Public Duty

Major-General Don Carlos Buell's character shows between the lines of this telegram sent by his Assistant Adjutant-General on this day in 1862.  The fact that Buell does not send this telegram himself speaks volumes.  How many would bear such an affront yet continue to serve in such hazardous duty?


Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0559

By order of Major-General Buell:
[J. M. WRIGHT,Assistant Adjutant-General.]
LOUISVILLE, KY., September 30, 1863-1 p.m.
Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

I received last evening your dispatch suspending my removal from my command. Out of sense of public duty I shall continue to discharge the duties of my command to the best of my ability until otherwise ordered.

D. C. BUELL,
Major-General.

And General Buell wastes no time in appointing Thomas his second in command.

Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0560

SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO,

No. 159. Louisville, Ky., September 30, 1862.

I. Major General G. H. Thomas is announced as second in command in this army. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
* * * * * * * * * *
By command of Major-General Buell:
J. M. WRIGHT,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

But General Morgan's withdrawal from the Cumberland Gap is imperilled by the Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's cavalry, so assistance is requested from Cincinnati.

Ref.:  ibid

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
Cincinnati, September 30, 1862.

Major General D. C. BUELL,
Commanding, &c., Louisville, Ky.:

The following dispatch just received:

MAYSVILLE, September 29, 1862.
Major-General BUELL, Louisville, Ky.:

Our General Morgan is at Proctor, Owsley County, Ky. John Morgan (rebel) is before him. Kirby Smith is at Mount Sterling, with Leadbetter, Heth, McRae, Reynolds, and Churchil.

Gentlemen from Lexington Stevenson (rebel) and 14,000 men at Richmond, Ky., on Friday. The rebels burnt Augusta on Saturday. They are menacing us. We are looking to you.

W. H. WADSWORTH.

Respectfully forwarded.

 N. H. McLEAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.