The National tribune., 1896-09-17

AY. SEPTEMBER II, 1896
| SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.
Continued from first page.)
official letters received at his Headquar-
tiers, as certified by the Adjutant- General,
L. Thomas, in letter of Feb. l, 1852, In
answer to an application of my brother,
Senator John Sherman, and
Oh WHICH I WAS ADJUDGED INSANE:
LOUISVILLE. Nov. 8; 10 p. m.
To Gen. McCLELLAN. Washington, ID. c.:
Dispatch just received. We are forced to
operate three lines, all dependent on rail-
roads Of doubtful safety, requiring strong
guards. From Paris to- Prestonburg three
Ohio regiments aud some miltia-cpemy varl-
ously reported from $500 TO 1000. From Lex.
ington toward Cumberland Gap, Brighten.
Thomas, one Indiana and FIVE Ohio regiments.
two Kentucky and two Tennessee; hired
wagons and badly clad Zollicoier at Cnmbcr-
land Ford, about 1000. Lee reported on the
way with Virginia reinforcemcnts. In front OF
Louisville, So miles, McCcek. with four bri-
gades Of about 13 900, with four regiments to
guard the railroad, at all times i'll danger.
Enemy along the railroad from Greens River to
Bowling Green, Nashville. and Clarksvifle.
Buckner. Hardee, Sidney Johnston, Polk, and
Pillow, the two former IN Immediate command,
tpe force as large AZ they want, or can subsist,
from q, 900 to 10000. Bowling Green strongly
fortified. Our forces too small to do good, and
too large to sacrifice.
W. I. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General
HEADQ'Rs DEPARTMENT OF THE CuMBER-
LAND, LOUISVILLE, KY. Nov. 6. 1861 J
GEN. L. THOMAS, Adjutant- General.
SIR: Gen. Mcclellan telegnphs me to report
to him daily the situation of affairs here The
country is so large that it is impossible to give
clear and definite views. Our enemies have a
terrible advantage in the fact that in our midst,
in our camps, and along our avenues Of travel,
they have active partisans, farmers and bust
ness men, who seemingly pursue their usual
calling, but are in fnct spies. They report all
our movements and strength, while we can
procure information only by circuitous and un-
reliable means / inrlose you the copy of an
intercepted letter, which is but the type Of
others. Many men from every part of the State
are now enrolled under Buckner-have gone to
him-while ours have to be raised in neighb0r-
hoods, and cannot be called together except at
long notice. These volunteers are being organ
lied under the laws of the State, and the 10th
of November is fixed for the time of consoii-
dating them into companies and regiments.
Many of them are armed by the United States
as Home Guards. and many by Gen. Anderson
and myself, because of the necessity of being
armed to guard their camps against internal
enemies. Should we be overwhelmed. they
would scatter and their arms and clothingw will
go to the enemy, furnishing tho very material
they SO much need. We should have hero
very large force sufficient to give confidence to
the Union men of the ability to do what should
be done-possess ourselves OF all the State. But
all see and feel we are brought to q stand-still,
and this produces doubt and alarm. With our
present forcc it would be simple madness to
cross Green River, aud yet hesitation may be
as fatal. In like manner the other columns are
in peril, not so much in front as rear, the rail-
roads over which our stores mast pass being
much exposed. / have the Nashville Railroad
guarded by three regiments, yet IT is far from
being safe; and, the moment actual bostiiities
commence, these roads will be interrupted, and
we will be in a dilemma. To meet this in
part / have put a cargo Of provisions Mt the
mouth of Salt River, guarded By two regiments.
All these detachme weaken the main force.
and endanger the whole. Do not conclude, as
before, tint / exagRerate the facts. They are
as stated, and the future looks as dark as posi-
bic. 1t would be better il some man of sanguine
mind were here for am forced to order accord
ing to my convictions. Yours truly,
". T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General Com
manding.
After the war was over, Gen. Thomas
j. Wood, then in command of the Dis
trict of Vicksburg, prepared a statement
addressed to the public, describing the
interview with the Secretary of War,
which he calls -"Council of War" /
did not then deem it necessary to renew
a matter which had been swept into
oblivion by the war itself; but, as it is
evidence by an eyewitness, it is worthy
of insertion here.
STATEMENT.
On the 11th of October 1861, the writer who
had been personally on mastering duty in
Indiana was appointed a Brigadier- General of
Volunteers, and ordered to report to Gen. Sher-
man. then in command of the Department of the
with his Headquarters at Lonis-
Vile, having succeeded Gen. Robert Anderson.
When the writer was about leaving Indian
apolis to proceed to Louisville, Mr. Cameron,
Gen. Fremont's Department, at St. Louis, Mo-,
arrived at Indianapolis, and announced his
intention to visit Gen. Sherman.
The writer was invited to accompany the
party to Louisville. Taking the early morn
ing train from indianapolis to Louisville On
the 18th of October, 1861, the party arrived m
Jacksonville shortly after midday. Gen. Sher-
man met the party in Jeffersonvilfe and ac-
comranied it to the Gait House, in Louisville,
the hotel at which he was stopping.
During the afternoon Gen. Sherman Informed
the writer that council of war was to be held
Immediately in his private room in the hotel,
aud desired him to be present At the council.
Gen. Sherman and the writer proceeded directly
to the room. The writer entered the room first,
AMI observed in it Mr.. Cameron, AGj't Gen. L.
Thomas, and some other persons, all of whose
names he did not know, but whom he rccog-
nized rs being of Mr.. Cameron's party. The
name of one of the party the writer had learned,
which lie remembers as Wilkinson, or Wilker-
son, and who he understood was a writer for
the New York Tribune newspaper. The Hon.
James Guthrie was also in the room, having
been invited, on account of his eminent position
as a citizen of Kentucky, his high civic reputa.
tim, and his wel-known devotion to the Union,
TO meet the Secretary of War in the council.
When Gen. Sherman entered the room he closed
the door and turned the key in the lock.
Before entering on the business of the meet
ing, Gen. Sherman remarked, substantially
!" Mr.. Cameron, We have met here to discuss
matters and interchange views which should
be known only by persons high in the conf-
dence OF the Government. There are persons
present whom do net know, and desire to
know before opening the business of the coun-