Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-11-07
waE GENgR@ DwmoCRAg.

1t is suggested that an officer Of ordnance be
sent to Indianapolis to inspect the arsenal
and ascertain the amount expended in the
manufacture ot ammunition, with view TO
reim bursting the State
We left indianapolis, Oct lG for Aouis-
vile. Ky, where we arrived a l2l O'Clock,
p. M, and had an interview with Gsn. Sber-
man, commanding the Department at Cum
berland. lie gave gloomy picture OF uf
fairs in Kentucky, stating that the young
men were generally spce7soni+ts. and had
Joined the Confederates. while the Union
men. the aged and Conservatives. W aud n1t
enrol themselves to engage in confiIct with
their relation on the other side. Bnt few
regiments could be raised. He said that
| Buckner was in advance 0s the Green River
with heavy force on the road to Louisville
and an attack might be daily eSpecte which
With the force he bad he would net be able
10 resist but nevertheless be would fight
them. lie, as well as citizens Of the Stat of
Kentucky must furnish the troops to drive
the rebels from the State.
His force then consisted of 10000 troops
! in advance of Louisville, in camp ut Nolin
river, and on the Louisville aud Nashville
I Railroad at various points (; at Camp Dck
Robinson, or acting in COZ Junction with Gen.
Thomas, 5000; aid two regiments at Hen
derson, on the Ohio, at the mouth OF the
| Green river. On being asked the question
what force he deemed necessary. be prompt
" replied 200, 900 men, This conversation
occurred in Il presence of ex-Secretary Guth-
rie and General Woods. The Secretary of
War rt piled that be suppos ID that the Ken
tuckians would not in any number take up
arms to operate against the rebels.
But be thought Gen. Sherman over-esti-
mated the number and power of the rebel
forces that the Government would furnish
troops 10 Kentucky to accomplish the work
but that be (rhe Secretary was tired of de-
fensive war, and that the uoops must assume
the offensive and carry the war to the fire
sides of the snemy, that the season for opee
rarions in Western Virginia was about over,
and that he would take the troors from there
and send them to Kentucky. but he begged
of Gen. Sherman to assume the offensive aud
keep the rebels hereafter on the defensive
The Secretary desired that the Cumberland
Ford and Gan should be seized, and the East
Tennessee and Virginia Railroad taken pos
sessln of, and the artery that supplied the
rebellion cut straight off.
COMPLAINT was made of the want Qf arms,
and on the question heing aeked, what be-
came of The arms we sent to Kentucky we
were informed by Gen. SHERMAN that they
had passed them into The hands of the Home
Guards aud could not be recovered that
many were already in the hands of the rab-
els and Others refused to surrender those
in their possession, alleging the desire to use
them in defence of their individual homes if
invaded. In The hands of individuals and
scattered over the State, these arms are lost
to the army in Kentucky.
Having ascestained that 6 200 arms had
arrived from Europe at Philadelphia, 1000
of them were ordered 20 Gov, Morton, who
promised to place them Immediately in the
hands of troops to be sent to Kentucky. The
remaining 5000 of them were sent to Gen.
Sherman at Louisville. Negley's Brigade at
Pittsburg $500 strong, two companies of
the Ninsteenth I,fan,rY from Indianapolis,
the Eighth Wisconsin regiment ct St. Louis,
tie Second Minnesota Volunteers at Pitts
burg, and two regiments in WISCONSIN, were
then ordered to Kentucky y-makihg in all
reinforcement for that State of about l0, 900
men.
We left Louisville at P. N. for L>xing-
ton, accompanied Gen. Sherman and Mr..
Guthrie remained there few hours, aud
then went to Cincinnati At Lexinlon, also,
wo found that the opinion existed that the
young men of Kentucky had joined the reb-
ais. that no large bodies of troops could be
raised in Kentucky, and that the defence of
the State must necessarily deV0lve upon the
Free States o. the West and the Northwest.
Respectfully submitted,
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General.
Hon STNoN CAMERON Sect,y of War