, 1861-11-02
THE WAR IN KENTUCKY.

Respectfully submitted. - ------
L. TEoMAs, Adjutant General.
Hon. SIMON CAEERoS, sec'y OF War.
THE wAR IN KENTUCKY.
Report OF Adjasant-Gerera1 Thomas
to she eecFetAEy OF Ware
From the lengthy report Of A6jutant-Gen-
eral Thomas to the Secretary Of War, on the
military management OF the Western Depart
Eent. ne make the following extract relative
to the condition Of affairs in Kentucky two
weeks ego:
We left Indianapolis, Oct 10, for Louisville,
KY, where we arrived at u O'Clock, 2. L.,
commanding the Department Of Cumberland.
He ga7e 3 gloomy picture OF Affairs In Ken
tucET, statlng that the young men we're gem
orally eecessioui9H, and had Joined the Con
federates, while the Upion men, the aged and
conservatives, would not enroll themselves to
engage in conflict with their relations on the
other side, But few regiments could be raised.
He Eaid that Bue6ner Has In advance of Green
River with heavy force on the road to louis
vile, and 2n attack might be daily expected,
which with the force he had he Wou1d not be
able to resist; but nevertheless ne would
fight them. He, IS well as tbs citizens OF
the State, said that the Border State Of
Kentucky must furnish the troops to
drive the rebe.s from the State. His force
then consisted Of 10000 treops In advance
Of Louisville, in camp at .Nolin River, and on
the Louisville aad Nashville Railroad at 7ari-
Gus points; at Camp Dick Robinson, or act.
ing In conjunction with Gen. Thomas, 5000;
and Two regiments st Henderson, On the Ohio,
st the mouth Of the Green River {see paper
No. l4). On being asked the question, what
force he deemed necessary, he promptly re
paisd 200, 600 men- This conversation occurred
In the presence Of Ex Secretary Guthrie and
Gen. Woods. The Secretary Of War replied
that be supposed tho Keutucklau8 would not
in any number take up arms to 0patate against
| tbs rebels, But he thought Gen. Sherman
| oyLr estimated the number and power OF the
| rebel forces; that the Government would fur
| nieh troops to Kentucky to accomplish the
| work but that he {the Secretary was tired Of
| defensive war, and that the troops must a.
sumo the offensive and carry the war to tas
tre-sides Of the enemy, that the season Tor
t over, and that he would take the troops from
| there and send them to Kentucky. but he
| be2ged Of Gen. Sherman to assume the offan-
] eive ard to keep the rebels hereafter On the
| Offensive. II The Secretary desired that the
Cumberland Ford and Gap should be seized,
1aken possession Of, and the artery that sup,
| piled the rebellion cut straight off
Complaint HaA made Of tie want Of arms,
and on the question being asked, What be.
csUe Of the arms We sent to Kentucky we
Tere informed BY Gen. Sherman that they had
ssed into the hands OF the Home Guards
81 could not be recovered; that msny were
already in the hands OF the rebels and othera,
refused to surrender those in their possession
elieging the desire to .uae them IN defence Of
thelr indisidual homes if invaded. 1a the
hands Of individuals, scattered over the State,
these arms are lost to the army in Kentucky.
Having ascertsined that 6,200 arms had ar
| rived from Europe at Philadelphia, 5000 OF
them were ordered to Gov. Morton, who Prom
| .aed to place them Immediately In the hands
| Of troops to be sent to Kentucky. The re.
ua;ning 3.2C0 were sant to Gen. Sherman ut
Icuisvi1le. Negley's Brigade at Pittsburgh,
2600 strong, tRo companies Of the 18Th in
fantry from Indianspolis, the 8sh Wisconsin
Regiment at st. Louis, the 2d Mtnnesota Vol
pnteers Il Pittsburgh, and two regiments il
Wisconsin,, we're then ordered to Kentucky
mnkirg in all reinforcement for that State o
abe ut 10, GOO men.
!: We left Louisville at p. m. for Lexington
: accompanied by Ger. Sherman and ME. Gath
rie; remained there a few hours and ther
} went to Cincinnati. At Lexington, also, TT
found that the opinion existed taat the younf
: men OF Kentucky hsd joined the rebs1s; tha
| no lsrge bodies of troops cnul1 be ra1sed II
Kentucky, and that the defence Of the Stas
must necessarily deVolve upon the Free State
: Of the West and Northwest,
Respectfully submitted,
L. THO MAS, Adjutant General
Hon s1Hos CAMERON, Secretary Of War.
: Generals lane and StHrafs - TAeS
Policies Compared
7 Ger. Ssurgis's COMMAND has been fol.oWiu
! one day behind Ge1. Lane On the road fsof
, Kansas City to Springfield. The correspond
ent Of the Cincinnati Commercial, who ha
> been travelling with Strrgis, 1as at frs: bls
+ terly prsjudiced against lxne's ':jayhawkers,
$ but he eeems to have had his eyes opened
!, Writing from Oaceola, afteE describing til
: dego!aisn there, he says:
: There is great complaint in this COUNT
{ against Gen. Lane. When stop at houses, q
travel along, aud listen to the patheti
= stories Of the Women-hoW Lane has take
. everything they had have Pitied them fro1
8 rs he does. The next Union man met VII
l. knew the Eau Lane had SO despoiled, woul
+ say-"L LsAe served him right Yesterday
stopped st farm house There the post-oific
n wss kept; the poor woman, who was sick, II
}. formed me TINT Lane took her clothing, IN
E shoes from her children's feet resolved til.
1t LaEe was scopndrel, and had no soul but
A. nat a Union man mile or two of, who tp1
D me Lane did so because Johnson, the propri
y tor Of Baid house, Fas the most notorious 1es
j. er of the 6ecesh forces In this country. He h
7s killed one Union man With his own band
h, and had robbed host of fauni1iea. Our fo7c'
=" go along treating the most miserable trsitol
t ss gentlemen, not even stopping to ask que
NJ tons, but Lane and his men know the men
!. cid, ard they demand " eye for eye and tcot
"a / Tor tooth"
. Gen. sturgis says be can bring the whole
[x Nor.h Missouri back to her Allegiance ri:
70 our little army, snd not fight battle, if Gs
It Lane did not undo and etir up content!o
il Gen Bturgis iHtitts rebels to come to the
i, hemes and lake care Of their families. &c
10 Laae says, gentlemen, go home, have lie
5ou1 families helpless, and your presence
.a positively demanded or they viii perish E
% lakes their horses, cattle, ard does no. n
d. the n.ggers out Of camp as our commander
= varishIy does. Gan. Sturgls says to eTery Il
y gro, "We do not want You" Gen Lane, 't F
ct or come when you p1ease;;'' aud 70 the ma5ts
ID " find him it you ean-he is not troubling Il
Il or my command" Such are the widely di
tinct policies Of the Generals going he San
il road. Which policy our army viii be driyt
a to adopt If BY chance Headquarters shou
b. adopt any po1iey) time will determine