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

HEADQUARTERS, CAMP AT PRESTONBURG, November 7, 1861.

Captain GREENE, Assistant Adjutant-General, Louisville, Ky.:

SIR: For the information of the commanding general I inclose herewith a copy of a proclamation which I have thought proper to publish.

The reason why I have done so is owing to the peculiar law of this State, which permits the bar to elect a circuit judge if that officer should not be present at the stated time of holding court. Now, the judge of this district is an open and active secessionist and has gone off with the rebel army. I have therefore the opportunity under the law of causing the election of a Union man to act in his stead.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

W. NELSON, Brigadier-General.

[Inclosure.]

PROCLAMATION.

HEADQUARTERS AT PRESTONBURG, November 5, 1861.

Having this day occupied the town of Prestonburg with the force under my command, I declare to all whom it may concern that the jurisdiction of the State of Kentucky is restored in this section of the State, in which the time for holding the same has not passed; and all civil officers are ordered to attend at the regular times and places of holding said courts and attend to the duties of their respective offices. Given under my hand this 5th day of November, 1861.

W. NELSON.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Paducah, Ky., November 8, 1861.

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: In my report of the 6th instant, in relation to the forces of the enemy, I accidentally overlooked in my notes the works on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

The more important is Fort Henry, 71 miles up the Tennessee, just at the State line. It is a strong earthwork, on the water front, but not nearly so strong on the eland side. It has three 24 or 32 pounders, one or two 8-inch columbiads, and the remainder of field guns, in all from 14 to 16; its garrison was two weeks since about 1,200. They have been under apprehension of attack from here for the past two weeks.

Some 8 miles above Fort Henry the enemy has been for may weeks endeavoring to convert river steamers into iron-plated gunboats. This fort is an obstacle to our gunboats proceeding to look after such work.

I sent an intelligent person to see what progress had been made on these gunboats, but he was captured. It is my only weak point (this river), made so by the use of gunboats.

The Conestoga gunboat, admirably commanded by Lieutenant Phelps, of the Navy, is my only security in this quarter. He is constantly moving his vessel up and down the Tennessee and Cumberland. From the latter river he came in this morning, having gone into the State of Tennessee as far as Dover, where the enemy have a work called Fort Gavock,