Morgan’s depredations in Tennessee and Kentucky were by now serious enough that Buell, rather than pressing east to Chattanooga, needed to ask Halleck for reinforcements. Halleck responds authorizing Buell to stop Morgan even if it delays the attack on Chattanooga — exactly the purpose of Morgan’s raid. Halleck can’t spare Thomas to reinforce Buell yet, because he may be needed to support Curtis in Arkansas.
From the
Official Record:
HUNTSVILLE, July 14, 1862.
General HALLECK:I have no news of the movements of the main body of the enemy; his scouts have been seen at points on the Decatur road, and there is where I most fear him, though I must expect he will sweep down the Stevenson road. We are moving briskly to counteract all movements, but our lines are long, our railroads broken, the weather killing to men marching,and our supplies limited and now uncertain. I do not line to add to your perplexities, but the movement inaugurated in Kentucky and Tennessee makes it pretty clear that for effective operations a larger force will be required here, and I shall be glad if Thomas’ division could come at once. I shall be obliged to withdraw two more divisions from the main object to guard the recurrence of such raids as are now going on these two States. I had prepared a force to occupy McMinnville when affairs in Kentucky compelled me to take a portion of it from Murfreesborough.
D. C. BUELL,
Major-General.CORINTH, July 14, 1862.
Major-General BUELL, Huntsville:Do all in your power to put down the Morgan raid even if the Chattanooga expedition should be delayed. I hope to be soon able to push forward General Thomas to your assistance. General Curtis has reached Helena and calls for re-enforcements, but how many in addition to those previously sent I am not yet informed.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General.