memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第61章
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ameron and party going on to Cincinnati and Washington； and I to Camp Dick Robinson to see General Thomas and the troops there。
I found General Thomas in a tavern； with most of his regiments camped about him。 He had sent a small force some miles in advance toward Cumberland Gap； under Brigadier…General Schoepf。 Remaining there a couple of days； I returned to Louisville； on the 22d of October； General Negley's brigade arrived in boats from Pittsburg； was sent out to Camp Nolin； and the Thirty…seventh Indiana。； Colonel Hazzard； and Second Minnesota； Colonel Van Cleve； also reached Louisville by rail； and were posted at Elizabethtown and Lebanon Junction。 These were the same troops which had been ordered by Mr。 Cameron when at Louisville； and they were all that I received thereafter； prior to my leaving Kentucky。 On reaching Washington； Mr。 Cameron called on General Thomas； as he himself afterward told me； to submit his memorandum of events during his absence； and in that memorandum was mentioned my insane request for two hundred thousand men。 By some newspaper man this was seen and published； and； before I had the least conception of it； I was universally published throughout the country as 〃insane； crazy；〃 etc。 Without any knowledge； however； of this fact； I had previously addressed to the Adjutant…General of the army at Washington this letter：
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OP THE CUMBERLAND； LOUISVILLE； KENTUKY； October 22； 1881。
To General L。 THOMAS； Adjutant…General； Washington； D。 C。
Sir： On my arrival at Camp Dick Robinson； I found General Thomas had stationed a Kentucky regiment at Rock Castle Hill； beyond a river of the same name； and had sent an Ohio and an Indiana regiment forward in support。 He was embarrassed for transportation； and I authorized him to hire teams； and to move his whole force nearer to his advance…guard； so as to support it； as he had information of the approach of Zollicoffer toward London。 I have just heard from him； that he had sent forward General Schoepf with Colonel Wolford's cavalry； Colonel Steadman's Ohio regiment； and a battery of artillery； followed on a succeeding day by a Tennessee brigade。 He had still two Kentucky regiments； the Thirty…eighth Ohio and another battery of artillery； with which he was to follow yesterday。 This force； if concentrated； should be strong enough for the purpose； at all events； it is all he had or I could give him。
I explained to you fully； when here； the supposed position of our adversaries； among which was a force in the valley of Big Sandy； supposed to be advancing on Paris； Kentucky。 General Nelson at Maysville was instructed to collect all the men he could； and Colonel Gill's regiment of Ohio Volnnteers。 Colonel Harris was already in position at Olympian Springs； and a regiment lay at Lexington； which I ordered to his support。 This leaves the line of Thomas's operations exposed； but I cannot help it。 I explained so fully to yourself and the Secretary of War the condition of things； that I can add nothing new until further developements； You know my views that this great centre of our field is too weak； far too weak； and I have begged and implored till I dare not say more。
Buckner still is beyond Green River。 He sent a detachment of his men； variously estimated at from two to four thousand toward Greensburg。 General Ward； with about one thousand men； retreated to Campbellsburg； where he called to his assistance some partially…formed regiments to the number of about two thousand。 The enemy did not advance； and General Ward was at last dates at Campbellsburg。 The officers charged with raising regiments must of necessity be near their homes to collect men； and for this reason are out of position； but at or near Greensburg and Lebanon； I desire to assemble as large a force of the Kentucky Volunteers as possible。 This organization is necessarily irregular； but the necessity is so great that I must have them； and therefore have issued to them arms and clothing during the process of formation。 This has facilitated their enlistment； but inasmuch as the Legislature has provided money for organizing the Kentucky Volunteers； and intrusted its disbursement to a board of loyal gentlemen； I have endeavored to cooperate with them to hasten the formation of these corps。
The great difficulty is； and has been； that as volunteers offer； we have not arms and clothing to give them。 The arms sent us are； as you already know； European muskets of uncouth pattern； which the volunteers will not touch。
General McCook has now three brigadesJohnson's； Wood's； and Rousseau's。 Negley's brigade arrived to…day； and will be sent out at once。 The Minnesota regiment has also arrived； and will be sent forward。 Hazzard's regiment of Indiana troops I have ordered to the month of Salt Creek； an important point on the turnpike…road leading to Elizabethtown。
I again repeat that our force here is out of all proportion to the importance of the position。 Our defeat world be disastrous to the nation； and to expect of new men； who never bore arms； to do miracles； is not right。
I am； with much respect； yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General commanding。
About this time my attention was drawn to the publication in all the Eastern papers； which of course was copied at the West； of the report that I was 〃crazy； insane； and mad；〃 that 〃I had demanded two hundred thousand men for the defense of Kentucky；〃 and the authority given for this report was stated to be the Secretary of War himself； Mr。 Cameron； who never； to my knowledge； took pains to affirm or deny it。 My position was therefore simply unbearable； and it is probable I resented the cruel insult with language of intense feeling。 Still I received no orders； no reenforcements； not a word of encouragement or relief。 About November 1st； General McClellan was appointed commander…in…chief of all the armies in the field； and by telegraph called for a report from me。 It is herewith given：
HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND； Louisville； Kentucky； November 4； 1861
General L。 THOMAS； Adjutant…General； Washington； D。 C。
Sir： In compliance with the telegraphic orders of General McClellan； received late last night； I submit this report of the forces in Kentucky； and of their condition。
The tabular statement shows the position of the several regiments。 The camp at Nolin is at the present extremity of the Nashville Railroad。 This force was thrown forward to meet the advance of Buckner's army； which then fell back to Green River； twenty…three miles beyond。 These regiments were substantially without means of transportation； other than the railroad； which is guarded at all dangerous points； yet is liable to interruption at any moment； by the tearing up of a rail by the disaffected inhabitants or a hired enemy。 These regiments are composed of good materials； but devoid of company officers of experience； and have been put under thorough drill since being in camp。 They are generally well clad； and provided for。 Beyond Green River； the enemy has masked his forces； and it is very difficult to ascertain even the approximate numbers。 No pains have been spared to ascertain them； but without success； and it is well known that they far outnumber us。 Depending； however； on the railroads to their rear for transportation； they have not thus far advanced this side of Green River； except in marauding parties。 This is the proper line of advance； but will require a very large force； certainly fifty thousand men； as their railroad facilities south enable them to concentrate at Munfordsville the entire strength of the South。 General McCook's command is divided into four brigades； under Generals Wood； R。 W。 Johnson； Rousseau； and Negley。
General Thomas's line of operations is from Lexington； toward Cumberland Gap and Ford； which are occupied by a force of rebel Tennesseeans； under the command of Zollicoffer。 Thomas occupies the position at London； in front of two roads which lead to the fertile part of Kentucky； the one by Richmond； and the other by Crab Orchard； with his reserve at Camp Dick Robinson； eight miles south of the Kentucky River。 His provisions and stores go by railroad from Cincinn
