OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
LOUISVILLE, KY., October 8, 1861.
GARRETT DAVIS, Esq.:
DEAR SIR: Yours of this date is received.* You will be surprised to learn that we have not the arms you mention. Arms are coming forward very slowly. I have written and telegraphed to General Nelson, at Maysville, to take a regiment from Portsmouth, Ohio, up the Big Sandy, and at the same time for the Ohio Regiment at Olympian Spring to advance towards Prestonburg. If Colonel Davis can by any means at hand scatter that camp I will approve of all the steps, but an advance up the Sandy, now navigable, would be almost sure to result in the retreat or dispersion of the force. But we have not the arms.
Men are offering, but arms and equipments are wanting.
The real struggle in Kentucky is to be between this and Nashville.
Yours,
W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General.
LOUISVILLE, KY., October 8, 1861.
Colonel JACKSON, Owensborough:
DEAR SIR: Yours of the 6th* is received. I am force to organize and operate with insufficient means and materials. Your regiment has more facilities than any other, and I hope you will make rapid progress. Keep some runners down to Christian to keep up the hearts of your people, and if you could make a push of a few hundred men towards Hopkinsville it would disturb Buckner a good deal. I send General Crittenden down to Owensborough. They have not sent me a single regular officer from Washington, and so engrossed are they with Missouri, that they don't do us justice. The more necessity for us to strain every nerve.
W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, Ky., October 8, 1861.
Brigadier-General NELSON, Commanding at Maysville, Ky.:
GENERAL: I am directed by the general commanding to say that if in your judgment you can by a sudden march or by chartering a steamboat to go up the Sandy surprise the rebel camp at Prestonsburg, he fully authorizes you to do so, and desires you to do so.
He is aware of your being greatly deficient in arms and ammunition for an expedition, but he hopes you may be able to arms a sufficient number of men for the purpose with the arms of the country.
The general does not order this expedition, but hopes it can be undertaken. It is left entirely to your discretion.
I am, general, yours, &c.,
OLIVER D. GREENE, Assistant Adjutant-General.
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* Not found.
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