OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.

RICHMOND, September 5, 1861.

General ZOLLICOFFER, Knoxville, Tenn.:

It is in the event of a failure to transport that military possession of the road is directed.

L. P. WALKER.

MILITARY AND FINANCIAL BOARD, Nashville, Tenn., September 6, 1861.

HonorableL. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: The State of Tennessee has expended in equipping for the field the Provisional Army, in paying the troops, in purchase of quartermaster's, commissary, and ordnance stores the sum of $ 4,000,000, and there are still demands upon our treasury to pay the troops and for balances for purchase of supplies a little over $ 1,000,000. This money must be paid to sustain the credit of the State. We had expected to be reimbursed from the Confederate Treasury under the treaty made by the Confederate commissioners with the governor, and relied upon that fund to pay the balance of the debt thus contracted, but learn from our Delegate to the Confederate Congress that we cannot look to that source.

We have borrowed the sums already expended from the banks of the State, but they now refuse to extend the loan to the $ 1,000,000 now required, unless we will give them assurance that we will within a short time take up the Tennessee bonds by depositing Confederate States bonds, convertible in six months into Confederate Treasury notes, at the option of the holder. It is of vital importance to us to be able to maintain the credit of the State, and we would most respectfully urge upon the Government the absolute necessity of enabling us to give this pledge, that we may be able to keep that credit unimpaired. The money thus to be raised will be paid out in the discharge of debts contracted in preparing for the common defense.

We cannot too strongly represent this policy of enabling us to pay our debts, but without this guarantee from the Government we will not be able to do so.

We are, with respect, your obedient servants,

NEILL S. BROWN.

J. E. BAILEY.

W. G. HARDING.

RICHMOND, September 7, 1861.

General ZOLLICOFFER, Knoxville, Tenn.:

The neutrality of Kentucky has been broken by the occupation of Paducah by the Federal forces. Take the arms. Return answer.

S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.

NASHVILLE, TENN., September 7, 1861.

HonorableJEFFERSON DAVIS, President:

Paducah is in possession of the enemy. Our governor is absent, and no Confederate officer here. Bowling Green could be reached in less