HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, July 12, 1862.

General BOYLE, Louisville:

Morgan ought not to escape without a severe blow, but he will effect no doubt a good deal of harm, and the mischief will be done before troops could arrive from here to prevent it. You must use the force you have and can collect to the best advantage to protect important points. Small guards in stockades will protect bridges. Much of your infantry and all of your cavalry can be used as an active force. Five hundred infantry can cope with the enemy at any one point, if I am not mistaken in his force. Warner's regiment, excepting small bridge guards, should be moved instantly to Lexington. Glasgow, Columbia, and Somerset are important points to intercept the enemy in his retreat. Order one of the regiments and the squadron of cavalry from Prestonburg to Mount Sterling and the other regiment to Lexington. These are proper general disposition, but the movement of the enemy may make it necessary to vary them.

Morgan's principal object besides rapine will be to strike at the line of supplies for Cumberland Gap. I have warned General Morgan, and hope he can send a regiment or two to defeat it. I shall at once send more troops toward Kentucky, but it is not possible for them to be in time to do more to endeavor to intercept the enemy in his retreat. I have in fact not a man to spare from the work to be done here.

D. C. BUELL.

CINCINNATI, July 12, 1862-12 p.m.

I received the following:

LOUISVILLE, July 12.

Mayor HATCH:

Send artillery to Lexington and as many men as possible by special train without delay.

J. T. BOYLE,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

I have been in communication with General Boyle. He wants assistance. Five hundred men go to-night from here and Camp Dennison. Governor Tod says he sends force and 1,000 stand of arms from Camp Chase. General Boyle says Governor of Indiana sends a regiment; to be in Louisville to-morrow morning. Great excitement here. Meeting called for to-morrow morning.

Have you about fifteen 12-pounders, new?

GEORGE HATCH,

Mayor.

Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

July 12, 1862

Honorable GEORGE HATCH, Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio:

No information has been received here from General Boyle of any such pressing need of men or artillery as his request to you and is call for a public meeting indicate. The Department must have more definite knowledge before it can act intelligently. Send here immediately copy of General Boyle's telegram to you and any other information you may have on this subject.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.