CHAP.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.- UNION.
of the road being instructed to Colonel Hughes' [Hecker's?] Illinois Regiment. This is not an isolated hill, but a range separating the waters of the Rolling Fork of Salt Creek and Green River, the ascent from the north being very abrupt and the descent to the south being very gradual. Our position is far from being a strong one when held against a superior force. Roads will enable an enemy with cavalry to pass around us and cut off our communications and starve us out. We have no safe line of retreat, and must stand our ground let what will happen. Our opponents, led by General Buckner, who is familiar with the ground, are now supposed to be along the railroad from Green River to Bowling Green. Their forces are variously estimated from 7,000 to 20,000 men, and I doubt not they have 15,000, some well and some poorly armed, but all actuated by a common purpose to destroy us. I am fully alive to the danger of our position and to all its disadvantages, especially that of supplies. Our provisions have been hauled up the rugged valley of Clear Creek by hired wagons and by some which were brought along by the Thirty-ninth Indiana. We can barely supply our wants, and are liable at any moment to have those wagons seized. The reason I came to Muldraugh's Hill was for effect. Had it fallen into the hands of our enemies, the cause would have been lost, and even with it in our possession a week nobody has rallied to our support. I excepted, as we had reason to, that people of Kentucky would rally to our support, but, on the contrary, none have joined us; while hundreds, we are told, are going to Bowling Green. The railroad from Bowling Green towards us is broken at Nolin, 10 miles off, and at another trestle beyond some 7 miles. I doubt if this was done by Buckner's orders, but rather by the small parties of guards left to protect them, and who were scared at our approach. I have from time to time given you telegraphic notice of these events, and must now await the development. We should have here at least 20,000 men; but that has been an impossibility.
Truly, yours,
W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General.
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Paducah, Ky., September 28, 1861.
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters Department of the West, Saint Louis, Mo.:
Intimation from various quarters are that this place is to be attacked soon by a heavy force from Columbus. We need more artillery, say 24-pounder howitzers, with plenty of ammunition for the same.
C. F. SMITH, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Paducah, Ky., September 28, 1861.
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters Department of the West, Saint Louis, Mo.:
General Fremont letter of September 26 just received. The gunboat Lexington has just returned from Owensborough, and reports no enemy there. The gunboat Conestoga is now at Owensborough.
C. F. SMITH, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
