dee's communication of yesterday reached me at 2 this morning. I have moved my command to this place as being a better position. The Texas Rangers are encamped at Woodland; the infantry half a mile this side; Swett's artillery in wood at Middleton's, and Phifer's battalion in wood on Mammoth Cave road, just below this place. I have parties out in the direction of Mammoth Cave, Bear Wallow, and Frederick, to protect the agents of Bruce & Co. in collecting beeves, &c., and to collect and drive in what they may overlook. I find it difficult to get more forage than is necessary for my own command without using infantry for that purpose, which would scatter my force too much. I keep a party of observation constantly thrown out towards the enemy, and think I will certainly be apprised of any attempt to cross in force. Any such attempt might be successfully resisted if my force was upon the ridge at Rowlett's Station, and I will probably be able to march them up in time from here. This is a much better region for forage and nearer to our supplies.

Very respectfully,

T. C. HINDMAN,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Advance.

Abstract from return of Western Department, commanded by General A. S. Johnston, for December 12, 1861, as given by the latest returns.

Present for duty.

Aggre

Offi- Aggrega gate

Stations. Troops. cers. Men. te pre prese

sent. nt and

absent

Columbus, Polk's 1,143 16,659 21,831 24,968

Ky. command.

Bowling Hardee's 318 3,395 5,890 9,531

Green, Ky., division.

and vicinity

Buckner's 391 6,007 7,987 9,536

division.

Harper's 4 52 74 77

artillery.

Cavalry* (two 24 282 455 1,339

regiments).

Hopkinsvil- Clark's

------

------

------

3,500

le, Ky. command+.

Prestonburg, Marshall's

------

------

------

2,500

Ky. command+.

Wartburg, Zollicoffer's 273 4,428 5,702 5,930

Tenn. division.

Nashville,

------------

------

------

------

100

Tenn.+.

Memphis,

------------

------

------

------

160

Tenn.+.

Camp McCulloch's 127 4,849 5,568 6,767

Johnston, division.

Ark.

Troops en

------

------

------

1,500

route+.

Various Volunteers

------

------

------

12,000

camps in exclusive of

Alabama, militia.+

Arkansas,

Mississippi,

and

Tennessee.

Total. 2,280 35,672 47,507 77,908

---------------

*No return from one regiment, and its aggregate present and absent estimated in original at 800.

+No returns. Estimated in the original as above.

---------------

[HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,] Bowling Green, December 13, 1861.

Gov. J. G. SHORTER, Montgomery, Ala.:

I beg you will send all the troops you may have assembled under my late call upon your excellency with dispatch to this place.

I except from this number all you may have ordered to Fort Henry or the Tennessee River. I have ordered the Seventh Alabama from