OERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

at Camp Dick Robinson, Lexington, and other points which you may deem advisable. In this way we can secure them for my force for defense, and prevent the taking of the arms from the scattered Home Guards.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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

LEXINGTON, September 18, 1861.

General THOMAS, Camp Robinson:

DEAR SIR: You will see from the inclosed dispatch that your request for cannon has been granted and that it is deemed proper to have them go another route in place of coming to this place by rail. The Home Guards of this place have all been notified to be hand to-night, ready to protect the cannon, if they have been shipped this way, as first intended. This will ne handed you by Mr. Milward, one of our best men, unless he should meet with your messenger at Nicholasville. See that Warner attends to the dispatch inclosed from Bowler.

Yours, respectfully,

JOHN C. COCHRAN.

JOHN B. WILGERS.

[Inclosure.]

FRANKFORT, September 18, 1861.

To Captain SANDERS D. BRUCE:

General Thomas can get six pieces of cannon, 6-pounders, and ammunition and horses. He must send a mounted force by Nicholasville and Versailles or by Danville and Harrodsburg. Send this to Camp Robinson forthwith. This is better than railroad.

JAS. HARLAN.

FRANKFORT, September 18, 1861.

General THOMAS:

SIR: From indications that point to a gathering of the rebels in Lexington on Saturday next from the surrounding country, we deem it of vital importance that you move a regiment there forthwith, fully prepared for a fight.

The State Guards from all this part of the State meet in Lexington on Saturday ostensibly for drill. They have been buying and stealing all the powder and lead they can get, even tearing up lead pipes. We will take measures to have a large force of Home Guards to meet you. You take the Pair Grounds for a camp, unless you can do better. No time is to be lost. They have taken Muldraugh's Hill, we are informed, 1,500 strong, and burned the bridge over Rolling Fork of Salt River.

General Rousseau is after, with from 2,000 to 3,000 men; but the loss of the bridge is a great misfortune. If they take lexington with 2,500 men, as we fear they will, they will take the arsenal and magazine here, and disperse or capture the legislature.

Please let here be no delay.

Respectfully, yours,

JOHN F. FISK, Speaker of the Senate.

RICH'D A. BUCKNER, Speaker of the House.