OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

town of Columbus to present for your consideration some reasons why it is desired you should retire from this point to the State of Tennessee with your army.

The policy of Kentucky was to adhere to a strict neutrality. In that determination those who feel that it is the interest of Kentucky, on final separation of the States, to be united with the Southern States, have persisted in a rigid adherence to neutrality. Thus acting the public opinion was being molded to the pint of a final union with the Southern States.

It is feared the occupation of Kentucky soil by Confederate troops will check the run of public opinion, and be the occasion of inflaming the public mind against the Confederate States, under the operation of which the legislature will inaugurate measures for the creation of a force to operate against your force.

Allow us to state the condition of affairs in Kentucky. The State Guard military organization will be disbanded, and the guns ordered into the arsenal. A new organization will be adopted, and probably an organized force of 30,000 men created, and placed under the command of General Anderson. They will be directed to operate against your force, and most probably thrown forward from Louisville in the direction of Bowling Green, in the center of the Green River country, in the direction of Nashville. Such course would subjugate the people along that line, and subject those holding Southern opinions to all the atrocities which have marked the course of the Northern Army. Such occupation would in all probability be the rallying point for an army which will effectually overawe, if it does not crush out, Southern men and sentiment. The Southern men are not organized and are without arms or the means of procuring them. No matter how numerous or how brave they will be powerless for self protection, and may finally fix the destiny of the State.

We are aware that you have proposed a mutual withdrawal of the two armies. The undersigned cheerfully acknowledge the justice and propriety of that proposition, but it is due to you to say that a majority of the legislature insist that, as Kentucky is still in the Union and the Confederate States in rebellion, they will not recognize the right of the Confederate States to be placed on equal legal footing with the Federal Government. They insist that your abandonment shall be first and without terms. Intimations are made that influential parties will use their influence to secure the withdrawal of the Federal troops, and by this means secure the neutrality of Kentucky and keep her troops out of the field, and leave the people free to act on the final question at the proper time.

We respectfully submit these views, and hope, if you shall feet it your duty to refer this question to President Davis, you will also present for his consideration the views here given.

Respectfully,

JOHN L. HELM, E.M. COVINGTON,

CLARKSVILLE, September 15, 1861

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va.:

I am just from Nashville, wher some dissatisfaction prevails at the action of General Polk in taking Columbus, Ky. Whether it was altogether politic to take possession I need not say, but it will be ruinous to order him back. Let him advance his columns into Ken-