OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

These authorities desire a full and complete transfer of all the military stores of the State and everything relating thereto, including powder mills and percussion-cap manufactory, now in operation, and all he contracts in the ordnance, quartermaster, and commissary departments in existence, but not filled at the date transfer is perfected. A wish was expressed by the board that they should receive some assurance from the Department that the State of Tennessee would be refunded within a reasonable time for the stores and supplies now in their possession.

The ordnance stores are at Nashville and Memphis, and probably a few at Knoxville. The quartermaster and commissary supplies are stored at various points through the State, but much the larger portion is concentrated at the same depots-Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville. The State authorities are now engaged in having inventories made of these stores and supplies, also schedules of the contracts now existing for stores and supplies, with a statement of other property, an early completion of which I have urged upon the board. These inventories shall be promptly submitted to the Department as soon as they are prepared. Should the Secretary of War decide to shoulder these contracts, the acting quartermaster and commissary at this point could attend to the contracts in his department, and see them properly filled. The contracts for ordnance stores, however, are numerous and varied, and they would require an ordnance officer to receive and inspect the same.

When the inventories of the State military stores are prepared, I will proceed to examine and receipt for them at cost, unless otherwise advised by the Department. I desire to be instructed whether I shall receipt for stores and supplies already issued by the State of Tennessee to the troops of the Confederate States now in the field. The question of transfer is in the present instance a complicated one, owing to the scattered condition of the supplies and the various contracts for both stores and supplies not yet filled.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

KENSEY JOHNS, Assistant Quartermaster.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C.S.A.,

Richmond, August 24,1861.

Major General LEONIDAS POLK, Commanding Second Military Department:

GENERAL: The law gives to this Department no latitude as to the subject-matter of your letter of the 5th of August. The President is only authorized to ask for and accept the services of volunteers who may offer their services either as cavalry, mounted riflemen, artillery, or infantry. Neither a volunteer corps of engineers nor an ordnance corps of volunteers can be accepted. I have already suggested to you the idea of employing such officers of these corps as you may select in the character of special agents. Your staff appointments should be recommended to this Department, which under the law is alone intrusted with the power of making such appointments. It is hoped these embarrassments to your movements may be happily surmounted, and I only regret the inability of this Department under the restrictions of the law to meet your wishes in full.

Very respectfully,

L.P. WALKER, Secretary of War.