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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 Cincinnati to Nicholasville； and thence in wagons to his several regiments。 He is forced to hire transportation。
Brigadier…General Nelson is operating by the line from Olympian Springs； east of Paris； on the Covington & Lexington Railroad； toward Prestonburg； in the valley of the Big Sandy where is assembled a force of from twenty…five to thirty…five hundred rebel Kentuckians waiting reenforcements from Virginia。 My last report from him was to October 28th； at which time he had Colonel Harris's Ohio Second； nine hundred strong； Colonel Norton's Twenty…first Ohio； one thousand； and Colonel Sill's Thirty…third Ohio； seven hundred and fifty strong； with two irregular Kentucky regiments； Colonels Marshall and Metcalf。 These troops were on the road near Hazel Green and West Liberty； advancing toward Prestonburg。
Upon an inspection of the map； you will observe these are all divergent lines； but rendered necessary； from the fact that our enemies choose them as places of refuge from pursuit； where they can receive assistance from neighboring States。 Our lines are all too weak； probably with the exception of that to Prestonburg。 To strengthen these； I am thrown on the raw levies of Ohio and Indiana； who arrive in detachments； perfectly fresh from the country； and loaded down with baggage； also upon the Kentuckians； who are slowly forming regiments all over the State； at points remote from danger； and whom it will be almost impossible to assemble together。 The organization of this latter force is； by the laws of Kentucky； under the control of a military board of citizens； at the capital； Frankfort； and they think they will be enabled to have fifteen regiments toward the middle of this month； but I doubt it； and deem it unsafe to rely on them： There are four regiments forming in the neighborhood of Owensboro； near the mouth of Green River； who are doing good service； also in the neighborhood of Campbellsville； but it is unsafe to rely on troops so suddenly armed and equipped。 They are not yet clothed or uniformed。 I