Sir:  General McClellan telegraphs 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 business-men, who seemingly pursue their usual calling, but are in fact spies.  They report all our movements and strength, while we can procure information only by circuitous and unreliable means.  I inclose 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 neighborhoods, and cannot be called together except at long notice.  These volunteers are being organized under the laws of the State, and the 10th of November is fixed for the time of consolidating them into companies and regiments.  Many of them are armed by the United States as home guards, and many by General 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 clothing will go to the enemy, furnishing the very material they so much need.  We should have here a 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 a stand-still, and this produces doubt and alarm.  With our present force it would be simple madness to cross Green River, and yet hesitation may be as fatal.  In like manner the other columns are in peril, not so much in front as rear, the railroads over which our stores must pass being much exposed.  I have the Nashville Railroad guarded by three regiments, yet it is far from being safe; and, the moment actual hostilities commence, these roads will be interrupted, and we will be in a dilemma.  To meet this in part I have put a cargo of provisions at the mouth of Salt River, guarded by two regiments.  All these detachments weaken the main force, and endanger the whole.  Do not conclude, as before, that I exaggerate the facts.  They are as stated, and the future looks as dark as possible.  It would be better if some man of sanguine mind were here, for I am forced to order according to my convictions.

Yours truly,
W. T. Sherman, Brigadier-General commanding.

After the war was over, General Thomas J. Wood, then in command of the district of Vicksburg, prepared a statement addressed to the public, describing the interview with the Secretary of War, which he calls a “Council of War.”  I 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.