Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.
than twenty-four hours by 2,500 infantry, one battery of artillery, and one battalion of cavalry. What shall be done?
R. C. FOSTER, Brigadier-General.
NEILL S. BROWN, J. E. BAILEY, W. G. HARDING, Military Board.
RICHMOND, September 7, 1861.
General R. C. FOSTER, Nashville, Tenn.:
Bowling Green should be occupied with sufficient force to maintain it as early as practicable; but as the force at Paducah may be intended to turn the position at Columbus, the force now 20 miles from Columbus and other forces along that line must be held in readiness to support the troops at Hickman and Columbus to oppose the movements from Paducah. Return answer.
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, September 7, 1861.
Captain KENSEY JOHNS, Assistant Quartermaster, Nashville:
SIR: Your letter of September 4, in which you desire to be authorized to assume for this Government the Tennessee contracts for ordnance, commissary and quartermaster's stores and supplies, and transmitting a copy of the views of the Military and Financial Board of the State of Tennessee, has been considered.
You will proceed to act in the premises as your judgment shall direct, arranging the terms of agreement at the earliest moment, and issuing supplies to the Confederate troops in Tennessee as may be needed. Exercise your authority, while consulting due discretion and the requirements of the service.
Respectfully,
L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.
[For the organization of the forces at Columbus, Ky., September 7, 1861, see general order of that date in Vol. III of this series, p. 699.]
RICHMOND, September 8, 1861.
General S. B. BUCKNER, Nashville, Tenn., care of General R. C. Foster:
I hope your enterprise will be secured and accelerated by the rapid course of events. Communicate to Governor Magoffin that the invasion of Kentucky at Paducah and their attempt to occupy Columbus have caused the action of the Confederate troops, and it is hoped will, in his estimation, justify it.
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
