The national Republican., 1861-11-01

drive the rebels from the State of Kentucky.
His force then consisted Of 10, 900 troops In adj
vance Of Louisville, In camp at Nolin river, and
on the Louisville and Nashville railroad at
various points; at Camp Dick Robinson, or eot-
ing II conjunction with General Thomas, 5000;
aud two regiments at Henderson, on the Ohio,
at the mouth Of the Green river, (see paper No.
l4) On being asked the question, what force
he deemed necessary, he promptly replied,
100000 men. This conversation occurred In
the presence of exSecretary Guthrie and Gen
eral Woods. The Secretary Of War replied that
he supposed that the Kentuckians would not In
any number take up arms to operate against
the rebels But he thought General Sherman
over.estimated the number and power Of the
rebel forcts; that the Government would fur
nish troops to Kentucky to accomplish the
work; but that he (the Secretary was tired or
defensive war, and that the troops must assume
the offensive, and carry the war to the nre-sides
of the enemy; that the season for operations In
Western Virginia was about over, and that ne
would take the troops from there aud send
them to Kentucky, but he begged General
sherman to assume the offensive and to keep
he rebels her, after on the defensive. The
Secretary desired that the Cumberland Ford
and Gap should be seized, and the East Ten
nessee and Virginia railroad taken possession
of, and the artery that supplied the rebellion
cut straight Of.
Complaint was made Of the want Of arms
and on the question being asked, What became
of the arms we sent to Kentucky we were In
formed by Gen. Sherman that they had passed
into the hands Of the Home Guards and could
not be recovered that many were already In
the hands Of the rebels; and Others refused 70
surrender those in their possession, alleging
kn thar, In Ipfancp Of THAR in
dividual homes If invaded. In the hands of
Individuals, and scattered over the State, these
arms are lost to the army In Kentucky.
Having ascertained that 6.200 arms had
arrived from Europe at Philadelphia, 5000 Of
them were ordered to Gov. Morton, who prom
ised to place them Immediately In the hands
of troops to be sent to Kentucky. The re.
naming 5000 were sent to Gen. Sherman at
Louisville. Negley's Brigade, at Pitt.burgb,
$500 strong, two companies OF the Nineteenth
infantry, from Indianapolis, the Eighth Wiscon
sin regiment al st. Louis, the Second Mime.
sofa volunteers at Pittsburgh, and two regi.
m nts in Wisconsin, were then ordered to Ken
tucky- making in all reinforcement for thai
State of about 10000 men.
"We lett Louisville at 8 P. NJ. for Lexing
ton, accompanied by Gen. Sherman and Mr.
Guthrie remained there few hours, ant
then went to Cincinnati. At Lexington, also
we found that the opinion existed that the
young men OF Kentucky had Joined the rebels
that no large bodies Of troops could be raised
in Kentucky, and that the defence OF the Stat,
must necessarily devolve upon the free State
Of the West and the Northwest"
Paper No. IA referred to above, is os fol
lows:
EXHIBIT No. IA.
In camp at Nolin river and on the Louis
Vile and Nashville railroad at various points
| Sixth Indiana, Col. Crittenden, Nolin.
Twenty ninth Indiana, Col. Miller, Nolin.
| Thirtieth Indiana, Col. Bass, Nolin.
Thirty.eighth Indiana, Col Scribner, Nolin.
Thirty ninth Indiana, Col. Harrison, Noln.
Thirty y-secoud Indiana, Col. Willick, New
Hara.
Tenth Indiana, Col. Monsin, Bordstown.
Nineteenth Illinois, Col. Turchin, Leb juno
ton.
Twenty fourth Illinois. Col. Hecker, Cole'
berry.
Thirty.fourth Illinois, Col. Kirk, Nolin.
Fifteenth Ohio, Col. Dickie, Nolin.
Forty-ninth Ohio, Col. Gibson, Nolin.
| Third Kentucky, Col. Rousseau, Nolin.
Fourth Kentucky, (cavalryD COL Boori
Nolin.
Nolin.
Cotter's Ohio rifed pieces will be in camp
in two or three days at Noln.
At Camp Dick Robinson or acting In con
junction with Gen. Thomas's command:
Two Tennessee regiments nearly full ant
nearly ready for service.
Four Kentucky regiments in same condition
as Tennessee regiments.
One regiment cavalry.
Fourteenth Ohio, Col. Stedman, Nichola:
Vile.
Thirty-seventh Ohio, Col. Connell, Nichola'
vile.
Thirty third Indiana, Col. Coburn, Cam
Robinson.
Thirty-eighth Ohio, Camp Robinson.
Thirty 9TH Ohio, Camp Robinson. .
Three batteries of artillery, Ohio.
Four Ohio regiments on line of Coyingto
and Lexington railroad acting with Genera
Thomas.
Thirty.seventh Indiana, Col. Coufts, Owen
boro'.
Also three or four Kentucky regiments Q
Owensboro' under Gen. Crittendsn-n not fu
nor ready for the field, but probably 500 me
could turn out under arms"
|