CHAP.XII.] ADVANCE OF CONFEDERATES INTO KENTUCKY, ETC.

[Inclosure G.]

UNION CITY, September 4, 1861

His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: The enemy having descended the Mississippi River some three or four days since, and seated himself with cannon and entrenched lines opposite the town of Columbus, Ky., making such demonstrations as left no doubt upon the minds of any of their intention to seize and forcibly possess said town, I thought proper, under the plenary power delegated to me, to direct a sufficient portion of my command, both by river way and by land, to concentrate at Columbus, as well to [afford] to its citizens that protection they unite to a man in accepting, as also to prevent in time the occupation by the enemy of a point so necessary to the security of Western Tennessee. This demonstration on my part has had the desired effect. The enemy had withdrawn his force even before I had fortified my position. It is my intention now to continue to occupy and keep this position.

Referring you to my dispatch of the 2nd*, I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,

L.POLK, Major-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure II.]

RICHMOND, September 4, 1861

General POLK:

The necessity justifies the action.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

[Inclosure I.]

RICHMOND, September 5, 1861

General POLK:

Will you give a reason for General Pillow's movement?

L.P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

[Inclosure J.]

CITY OF COLUMBUS, September 5, 1861

Major-General POLK, Commanding Division Numbers 2, Confederate Army:

HONORED SIR: Will you permit a few of the citizens of this city and its vicinity so recently oppressed and suffering from the tyrannical rules of the Northern Government to express to you our profound gratification at the advent of the army under your command, and by your permission we will accompany that expression with a brief history of the action of that Government in respect to citizens of Kentucky which in their judgment not only inclined our hearts to hail with delight the approach of the Confederate troops, but rendered it a duty to ourselves and our families that we should as we did, unite and beseech them no longer to suffer the restraints of Kentucky neutrality to operate as a barrier against it.

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*Not found.

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