OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.

NASHVILLE, September 8, 1861.

Adjt. General S. COOPER:

As it will be necessary to hold the troops west of the Tennessee River where they are, I can take and hold Bowling Green, provided the two regiments, 1,000 extra guns at Corinth, promised by General Davis, of Mississippi, to General Buckner, are placed under my command, to operate with the troops here; or if this can[not] be had, if you will furnish arms and add them to my command they will be sufficient for the purpose. Colonel Heiman telegraphs that he is informed that one of Lincoln's gunboats ascended the Tennessee River and was seen 30 miles below Fort Henry.

ROBERT C. FOSTER, Brigadier-General.

KNOXVILLE, TENN., September 9, 1861.

Adjutant-General COOPER:

I order three regiments into Kentucky to-day. They will probably march in to-morrow. Other forces will follow rapidly.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General.

SNEEDVILLE, September 9, 1861.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier General, Commanding, Knoxville, Tenn.:

DEAR SIR: We, the undersigned citizens of Sneedville, & c., would respectfully represent to you that we are threatened with immediate invasion from the Union party of Hancock and Hawkins and perhaps other counties in East Tennessee, in connection with Union and Northern men from some of the mountain counties of Kentucky. We have the proof showing these facts from men who have heretofore belonged to and acted with the Union party of our own county. One gentleman, the sheriff of our county, revealed the following facts to a citizen of our town this morning, viz, that in a few days there would be a strong force from Kentucky, escorted here through the mountains by a force of Union men from this county and Hawkins, who have lately gone from here to Kentucky. There have been crowds within the past ten days from this county and Hawkins, numbering, from the best information, 500 men, who, we understand, are determined to bring back with them from Kentucky a sufficient force to overrun Southern men in Hancock and in this portion of East Tennessee generally, and from thence to the railroad, with a view to tear it up, so as to stop any transportation upon the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. We have abundant proof, clear to our minds, that there exists a great necessity for having force stationed here. There is no appearance of Union hostilities having abated. We do not feel that the lives of ourselves and our families are by any means safe. A regiment can be supported here as cheap to the Southern Confederacy as at any other point in East Tennessee. We would desire at least one company of well-armed cavalry, for the purpose of meeting outstanding emergencies. We have, therefore, sent as messenger F. H. Brewer, to confer with you upon this subject, and for proof of his character for truth we would with great pleasure refer you to Captain Thomas, Captain Legg, and their com