. D. C. BUELL, Major-General."

"HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., October 24, 1862.

"MAJOR-GENERAL D. C. BUELL, Commanding, etc.: "GENARAL: The President directs that on the presentation of this order you will turn over your command to Major-General W. S. Rosecrans, and repair to Indianapolis, Indiana, reporting from that place to the Adjutant-Gen. eral of the army for further orders.

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief."

ensuing season; and that his objections to such an advance into East Tennnessee, as was urged upon him, were more than vindicated by subsequent sad expe.

rience.

A military commission was appointed, after some time, by the War Depart ment, to investigate General Buell's conduct with reference to the invasion of Kentucky. It sat in Cincinnati with closed doors, took volumes of testimony, and made a report which, years after the close of the war, the Government was still carefully keeping from the public. That its conclusions did not touch General Buell's honor as a Soldier, or his fidelity to the cause of the Country, may be inferred from the fact that he was subsequently offered commands-once under General Sherman, his junior (and his professional if not personal enemy), and once under General Canby, also his junior. Both of these he declined. He was some time afterward mustered out of his rank in the volunteer service as Major-General, and he thereupon resigned the Colonel's commission, which he now held in the Adjutant-General's Corps of the regular army, and retired to private life. He became connected with the late Robert Alexander, of Kentucky, in mining operations at Airdrie, near Paradise, in the south-western part of that State, and to these he devoted himself for some years.

He long remained very unpopular with the great mass of the people who supported the war. He was accused of undue lenity to the Rebels, of too much sympathy with them, and, indeed, of disloyalty to the cause. This last slander he himself did something to encourage, by the publication of a letter, obviously designed to aid the Democratic opposition to the war, in which he gave, as one of his reasons for leaving the army, his disapproval of the means whereby and the manner in which the war was conducted.

Personally, General Buell retains the character described by his playmates as distinguishing him in his boyhood. He is cultivated, polished, and reticent; disposed to have but few warm friendships; exclusive and somewhat haughty in his bearing. No one can study his career without being impressed by his ability. He is one of the most forcible and pungent writers among the officers who rose to distinction during the war. He has studiously avoided much defense of himself against the attacks with which, for a time, the press of the country was burdened; but he has on two occasions felt called to notice certain statements of General Sherman's, and once to address a public letter to General Grant. The result of these performances was to convince all that, whatever might be said of the military advantages of those officers, they were no match for him with the pen.

Politically, General Buell is a strong Conservative-having, perhaps, his nearest affiliations with what was once known as the Kentucky Unionist party.

R

MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT C. SCHENCK.

OBERT CUMMING SCHENCK, Congressman and Foreign Minister before the war, Chairman of one of the Congressional Committees on Military Affairs since the war, Major-General of volunteers, a soldier of great zeal and gallantry, and one of the ablest and most successful of our Department Commanders, was born in the town of Franklin, Warren County, Ohio, on the 4th of October, 1809.

His father, General William C. Schenck, an early settler in the Miami Valley, was an efficient officer in the North-western Army under General Harrison, and afterward was a member of the General Assembly of the State. He died at Columbus in January, 1821, while attending a session of the Assembly.

After his father's death Robert was placed under the guardianship of General James Findley, of Cincinnati, but he continued to reside with his mother, at Franklin, until his fifteenth year, when he entered the Sophomore Class at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in November, 1824. He graduated in September, 1827, but remained at Oxford reviewing and extending his studies, and employing part of his time as tutor of French and Latin, until 1830, when he received his Master's Degree.

In November of that year he entered Thomas Corwin's law-office at Lebanon, and in the following January was admitted to the bar as Attorney and Counsellor at Law, and Solicitor in Chancery. Removing to Dayton he commenced the practice of his profession with Joseph H. Crane, and three years later he formed a partnership with Peter Odlin, which continued until the commencement of his active political and public life. He was very successful in his practice; his legal acquirements, tact, and ability as an advocate being in ready demand.

In 1838, young Schenck, now twenty-eight years of age, was induced to become a candidate for Representative in the State Legislature for Montgomery County, on the Whig ticket. The Democrats, however, were in the ascendancy, and his competitor led him by a small majority. Three years later, not having been a candidate for any office in the mean time, he was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature. Having acquired considerable reputation as a public speaker in the celebrated political campaign of 1840, in which but one man in Ohio, the great orator who had been his teacher in the law, was popularly held his superior, he was at once acknowledged as a leader in opposing the. schemes of the Democratic majority in that body, and at an extra session in