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General Sherman explained forcibly how largely the difficulties of suppressing the rebellion would be enhanced； if the rebels should be allowed to plant themselves firmly； with strong fortifications； at commanding points on the Ohio River。 It would be facile for them to carry the war thence into the loyal States north of the river。
To resist an advance of the rebels； General Sherman stated that he did not have at that time in Kentucky more than some twelve to fourteen thousand effective men。 The bulk of this force was posted at camp Nolin； on the Louisville & Nashville Railway； fifty miles south of Louisville。 A part of it was in Eastern Kentucky； under General George H。 Thomas； and a very small force was in the lower valley of Green River。
This disposition of the force had been made for the double purpose of watching and checking the rebels； and protecting the raising and organization of troops among the Union men of Kentucky。
Having explained the situation from the defensive point of view； General Sherman proceeded to consider it from the offensive stand…point。 The Government had undertaken to suppress the rebellion； the onus faciendi； therefore； rested on the Government。 The rebellion could never be put down； the authority of the paramount Government asserted； and the union of the States declared perpetual； by force of arms； by maintaining the defensive； to accomplish these grand desiderata； it was absolutely necessary the Government should adopt； and maintain until the rebellion was crushed； the offensive。
For the purpose of expelling the rebels from Kentucky； General Sherman said that at least sixty thousand soldiers were necessary。 Considering that the means of accomplishment must always be proportioned to the end to be achieved； and bearing in mind the array of rebel force then in Kentucky； every sensible man must admit that the estimate of the force given by General Sherman； for driving the rebels out of the State； and reestablishing and maintaining the authority of the Government； was a very low one。 The truth is that； before the rebels were driven from Kentucky； many more than sixty thousand soldiers were sent into the State。
Ascending from the consideration of the narrow question of the political and military situation in Kentucky； and the extent of force necessary to redeem the State from rebel thraldom； forecasting in his sagacious intellect the grand and daring operations which； three years afterward； he realized in a campaign； taken in its entirety； without a parallel in modern times； General Sherman expressed the opinion that； to carry the war to the Gulf of Mexico； and destroy all armed opposition to the Goverment； in the entire Mississippi Valley； at least two hundred thousand troops were absolutely requisite。
So soon as General Sherman had concluded the expression of his views； Mr。 Cameron asked； with much warmth and apparent irritation； 〃Where do you suppose； General Sherman； all this force is to come from。〃 General Sherman replied that he did not know； that it was not his duty to raise； organize； and put the necessary military force into the field； that duty pertained to the War Department。 His duty was to organize campaigns and command the troops after they had been put into the field。
At this point of the proceedings； General Sherman suggested that it might be agreeable to the Secretary to hear the views of Mr。 Guthrie。 Thus appealed to； Mr。 Guthrie said he did not consider himself； being a civilian； competent to give an opinion as to the extent of force necessary to parry the war to the Gulf of Mexico； but； being well informed of the condition of things in Kentucky； he indorsed fully General Sherman'e opinion of the force required to drive the rebels out of the State。
The foregoing is a circumstantial account of the deliberations of the council that were of any importance。
A good deal of desultory conversation followed； on immaterial matters； and some orders were issued by telegraph； by the Secretary of War； for some small reenforcements to be sent to Kentucky immediately； from Pennsylvania and Indiana。
A short time after the council was heldthe exact time is not now remembered by the writeran imperfect narrative of it appeared in the Now York Tribune。 This account announced to the public the conclusions uttered by General Sherman in the council； without giving the reasons on which his conclusions were based。 The unfairness of this course to General Sherman needs no comment。 All military men were shocked by the gross breach of faith which had been committed
TH。 J。 WOOD； Major…General Volunteeers
Vicksburg； Mississippi； August 24； 1886。
Brigadier…General Don Carlos Buell arrived at Louisville about the middle of November； with orders to relieve me； and I was transferred for duty to the Department of the Missouri； and ordered to report in person to Major…General H。 W。 Halleck at St。 Louis。 I accompanied General Buell to the camp at Nolin； where he reviewed and inspected the camp and troops under the command of General A。 McD。 McCook； and on our way back General Buell inspected the regiment of Hazzard at Elizabethtown。 I then turned over my command to him； and took my departure for St。 Louis。
At the time I was so relieved I thought； of course； it was done in fulfillment of Mr。 Lincoln's promise to me； and as a necessary result of my repeated demand for the fulfillment of that promise； but I saw and felt； and was of course deeply moved to observe； the manifest belief that there was more or less of truth in the rumor that the cares； perplexities； and anxiety of the situation had unbalanced my judgment and mind。 It was； doubtless； an incident common to al1 civil wars； to which I could only submit with the best grace possible； trusting to the future for an opportunity to redeem my fortune and good name。 Of course I could not deny the fact； and had to submit to all its painful consequences for months； and； moreover； I could not hide from myself that many of the officers and soldiers subsequently placed under my command looked at me askance and with suspicion。 Indeed； it was not until the following April that the battle of Shiloh gave me personally the chance to redeem my good name。
On reaching St。 Louis and reporting to General Halleck； I was received kindly； and was shortly afterward （viz。； November 23d） sent up to Sedalia to inspect the camp there； and the troops located along the road back to Jefferson City； and I was ordered to assume command in a certain contingency。 I found General Steels at Sedalia with his regiments scattered about loosely； and General Pope at Otterville； twenty miles back； with no concert between them。 The rebel general； Sterling Price； had his forces down about Osceola and Warsaw。 I advised General Halleck to collect the whole of his men into one camp on the La Mine River； near Georgetown； to put them into brigades and divisions； so as to be ready to be handled； and I gave some preliminary orders looking to that end。 But the newspapers kept harping on my insanity and paralyzed my efforts。 In spite of myself； they tortured from me some words and acts of imprudence。 General Halleck telegraphed me on November 26th： 〃Unless telegraph…lines are interrupted； make no movement of troops without orders；〃 and on November 29th： 〃No forward movement of troops on Osceola will be made； only strong reconnoitring…parties will be sent out in the supposed direction of the enemy； the balk of the troops being held in position till more reliable information is obtained。〃
About the same time I received the following dispatch：
HEADQUARTERS； ST。 LOUIS； MISSOURI November 28； 1881。 Brigadier
General SHERMAN； Sedalia：
Mrs。 Sherman is here。 General Halleck is satisfied； from reports of scouts received here； that no attack on Sedalia is intended。 You will therefore return to this city； and report your observations on the condition of the troops you have examined。 Please telegraph when you will leave。
SCHUYLER HAMILTON； Brigadier…General and Aide…de…Camp。
I accordingly returned to St。 Louis； where I found Mrs。 Sherman； naturally and properly distressed at the continued and reiterated reports of the newspapers of my insanity； and she had come from Lancaster to see me。 This recall from Sedalia simply swelled the cry。 It was alleged that I was recalled by reason of something foolish I had done at Sedalia； though in fact I had done absolutely nothing； except to recommend what was done immediately thereafter on the advice of Colonel McPherson； on a subsequent inspection。 Seeing and realizing that my efforts were useless； I concluded to ask for a twenty days' leave of absence； to accompany Mrs。 Sherman to our home in Lancaster； and to allow the storm to blow over somewhat。 It also happened to be mid…winter； when； nothing was doing； so Mrs。 Sherman and I returned to Lancaster； where I was born； and where I supposed I was better known and appreciated。
The newspapers kept up their game as though instigated by malice； and chief among them was the Cincinnati Comercial； whose editor； Halsted； was generally believed to be an honorable man。 P。 B。 Ewing； Esq。； being in Cincinnati； saw him and asked him why he； who certainly knew better； would re