Unknown to George Henry Thomas, November 5, 1861
Louisville, Ky., November 5, 1861.
Brigadier-General THOMAS, Crab Orchard:
SIR: Yours of November 3 is received. I had previously ordered money to be sent you for disbursement in all the departments, but you know the forms through which all such things must pass. I coincide with you that money should be disbursed liberally wherever our armies move, but my power is limited by law, and I am unable to overcome the obstacles. The commissary (Captain Symonds) assures me that he pays promptly all certified accounts, and that he has sent to Captain Kniffin $4,000 for small bills, and inasmuch as rations are hauled to you he insists that but little money is needed. I take it that, though your letter is indefinite on this point, the quartermaster is the one that needs money; Colonel Swords will send by Capt. A. J. Mackay the sum of $20,000, and if in my power will continue to cause to be transmitted you more.. OS
In the present aspect of affairs it is impossible to say how or where we shall winter. This will depend on our enemies. They will not allow us to choose. Ihave done all in my power to provide men and materials adequate to the importance of this crisis, butall things come disjointed— regiments without overcoats, or wagons, or horses, or those essentials to movements. McCook has a good body of men, but the force of the enemy far exceeds him, and the railroad on which he depends is in such a country that it requires large guards. All of these in case of attack would be terribly exposed. I ean hardly sleep to think what would be your fate in case the Kentucky River Bridge is destroyed or the railroad to your rear, and I demanded again and again a force adequate to
all these necessities—a very large force, beyond the ability of the State to furnish. Nelson and you ought simply to guard those avenues of
approach to the interior; but from this point we should have made a bold forward movement, but I have never had a force anything approximating the magnitude of the occasion,
336 i OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. — [Cmar. XIL –
I wish I could make your communications perfectly safe, and the cost would be nothing. There should be at least ten good regiments to your rear, capable of sustaining the head of your column at London, but I am unable to provide; and hereabouts the army should be such as to prevent all idea of attack; but Buckner and Hardee have across Green River a very large force and may advance at their pleasure.
In this state of the case I can only repeat my former orders, for you to hold in check the force of Zollicoffer and await events. The road by Richmond depending on the ferry appears to me less safe to you than the one crossing Kentucky River by the bridge.
I have nothing from Nelson for some days.
Truly, yours, W. T. SHERMAN, DBrigadier- General, Commanding.