men of Kentucky were unwilling to lose General CHAP. IV. Sherman's presence and services, but that a question of rank stood in the way, Mr. Lincoln made the endorsement: "If General McClellan thinks it proper to make Buell a major-general, enabling Sherman to return to Kentucky, it would rather 1861. Ms. please me."

The retirement of General Scott on the first of November, and the elevation of McClellan to the command of general-in-chief, brought with it, as usual, many changes in minor commands. Brigadier-General D. C. Buell, previously chosen by General Anderson for service in Kentucky, was McClellan's intimate friend; and the new Generalin-Chief probably needed no special inducement to give so important a duty to a favorite, who was in addition an accomplished soldier. His qualities as a commander were yet to be developed; like McClellan himself, up to the outbreak of the war, he had obtained but little rank. The Department of the Ohio was formed on November 9, and General Buell assigned to its command. One good quality-confidence- he manifested at the outset. "Sherman," he wrote, "still insists that I require two hundred thousand men. I am quite content to try with a good many less." In an interview with McClellan, before Buell went to Kentucky, the two friends had fully discussed their respective duties

"The Administration is just as much bound to respect and guard the honor of the General and officers and soldiers, as they are to restore the Union and enforce the laws.

"I would not like to see General Sherman ordered to report to VOL. V.-5

General Buell while he ranks
General Buell, but would greatly
rejoice to know that he was di-
rected to report to Major-Gen-
eral Buell, and so would most if
not all the Union men of the
State and most of the officers in
the field, as I am told."

Lincoln, "Endorsement," Nov. 27,

1861.

McClellan, 1861. W. R.

Buell to

Nov. 22,

Vol. VII., p. 444.

Guthrie to
Speed,
Nov. 22,
1861. MS.

CHAP. IV. and hopes. McClellan immediately began sending him reënforcements, and in his first written instruction made the East Tennessee movement a prime object. This injunction he repeated and emphasized from time to time: "I am still convinced that political and strategical considerations render a prompt movement in force on Eastern Tennessee imperative. The object to be gained is to cut the communication between the Mississippi Valley and Eastern Virginia; to protect our Union friends in Tennessee, and reëstablish the Government of the Union in the eastern portion of that State." "I think we owe it to our Union friends in Eastern Tennessee to protect them at all hazards. 1861. W. R. First secure that; then, if you possess the means, carry Nashville." "If you gain and retain posDec. 3, 1861. session of Eastern Tennessee you will have won VII.468. brighter laurels than any I hope to gain.” “I tell Feb. 5, 1862. the East Tennessee men here to rest quiet; that you will take care of them, and will never desert them."

McClellan

to Buell,

Nov. 25,

1861, W. R.

Vol. VII., p. 447.

Ibid., Nov. 29,

Vol. VII.,

p. 457.

Ibid.,

W. R. Vol.

W. R. Vol. VII.,

pp. 473, 583.

As soon as Congress met, President Lincoln made another effort to forward the expedition which he had so much at heart. His study of the subject with military men showed him that the problem of transportation was the main difficulty the East Tennessee campaign would have to encounter. To obviate this he proposed to Congress the construction of a military railroad to Cumberland Gap or Knoxville. "I deem it of importance," said his annual message, "that the loyal regions of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina should be connected with Kentucky and other faithful parts of the Union by railroad. I therefore recommend, as a military measure, that Congress provide for

Globe," Dec. 3, 1861,

the construction of such road as speedily as pos- CHAP. IV. sible. Kentucky, no doubt, will coöperate, and, through her Legislature, make the most judicious selection of a line. The northern terminus must connect with some existing railroad; and whether the route shall be from Lexington or Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap; or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction of Knoxville; or on some still different line, can easily be determined. Kentucky and the General Government coöperating, the work can be completed in a very short time; and when done, it will be not only of vast present usefulness, but also a valuable permanent Appendix, improvement worth its cost in all the future." In addition he went personally before a Senate Committee to explain and urge the project; the subject was referred to a select committee, and a bill was reported and passed to a second reading; but as the committee and the Senate were still in that flush of early sanguine enthusiasm which expected the rebellion to be crushed by a single vigorous campaign, and especially as the army made no advance against Cumberland Gap, but moved almost its entire strength in a different direction, the subject was neglected and dropped, amid the hurry of more pressing legislation.

It would seem that the general direction of central authority could scarcely be made stronger without descending to such details as must, in war, always be left to the determination of local conditions, and to that judgment which an officer founds upon his personal observation. Apparently General Buell accepted the instruction which had been given him; but McClellan quickly discovered

p. 1.