OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
RICHMOND, September 15, 1861.
Major General L. POLK, Columbus, Ky.:
Your letter of the 11th instant, with accompanying papers, was this day delivered by Mr. Ingraham.
Your correspondence with the committee and the governor of Kentucky has been considered and approved. Governor Harris and others have represented to me that the occupation of Columbus and Hickman would work political detriment to our cause in Kentucky. It is true that the solution of the problem requires the consideration of other than the military elements involved in it; but we cannot permit the indeterminate quantities, the political elements to control our action in cases of military necessarily. Such I regarded your occupation of Columbus to be, and your offer to evacuate it upon a reasonable assurances that it would not be occupied, and other places continued to be held by the enemy, furnishes all that could be required of respect for the declared neutrality on the part of Kentucky.
A telegram has been sent to Governor Pettus, to inform him that any troops he could furnish to you would be mustered into the service of the Confederate States.
You use the expression "brigade," but this, I suppose, is merely intended to indicate a number of regiments as you know the law does not authorize us to accept troops in any higher organization than the regimental.
Your wish for General A.S. Johnston to command the operations in the West has bee fulfilled. He is now, I suppose, at Nashville, and you will soon have the aid of his presence with the army.
I am gratified that the people of Columbus recognize in you a defender of their rights and made common cause with you. This alone would suffice to prove that we have adhered to our declared abstinence from any policy of conquest.
I feel deeply anxious as to the course of Kentucky, and sincerely trust your expectations will be realized in relation to the people of the section in which you now are.
Very respectfully and truly,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
COLUMBUS, Ky., September 16, 1861
President DAVIS:
Your dispatch of this day received.* Your views in regard to the occupation of Kentucky shall be carried out with careful consideration.
L. POLK, Major-General.
Numbers 2. Miscellaneous reports, correspondence, and orders relating to occupation of Columbus and Hickman, and Zollicoffer's advance into Eastern Kentucky.
NASHVILLE, September 4, 1861
JEFFERSON DAVIS:
Confederate troops, commanded by General Pillow, landed at Hickman, Ky., last night.
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*Probably Davis to Polk, September 15, p. 188.
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