22 R B—VOL IV to 338 OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [6zar. AE z, November 5, 1861

Louisville, Ky., November 5, 1861.

General J. T. BOYLE, Lebanon, Ky.:

Sir: Your two letters are received.* My information is that Buckner has drawn back his forces from Munfordville and Glasgow and is farther down the river. – His designs are either on some point of the river below or to get up between McCook and the mouth of Salt River.

I don’t think your command will be threatened for some time; therefore push your organization, and don’t allow any of the regiments to engage in marauding expeditions; it would be better for them to be united in one body, but I suppose enlistments would be delayed by concentration.

General Ward is here and exhibits an appointment as brigadier-general, and calls my attention to the fact that in his absence Colonel Hobson is entitled to command.

The great importance of forming your Kentucky regiments will force me to allow General Ward to resume his command, and I beg you will push the formation of your regiments. The force under Harlan, Ward, and Grider should be sufficient to prevent any movement from Green River towards Thomas, and that is all I design during the process of formation; and as soon as the organization is made under the aughority of the State board, then I must consolidate you on some efficient force. The scattered condition of the Kentueky volunteers makes them a source of weakness instead of strength. We depend on them, that is, the General Government does, and yet they are not in a shape to act efficiently, not even to defend themselves. The giving of commissions by the President and by General Anderson has embarrassed me much, but I suppose it was inevitable. Iam forced therefore to allow General Ward to resume his office, to construet, if possible, his brigade, and await the consolidation of the board before I ean presume to count on-them for military service.

The sketches you have made of the passes on Muldraugh’s Hill correspond with several I have received, and were we purely on the defensive they might be occupied, but to place regiments of Northern troops there would tie them down, and prevent their use for other service. This is

one of the purposes of your Kentucky regiments when they come to be ready.

_ I must therefore request that you push your efforts to raise and organize as many men as you can in the neighborhood of Columbia for the service and to abide events. -~ Truly, yours, W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

CAMP NEVIN, Ky., November 5, 1861. General W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Department of Cumberland:

GENERAL: The subject of contraband negroes is one that is looked to by the citizens of Kentucky of vital importance. Ten have come into my camp within as many hours, and from what they say there will be a general stampede of slaves from the other side of Green River. They have already become a source of annoyance to me, and I have great reason to believe that this annoyance will increase the longer we stay. They state the reasons of their running away their masters are rank secessionists, in some cases are in the rebel army, and that slaves of Union men are pressed into service to drive teams, &o.

I would respectfully suggest that if they be allowed to remain here our cause in Kentucky may be injured. I have no faith in Kentucky’s loyalty, therefore have no great desire to protect her pet institution, slavery. As a matter of policy, how wouid it do for me to send for their masters and deliver the negroes to them on the outside of our ` lines, or send them to the other side of Green River and deliver them up? What effect would it have on our eause south of the river? Iam satisfied they bolster themselves up by making the uninformed believe that this is a war upon African slavery. I merely make these suggestions, for I am very far from wishing these recreant masters in possession of any of their property, for I think slaves no better than horses in that respect. E

I have put the negroes to work. They will be handy with teams and generally useful. 1 consider the subject embarrassing, and must defer to your better judgment. i

` The ammunition we have for our guns is not serviceable. Ihave been trying it to-day. The powder is old ; lost its strength by exposure and frequent transportation. The fuses in the spherical case are not made properly or else the graduation is very imperfect. You have been telegraphed to on the subject. – ;

All quiet below. Miller came back from Green River to-day. He states that he has it from reliable sources that there never has been more than 8,000 armed infantry in all of Buckner’s army. They have . without doubt pressed the wagons into service. Where they are going time will determine. The negroes that came to me to-day state that their masters had notified them to be ready to go South with them on Monday morning, and they left Sunday night.

My eommand is improving each day, and you need have no fears for us. I will be timely apprised of their movements, and will move to please you. Bear in mind also that they cannot insult a force of 12,000 with impunity, particularly when my movements can be more rapid than

theirs. Ã ; ! Please send the First Ohio to me at your earliest convenience, and

blige

your obedient servant

ea ; “A. McD. McCOOK,

Brigadier- General, Commanding.

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z Crab Orchard, November 5, 1861.