OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

not connected with this brigade. These guns are in a building in the vicinity of our encampment, and the governor of Kentucky has written requesting me to send them to Kentucky. As I had nothing to do with bringing them to Tennessee, and the parties who brought them stated to Colonel Hawes that they were part of the guns sent by Lincoln to the Union men of Kentucky, I will await your instructions before taking any action on the matter. If any of the men composing this brigade were to bring arms from Kentucky belonging to that State I should return them promptly. This, however, presents a different case, and I will await your instructions.

Very respectfully, yours,

WM. T. WITHERS.

[Inclosure.]

MEMPHIS, TENN., July 21,1861.

General WHITERS, Camp Boone:

SIR: I have this moment learned from a messenger who has just arrived from my camp at Union City that a party of Kentuckians yesterday brought to my camp from Mayfield a large lot of muskets and a field battery of artillery. I presume they are a portion of the State arms that were at Mayfield, Ky. I write this to let you know that they are subject to your order as Kentuckians. I expect that in retaining them you of course get the consent of Governor Magoffin, of Kentucky.

B.F. CHEATHAM, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS KENTUCKY BRIGADE,

Camp Boone, July 25,1861.

HonorableL.P. WALKER, Secretary of War:

SIR: If you should determine to call for more troops, I trust that you will bear in mind the fact that some fifty companies from Kentucky have applied to me to be received into the service of the Confederate States, and at least 10,000 can be enlisted in forty to sixty days, to serve during the war.

Many companies of cavalry have tendered their services, who propose to arm themselves with shot-guns and revolvers. If you desire to receive either infantry or cavalry companies, advise me by telegraph, and your instructions will be promptly carried out.

We can always command the services of men who reside in the confederate States, and it seems to me that it would be good policy to take the Kentuckians, while we can get them.

I can buy, if authorized, with Confederate bonds, an ample supply of breadstuffs for an army of 10,000 men in the counties of Southern Kentucky that are contiguous to our encampment.

Yours, very respectfully,

WM. T. WITHERS.

RICHMOND, July 26,1861.

Brigadier General F.K. ZOLLICOFFER, Nashville, Tenn:

The President directs that you repair to East Tennessee, and assume command of that district. Preserve peace, protect the railroad, and repel invasion.

S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.