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

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, Ky., November 8, 1861.

Brigadier-General McCOOK, Camp Nevin:

SIR: I have no instructions from Government on the subject of negroes. My opinion is that the laws of the State of Kentucky are in full force, and that negroes must be surrendered on application of their masters or agents or delivered over to the sheriff of the country. We have nothing to do with them at all, and you should not let them take refuge in camp. It forms a source of misrepresentation, by which Union men are estranged from our cause. I know it is almost impossible for you to ascertain in any case the owner of the negro. But so it is; his word is not taken in evidence, and you will send them away.

I am, yours,

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

LOUISVILLE, KY., November 8, 1861. (Received November 9.)

General GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding, Crab Orchard:

SIR: Yours of November 6 is received. At present I think the Turnpike Company must be satisfied with a promise to pay.

As soon as the Kentucky volunteers organize in such a way as to enable me to estimate for them, I will order the establishment of a depot at Lebanon. I have been impressed of its importance from the first.

You know how impossible it is for me to obtain good, well-drilled regiments. I could not possibly send you three or four. There are three regiments in Ohio nearly ready to come, but of course they are fresh troops. Mr. Maynard still presses the East Tennessee expedition. I do not doubt its importance, but I know we have not force enough and transportation to undertake it. Instead of dispersing our efforts we should concentrate; and as soon as possible our forces must be brought nearer together. In the mean time do the best you can.

Yours,

W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General.

LONDON, KY., November 8, 1861. (Received November 9.)

[General THOMAS:]

GENERAL: Yours of the 7th instant, with copy of letter to Governor Andrew Johnson, is before me, and it is with extreme satisfaction that I note the decided manner in which the case is laid down to Government Johnson.

This outside pressure has become intolerable and must be met with firmness, or the Army may as well be disbanded.

With importunate citizens on one side and meddlesome reporters for papers on the other, I can scarce find time to attend to the appropriate duties of my position. By the way, cannot something the done to rid our camps of this latter class? I have really reached that point that I am afraid to address my staff officer above a whisper in my own tent. My most trivial remarks to my officers are caught up, magnified, and embellished, and appear in print as my "expressed opinions," much to the surprise of myself and those to whom my remarks were addressed,