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

Sherman. Events are hastening on which may compel me to take the field before I am ready. Should the necessity arise, and i think the cloud is so threatening that it may be wise for me not to await any longer, I hope you will give our dear native State all the aid you can.

The movements recently made by Polk and Zollicoffer show that they will make another move as soon as they are ready. The bearer of this note, Captain Prime, is a very discreet, judicious soldier, and will give you my views.

If you can let me a sufficient number of troops, and I find that I am not too late, I will intimate to you the desire that you shall throw your force forward by simply telegraphing "Yes." It would add greatly to our strength if you could spare a battery of artillery.

I am interrupted and must close.

I have the honor to subscribe myself, with sincere regard and respect,

ROBERT ANDERSON, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

PARIS, KY., September 16, 1861.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

DEAR SIR: Not being possess of the future military plans of the United States Government, I am not prepared to offer you any views that even I myself would consider to be entitled to any reflection.

Nevertheless, believing it to be both the expectation and the purpose of the administration to overcome the military power of the Confederate States and to give effective relief to the Union men of East Tennessee, and also that kentucky is now an active party to the war, I will on these general assumptions give you a few thoughts.

The most pressing duty id to give Kentucky all the protection possible; to that end Paducah ought to be held by an adequate United States force, and the Louisville and nashville Railroad ought to be taken possession of at once by the military authorities as far south as Bowling Green, and a strong put there and strong works thrown up for its protection.

All the force that can be obtained from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri ought to be put in camp at proper points on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and be diligently drilled and prepared for service. The recruiting of the three years' men in Kentucky should be pressed with the utmost activity and ought to be brought up to 15,000 or 20,000. The legislature should authorize the raising of 40,0000 twelve-months' men in Kentucky by volunteering and drafting, to be mustered immediately into the service of the United States.

Men are no efficiency without arms, and one of the most serious wants for troops to be raised in this State is a proper and sufficient supply of arms. If the arms were at suitable depots, the men could soon be raised. By the time the General Government could be ready to move on East Tennessee from Western Virginia and on Memphis from Missouri, and down the Mississippi, the forces from and through Kentucky would be ready to move on East Tennessee by the Cumberland Gap, on Middle Tennessee and nashville from Bowling Green, and towards Memphis from Paducah, and the different columns could continue their march towards the Atlantic coast and occupy North and South Carolina and Georgia, whilst the fleets and other armies were taking possession of all the ports in those States.

The first work to be done for Kentucky is for the United States to