CHAP. XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.

started for Lexington and Dick Robinson, and will hear of any movement in that direction.

W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, Ky., October 12, 1861.

Brigadier-General THOMAS, Commanding Camp Dick Robinson:

SIR: I am officially notified that a detachment of recruits for the Thirty-third Indian, Colonel Coburn, has been sent to him via Cincinnati, and the governor asks me to send arms for them. We have not the arms, and I can find none. An agent of the State from Washington assures me 17,000 arms have been sent for the Kentucky troops. Regiments of men from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio are offering, all without arms, and I am powerless.

I can only suggest that you reduce the regiment to its number of arms by ordering the sick back to their State. When arms come, the regiment can again be filled. This is very discouraging, but is the only remedy that suggests itself to me.

I am, &c., your obedient servant,

W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

LOUISVILLE, KY., October 12, 1861.

Brigadier General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding Camp Dick Robinson:

SIR: General Nelson telegraphs me that the rebels encamped at Prestonburg have been to move forward. The regiment of Colonel Harris, at Olympian Springs, was posted there to watch the only practicable avenue of approach from that quarter. I directed him to send a messenger to you, and you may detach from, say, Nicholasville, or our own camp, to either re-enforce Colonel Harris or General Nelson, who is directed to move with all the volunteers he can arm to check the movements, and, if possible, disperse them. General Nelson asks for arms, but we have none, and the only alternative is to give him the two regiments at Nicholasville.

As to your own movement, I leave to yourself, until I can come to see you. I do not believe you can cross Cumberland Gap this year, but you can compel Zollicoffer to fall well back in the mountains beyond the Cumberland.

The State board are now actively engaged in raising regiments, and I hope may prove successful. They have funds, and can offer inducements to the volunteers not heretofore enjoyed by us. All volunteers raised in that quarter will fall to you, and can be used in pushing towards the south and east. I do not think it likely a force superior to yours can come from that direction. But it is different towards the south and west. The railroads come from Nashville and Memphis and meet at Bowling Green, whence it is continuous to Green River, where is Buckner's present advance. Ours are at Nolin, about 23 miles this side, and volunteers are forming in the neighborhood of Greensburg and Monroe County, and at Henderson and Owensborough,

20 R R-VOL IV