under him. Their conduct was admirable and is worthy of the highest praise.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEORGE W. MORGAN,

Brigadier-General.

Major N. H. McLEAN, Chief of Staff, Cincinnati, Ohio.

MOUNT VERNON, OHIO, June 6, 1863.

GENERAL: On the 6th of December, 1862, I wrote to you from Memphis (see Exhibit A) that the journals of that date announced that Geneal Halleck, in his report of December 2, 1862, stated that "the alleged cause of the retreat from Cumberland Gap was the want of supplies;" but that the commanding officer had just before reported that he had "several weeks' provisions," and that "under no circumstances" would he abandon "that important post," and tha an "investigation" had "been orderedJanuary

As two months had elapsed since General Halleck had been informed of the evacuation, and as I had not been notified that an investigation had been ordered, so that I might have an opportunity of producing evidence of the facts upon which I acted, and as no intimation had been given of any dissatisfaction at Washington as to my conduct, save an anonymous telegram, which was discredited by the country, by the army, and by myself, in the exercise of the right guaranteed to every officer I demanded a prompt hearing before a court of inquiry or court-martial. To that demand, on the 20th of December, 1862, General Halleck, through Assistant Adjutant-General Kelton, replied (Exhibit B) that "Major-General Wright was directed some time since to investigate and report the facts concerning that affair," and that "if that report should be satisfactory no further proceedings" would be required, and that I would be held from all blame.

You will observe, sir, that this assurance of General Halleck was made on the 20th of December, 1862, and that his report of general censure was made on the 2nd of that month. My astonishment therefore was great when, in reply to my letter of January 6, 1863, Geneal Wright, on the 27th of that month (Exhibit C), informed me that on the 15th of October, 1862 - six weeks before General Halleck wrote his report - he, General Wright, had made his investigation and had written to General Halleck commending my policy in evacuating Cumberland Gap, and has stated that he "did not see how, with starvation staring him (Morgan) in the face and with no certainty of relief being afforded, he could have come to any other conclusion than the one arrived at." General Wright further informed General Halleck that "the evacuation was in pursuance of the unanimous opinion of the geneal officers of the command" (Exhibit D, record of council of war) "was a matter of necessity, arising from their provisions being exhausted, their communications cut off, and no information of any prospect of relief being received." And yet with this report of the investigation, made in accordance with his directions, and by the officer selected by himself, with this report lying before him, General Halleck published to the world that he had ordered an investigation, but suppressed the fact that the investigation had been made six weeks before the publication of his report and that my action had been fully sustained.

Although I have suffered public wrong I feel too deep an interest in the great issue for national existence now being tried on the battle-field