Before entering on the business of the meeting, General 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 confidence of the Government.  There are persons present whom I do not know, and I desire to know, before opening the business of the council, whether they are persons who may be properly allowed to hear the views which I have to submit to you.”  Mr. Cameron replied, with some little testiness of manner, that the persons referred to belonged to his party, and there was no objection to their knowing whatever might be communicated to him.

Certainly the legitimate and natural conclusion from this remark of Mr. Cameron’s was that whatever views might be submitted by General Sherman would be considered under the protection of the seal of secrecy, and would not be divulged to the public till all apprehension of injurious consequences from such disclosure had passed.  And it may be remarked, further, that justice to General Sherman required that if, at any future time, his conclusions as to the amount of force necessary to conduct the operations committed to his charge should be made public, the grounds on which his conclusions were based should be made public at the same time.

Mr. Cameron then asked General Sherman what his plans were.  To this General Sherman replied that he had no plans; that no sufficient force had been placed at his disposition with which to devise any plan of operations; that, before a commanding general could project a plan of campaign, he must know what amount of force he would have to operate with.

The general added that he had views which he would be happy to submit for the consideration of the Secretary.  Mr. Cameron desired to hear General Sherman’s views.

General Sherman began by giving his opinion of the people of Kentucky, and the then condition of the State.  He remarked that he believed a very large majority of the people of Kentucky were thoroughly devoted to the Union, and loyal to the Government, and that the Unionists embraced almost all the older and more substantial men in the State; but, unfortunately, there was no organization nor arms among the Union men; that the rebel minority, thoroughly vindictive in its sentiments, was organized and armed (this having been done in advance by their leaders), and, beyond the reach of the Federal forces, overawed and prevented the Union men from organizing; that, in his opinion, if Federal protection were extended throughout the State to the Union men, a large force could be raised for the service of the Government.

General Sherman next presented a resume of the information in his possession as to the number of the rebel troops in Kentucky.  Commencing with the force at Columbus, Kentucky, the reports varied, giving the strength from ten to twenty thousand.  It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Polk.  General Sherman fixed it at the lowest estimate; say, ten thousand.  The force at Bowling Green, commanded by General.  A. S. Johnston, supported by Hardee, Buckner, and others, was variously estimated at from eighteen to thirty thousand.  General Sherman estimated this force at the lowest figures given to it by his information—­eighteen thousand.