Buckner still is beyond Green River.  He sent a detachment of his men, variously estimated at from two to four thousand toward Greensburg.  General Ward, with about one thousand men, retreated to Campbellsburg, where he called to his assistance some partially-formed regiments to the number of about two thousand.  The enemy did not advance, and General Ward was at last dates at Campbellsburg.  The officers charged with raising regiments must of necessity be near their homes to collect men, and for this reason are out of position; but at or near Greensburg and Lebanon, I desire to assemble as large a force of the Kentucky Volunteers as possible.  This organization is necessarily irregular, but the necessity is so great that I must have them, and therefore have issued to them arms and clothing during the process of formation.  This has facilitated their enlistment; but inasmuch as the Legislature has provided money for organizing the Kentucky Volunteers, and intrusted its disbursement to a board of loyal gentlemen, I have endeavored to cooperate with them to hasten the formation of these corps.

The great difficulty is, and has been, that as volunteers offer, we have not arms and clothing to give them.  The arms sent us are, as you already know, European muskets of uncouth pattern, which the volunteers will not touch.

General McCook has now three brigades—­Johnson’s, Wood’s, and Rousseau’s.  Negley’s brigade arrived to-day, and will be sent out at once.  The Minnesota regiment has also arrived, and will be sent forward.  Hazzard’s regiment of Indiana troops I have ordered to the month of Salt Creek, an important point on the turnpike-road leading to Elizabethtown.

I again repeat that our force here is out of all proportion to the importance of the position.  Our defeat would be disastrous to the nation; and to expect of new men, who never bore arms, to do miracles, is not right.

I am, with much respect, yours truly,

W. T. Sherman, Brigadier-General commanding.

About this time my attention was drawn to the publication in all the Eastern papers, which of course was copied at the West, of the report that I was “crazy, insane, and mad,” that “I had demanded two hundred thousand men for the defense of Kentucky;” and the authority given for this report was stated to be the Secretary of War himself, Mr. Cameron, who never, to my knowledge, took pains to affirm or deny it.  My position was therefore simply unbearable, and it is probable I resented the cruel insult with language of intense feeling.  Still I received no orders, no reenforcements, not a word of encouragement or relief.  About November 1st, General McClellan was appointed commander-in-chief of all the armies in the field, and by telegraph called for a report from me.  It is herewith given: 

HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, Kentucky, November 4, 1861