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d after by General H。 W。 Halleck。
After some general conversation； Mr。 Cameron called to me； 〃Now； General Sherman； tell us of your troubles。〃 I said I preferred not to discuss business with so many strangers present。〃 He said； 〃They are all friends； all members of my family； and you may speak your mind freely and without restraint。〃 I am sure I stepped to the door； locked it to prevent intrusion； and then fully and fairly represented the state of affairs in Kentucky； especially the situation and numbers of my troops。 I complained that the new levies of Ohio and Indiana were diverted East and West； and we got scarcely any thing； that our forces at Nolin and Dick Robinson were powerless for invasion； and only tempting to a general such as we believed Sidney Johnston to be； that； if Johnston chose； he could march to Louisville any day。 Cameron exclaimed： 〃You astonish me！ Our informants； the Kentucky Senators and members of Congress； claim that they have in Kentucky plenty of men； and all they want are arms and money。〃 I then said it was not true； for the young men were arming and going out openly in broad daylight to the rebel camps； provided with good horses and guns by their fathers； who were at best 〃neutral；〃 and as to arms； he had； in Washington； promised General Anderson forty thousand of the best Springfield muskets； instead of which we had received only about twelve thousand Belgian muskets； which the Governor of Pennsylvania had refused； as had also the Governor of Ohio； but which had been adjudged good enough for Kentucky。 I asserted that volunteer colonels raising regiments in various parts of the State had come to Louisville for arms； and when they saw what I had to offer had scorned to receive themto confirm the truth of which I appealed to Mr。 Guthrie； who said that every word I had spoken was true； and he repeated what I had often heard him say； that no man who owned a slave or a mule in Kentucky could be trusted。
Mr。 Cameron appeared alarmed at what was said； and turned to Adjutant…General L。 Thomas； to inquire if he knew of any troops available； that had not been already assigned。 He mentioned Negley's Pennsylvania Brigade； at Pittsburg； and a couple of other regiments that were then en route for St。 Louis。 Mr。 Cameron ordered him to divert these to Louisville； and Thomas made the telegraphic orders on the spot。 He further promised； on reaching Washington； to give us more of his time and assistance。
In the general conversation which followed； I remember taking a large map of the United States； and assuming the people of the whole South to be in rebellion； that our task was to subdue them； showed that McClellan was on the left； having a frontage of less than a hundred miles； and Fremont the right； about the same； whereas I； the centre； had from the Big Sandy to Paducah； over three hundred miles of frontier； that McClellan had a hundred thousand men； Fremont sixty thousand； whereas to me had only been allotted about eighteen thousand。 I argued that； for the purpose of defense we should have sixty thousand men at once； and for offense； would need two hundred thousand； before we were done。 Mr。 Cameron； who still lay on the bed； threw up his hands and exclaimed； 〃Great God！ where are they to come from？〃 I asserted that there were plenty of men at the North； ready and willing to come； if he would only accept their services； for it was notorious that regiments had been formed in all the Northwestern States； whose services had been refused by the War Department； on the ground that they would not be needed。 We discussed all these matters fully； in the most friendly spirit； and I thought I had aroused Mr。 Cameron to a realization of the great war that was before us； and was in fact upon us。 I heard him tell General Thomas to make a note of our conversation； that he might attend to my requests on reaching Washington。 We all spent the evening together agreeably in conversation； many Union citizens calling to pay their respects； and the next morning early we took the train for Frankfort； Mr。 Cameron 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