OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

providing promptly the means of supporting our friends in that section is by no means disregarded. Three regiments have been accordingly already ordered into East Tennessee, two from Mississippi, and one from Alabama, and it is hoped that these troops, with those already within your State, may suffice for the accomplishment of the object at present necessary.

The Department fully concurs in your view of the necessity of adopting a decided policy to insure the public safety, and only regrets that it is not in the power of the Government to the extend that may be necessary. No precautions, however, within the power of this Department shall be spared. Full confidence is entertained in the zeal and vigilance of your excellency and of the military authorities in command.

The letter of your excellency of August 7, which regard to the proposal of Colonel Acker Turner, of Kentucky, was referred to the President for consideration, and hence the delay in replying. I have this day telegraphed to you to the effect that a regiment, armed and equipped, and organized by the election of its own field officers, would be at once accepted and mustered into service. The election of its own officers is necessary to the organization of the regiment before it can be received, and this is the rule always observed by this Department when troops are offered by regiments.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,

L.P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

CAMP REDAN, Tuesday, August 20,1861.

Colonel LEWIS G. DE RUSSY, Chief Engineer Department No.2: COLONEL: I am now able to say that we are ready for the enemy; at least we can prevent his occupying the peninsula of Island No.10 bend.

Last night, after a hard day's labor, I had prepared my parapet sufficiently to place the two 24-pounder siege guns in position, and early this morning the Falls City arrived and we had them up. By this evening I shall have two 32-pounders in position and two more to-morrow.

We have the three companies of artillery under Major Stewart, and four companies of infantry under Major Hamilton, the latter lately a part of Colonel Carroll's regiment.

The reasons for the change in Colonel Neely's position I will be able to satisfactorily explain. Colonel McGowan's brigade did not move up, but Colonel McGowan accompanied me to the points I had selected for the defenses of this part of the river. He agreed fully with me, and said that he would not alter the sites one foot I had selected or my plans for the defenses of the river.

If I am permitted to continue the works according to my plans, which will be submitted for approval in a few days, I feel satisfied we can defend the valley of the Mississippi against any number of invaders above us.

We have now command of the only landing for vessels for 10 miles above this, and of the channel of the river passing by us far as our present armament can control. We shall be ready for as many more guns as you can send up.

If you can order the Falls City to bring up the two 8-inch howitzers now at Randolph, with shell and ammunition, as well as some guns upon