Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.

guaranties; that proposition, if accepted, will hereafter relieve the Government from embarrassment in respect to powder, and had it been promptly accepted, I think the mills would by this time have been in operation.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. S. JOHNSTON, General, C. S. Army.

BOWLING GREEN, October 4, 1861.

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General:

I have not been able to obtain accurate returns of the strength of the regiments here since I came back. My effective strength at all points does not exceed 6,000. The enemy, with their last re-enforcements, number not less than 13,000 or 14,000. It is stated that they will advance in a few days on Green River. I need re-enforcements at this place very much. When can I receive them? Please reply.

S. B. BUCKNER, Brigadier-General.

COLUMBUS, October 4, 1861.

General BUCKNER, Bowling Green:

Hold on to Bowling Green. Call in all your detachments, and make your stand there. Send my order to Stanton to join you. I send duplicate through Nashville, and all the troops I can raise will be with you.

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General.

BOWLING GREEN, KY., October 4, 1861.

HonorableW. L. UNDERWOOD:

SIR: I write this note at the instance of Gov. J. L. Helm, who tells me that you desire an assurance that your civil rights and personal liberty shall be guaranteed from any interference of troops under my command. Such a guarantee is not necessary, because I have heretofore had the pleasure of assuring you that you should suffer no molestation from the troops under my command, and because it is not the policy of the Confederate Government to imitate the acts of inhumanity so uniformly practiced by the authorities of the United States Government. Since, however, you desire some further assurance, I now have the pleasure of saying to you that, as far as my authority can be exercised, you will be protected by the Confederate forces in all the rights of any other freeman, as long as you choose to remain at home on terms analogous to those on which Governor Helm is permitted to return to his home.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. B. BUCKNER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.