OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

stores, he is now fully prepared not only to resist but to make invasion. We feel that no eulogium that we could make would do justice to the services that he has rendered the cause, but we simply and respectfully to suggest to the Secretary of War, and through him to the President, that the appointment of Major-General Pillow to the command of the active force on the banks of the Mississippi would be but an act of justice to him, and would give the greatest satisfaction to the force thus placed under his command.

WILLIAM T. BROWN.

SMITH P. BANKHEAD.

P. SMITH.

M.C. GALLAWAY.

JNO. D. MARTIN. BENJ. S. DILL.

MEMPHIS, July 5, 1861.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President, &c.:

SIR: I am presuming upon a slight acquaintance I had the honor of forming with you in this city several years since (and which it can hardly be supposed you can possibly recall in the midst of constant labors and important events with which you have since been occupied), when I trouble you with but a word in reference to Major-General Pillow, now in command at this point. Since he assumed his command he has been by no means free from criticism. Probably no man ever is under such circumstances. It is every day's experience that whose who "never set squadron in the field," and are utterly ignorant of all military matters, feel themselves qualified to pass judgment upon the plans of the most experienced commanders. Possessing no military education or experience myself, it would be presumptuous in me to express an opinion, except upon such matters as may fairly come within the scope of the observation and judgment of all. And here I beg leave to say that since he has been in command here he has manifested a degree of energy and activity in organizing our State forces and in collecting the materials of war that has challenged the public approbation and called forth no slight expressions of praise. Hence I believe that the wish is pretty general that, having labored so energetically in the details of organization, he may be called into such more active service of the Confederacy as may be commensurate with his position and rank.

With highest respect, your obedient servant,

DAVID M. CURRIN.

RICHMOND, July 6,1861.

HonorableL.P. WALKER, Secretary of War, C.S.A.:

SIR: I regard the peril of civil war in East Tennessee as imminent. Things are growing worse daily. An express arrived at Knoxville on the 1st day of July from Cumberland Gap, bringing intelligence that one Dr. Scriven, who left Knoxville some weeks ago, arrived at Barboursville, 33 miles from Cumberland Gap, in charge of a considerable lot of arms for the Union men of East Tennessee. Mr. Brownlow, in his paper, says civil was is inevitable, and that the Union men have 10,000 men under drill and armed with rifles and shot-guns. Mr. Thomas A.R. Nelson made a speech, I am informed by a gentleman