HEADQUARTERS,
Springfield, Ill., December 1, 1862.
HonorableE. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
When I entered upon the work of forwarding troops from
Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, preparatory to the Mississippi
River expedition, in pursuance of your orders of the 21st
ultimo, there were in Indiana twenty regiments of infantry,
one regiment of cavalry, and five companies of artillery; in
Illinois there were twenty regiments of infantry, three
regiments of cavalry, and five companies of artillery, and in
Iowa nineteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry,
and one company of artillery. In the mean time I have
forwarded from Indiana twelve regiments of infantry; from
Illinois sixteen regiments of in-
PAGE372 WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MISS. [CHAP. XXIX.
fantry and two companies of artillery, and from Iowa twelve
regiments of infantry. Leaving yet to be forwarded from
Indiana eight regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry,
and five companies of artillery; from Illinois four regiments
of infantry, three regiments of cavalry, and three companies
of artillery, and from Iowa seven regiments of infantry, one
regiment of cavalry, and one company of artillery.
A member of my staff, just returned from the capital of
Indiana, informs me that all proper arrangements are made for
the earliest dispatch of the troops remaining in that State
into the field. Another member of my staff, just returned from
Iowa, reports the same in regard to the troops remaining in
that State, and most all remaining in Illinois have gone or
are going forward.
I think a mustering, pay, and ordnance officer for each of
these States would amply suffice to close up the unfinished
business in each of them. The rest of the officers detailed
for those duties might be remanded to their commands.
Under these circumstances I trust it will meet with your views
to order me forward to Memphis, or such other rendezvous as
you may think preferable, in order that I may enter upon the
more advanced work of organizing, drilling, and disciplining
my command, preparatory to an early and successful movement,
having for its object the important end of liberating the
navigation of the Mississippi River.
Having worked early, assiduously, and zealously in this great
enterprise, having it at heart, and the Governors and people
of the Northwest having pronounced favorable upon it and, so
far as I can hear, upon me as the executor of it, I trust that
the honorable Secretary of War will continue to encourage me
by his sympathy and support.
I would further add, by way of explanation, that the
Eighty-seventh Illinois Regiment is retained at Shawneetown to
guard that frontier. The One hundred and thirty-first Illinois
had marching orders several days ago. The One hundred and
eighteenth and One hundred and twenty-eighth Illinois will be
started by the middle of this week, as will also two of the
Illinois batteries. There is little prospect of filling up the
cavalry regiments at present, except by consolidation, which I
have recommended. From Indiana the Sixteenth, Fiftieth,
Sixty-ninth, One hundred and first, and Sixty-seventh
Regiments Infantry have gone forward, and the following will
go one a day, beginning to-day, in the following order:
Sixtieth, Sixty-eighth, Sixty-sixth, and Eighty-ninth, so that
on Thursday next there will be left in this State only one
regiment of infantry, one company of artillery, and three
regiments of cavalry, raising; in Indiana eight regiments of
infantry, one of cavalry, and five companies of artillery, and
in Iowa seven regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and one
of artillery.
I await your orders in the premises.
Your obedient servant.
JOHN A. McCLERNAND,
Major-General and Superintendent Mustering Service.
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