Who's in Charge? (9/29/1862 Part 1)

On this day in 1862, Col. McKibbin arrives at Louisville.  It appears that Halleck tries to intercede but the colonel has wasted no time in evaluating the situation and delivering his dispatches.  Because of the significance of this sequence of events for present and future commands, the following exchanges will be allowed to speak for themselves.

Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0554 et al.

WASHINGTON, D. C., September 29, 1862.
Colonel J. C. McKIBBIN, Louisville, Ky.:

Await further orders before acting.

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

                              *  *  * 

LOUISVILLE, KY., September 29, 1862.
(Received 12.45 p.m.)
Major-General HALLECK:

The dispatches are delivered. I think that it is fortunate that I obeyed instructions. Much dissatisfaction with General Buell. There is no probability of a fight within a week. I shall await orders before leaving.

J. C. McKIBBIN.

                              *  *  *

WASHINGTON, D. C., September 29, 1862.
Colonel J. C. McKIBBIN, Louisville:

You will return to Washington.

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

                             *  *  *   

LOUISVILLE, KY., September 29, 1862-2.30 p.m.
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:

I have received your orders of the 24th instant, requiring me to turn over my command to Major General G. H. Thomas. I have accordingly turned over the command to him, and in further obedience to your instruction I shall repair to Indianapolis and await orders.

D. C. BUELL,
Major-General.

                              *  *  *

LOUISVILLE, KY., September 29, 1862-11.45 a.m.
Major General HALLECK, General-in Chief:

Colonel McKibbin handed me your dispatch, placing me in command of the Department of the Tennessee. General Buell's preparations have been completed to move against the enemy, and I therefore respectfully ask that he may be retained in command. My position is very embarrassing, not being as well informed as I should be as the commander of this army and on the assumption of such a responsibility.

GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General.

                              *  *  * 

WAR DEPARTMENT,Washington, September 29, 1862.
Major General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Louisville, Ky.:

The order relieving General Buell was not made by me nor on my advice and I have no power to change it. It was made before General Buell arrived at Louisville, and Colonel McKibbin was twice telegraphed not to deliver the dispatches till further orders, but he received the telegrams too late. This statement is necessary to explain the telegrams sent by me to General Buell. Please show it to him. You may consider the order as suspended till I can lay your dispatch before the Government and get instructions.

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

                             *  *  *
                                                    
WAR DEPARTMENT,Washington, September 29, 1862.
Major General D. C. BUELL and
Major General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Louisville, Ky.:

General orders changing the command of the Department of the Tennessee and the troops at Louisville and my instructions based on those orders are, by authority of the President, suspended, and General Buell will act on my telegram of a later date.

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

In the midst of this bureaucratic turmoil, the war in Eastern Kentucky continues. The once feared union of Kirby Smith and Braxton Bragg is now considered the best hope for General Morgan's safe return from the Cumberland Gap.

At least we now know that Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Western Theater did not participate in the decision to relieve Buell.  This decision obviously rested on political as much as military foundations. Could this be an extension of the total vs. conciliatory war argument that supported General Turchin ?  
( http://17thky.blogspot.com/2012/07/duty-in-pulaski.html ) He was tried by General James Garfield on Buell's orders, found guilty on two of three specifications, sentenced to dismissal "for the good of the service" and then reinstated and promoted to Major-General by Abraham Lincoln?  This was an insult to both Buell and the furture president that neither general ever forgot.


Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0555

CINCINNATI, September 29, 1862.
General BUELL:

Have just received intelligence, in which I place much confidence, that Marshall, instead of moving westward, had halted at Mount Sterling, and that Heth, with 4,000 or 5,000 men, left Paris on Thursday to join him. This looks like an attempt to intercept Morgan in his retreat from the Gap, and it is too late to prevent the attempt by any movement from here. Indeed Morgan ought to be near the Ohio by this time if not retarded by the rebels. Still the movement you are making ought to bring up Kirby Smith's forces to join Bragg and prevent serious combination against Morgan.

Very truly, yours,
H. G. WRIGHT,Major-General.

In the face of tragedy, the political fallout begins immediately.  More on the fate of General Nelson is to follow in the next post.

Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0557

LOUISVILLE, KY., September 29, 1862.
His Excellency the PRESIDENT:

We grieve to announce to you that this morning General William Nelson was killed in a rencounter with General Davis. About the same time intelligence was received that General Buell was superseded and directed to pass over to General Thomas his command. These two ovents have caused great regret and something of dismay. General Buell has, in a very high degree, the confidence of this State and of the army. His removal, especially at this critical moment, will be dispiriting to the people and to the army. The latter, be assured, prefer him to any leader you could send them. It is not because they respect General Thomas less, but that, knowing more of General Buell, they confide in and love him more. But one day ago General Wright openly expressed the highest commendation of General Buell and his entire confidence in him. The lamented Nelson entertained the same opinion, and so far as we know do the general officers who have served under him. In our judgment the removal of General Buell will do great injury to the service in Kentucky.

J. J. CRITTENDEN.
GARRETT DAVIS.
R. MALLORY.
G. W. DUNLAP.

Editor's Note:  John J. Crittenden was a preeminent public servant  from Russellville, KY  and father of General George B. Crittenden (CSA) and General Thomas L. Crittenden (USA).  If the reader is not familiar with this gentleman's resume, please follow the above link and prepare to be impressed.