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

the threats and duress of despotic power to levy taxes known to be in opposition to the will of the people, and intended for the prosecution of a war against their brethren which the people of Kentucky have solemnly denounced as unjust and unconstitutional at a time when they were able to express their will unawed by the legislature.

4th. Since my last letter the President has, as you requested, appointed Major Stewart a brigadier-general. You has written his name Stuart, and we were unable to find out who the officer was, till a letter from himself enabled us to locate him.

5th. The President has also appointed General Crittenden to be major-general, to take command of the Cumberland Gap district, where we hope to send re-enforcements almost immediately, and where the command will be too large for a brigadier. He will report to you by letter. With the addition of these two generals to Generals Breckinridge and Marshall, recently appointed, it is supposed that the number of your general officers will be sufficiently increased to enable you to organize your forces effectively for the present, and avoid the necessity for further appointments till the developments of the campaign shall indicate which of your officers really merit promotion to such high rank.

6th. I fear it will not be possible to appoint a colonel for the Third Kentucky Regiment to succeed General Tilghman, as proposed by you. The lieutenant-colonel has a right to promotion under the law, unless incompetent, and in that event the major must be promoted over him, just as in the regular service. The promotion must take place, unless you are able to report that there is no commissioned officer in the regiment competent to be colonel, in which event the President would be justified in making on outside appointment.

A petition has been sent to the President by the chamber of commerce of Memphis, remonstrating against the action of General Polk in interfering with the free commerce in grain. This action of General Polk is not approved by the Government, and is in violation of the policy we have made it a special point to pursue in all parts of the Confederacy. Our people have been so generous and cordial in yielding their support, and have been so unstinting in their sacrifices and contribution sin this war, that it this due to them that the utmost confidence be reposed in their patriotism and readiness to aid in the supply of the Army. We prefer to buy at somewhat high prices to making any seizure or impressment of property. We have left commerce free in everything but the arms and munitions of war indispensable for defense. There is no danger of any deficiency in the supply of bread. It can always be procured a reasonable prices. Our people are jealous of their liberties, and impatient of any control over their private rights not clearly necessary. For these reasons the President thinks there was error of judgment in the embargo laid by General Polk on the trade in grain, and he desires that the obstruction to free commerce imposed by that embargo be removed.

We have as yet received only telegraphic dispatches of the results of the battle of Belmont, but enough is known to inspire us with liveliest joy, and to make us impatient for such further details as will enable us to express to the generals and their gallant troops our high sense of their conduct.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.

P. S.-A return of your forces, stated by you to be inclosed in a letter written to General Cooper, has not been found, and your adjutant