OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.

I therefore avail myself of the permission above cited to call upon your excellency to furnish for the service of the Confederate States 10,000 men. I would prefer volunteers for the present war, as securing better disciplined, more skilled, and effective forces, and if any such shall volunteer by companies, they will be gladly received under the act of May 8.

But dispatch now is of the first importance, and therefore companies, battalions, and regiments offering for twelve months will be at once received.

I beg your influence with the volunteers to induce them to bring into the field every effective arm in their possession. Rifles and shot-guns, double-barreled guns in particular, can be made effective weapons in the hands of your skilled horsemen. These arms will be replaced in the hands of the troops by uniform arms at the shortest practicable period.

I have selected the following points in your State for the rendezvous of this force, viz: Vicksburg, Natchez, and Grenada. At each of these places officers will be in readiness to muster in companies, battalions, and regiments as soon as organized for the war, or for twelve months, as they decide to serve. At these designated points provision will be made for supplies, and the instruction of the troops will be prosecuted until they can be armed and prepared to move on the frontier.

The proportion of troops to be ordered to these different points, depending upon the districts from which the volunteers are drawn, I leave to the determination of your excellency, asking to be informed of the probable numbers you may be likely to assemble at each, in order that my preparations for their wants may be in proportion.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

A. S. JOHNSTON, General, C. S.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Columbus, Ky., September 22, 1861.

H. M. RECTOR, Governor of Arkansas:

SIR: I have the honor to inform your excellency that under date of September 10, 1861, I was authorized by the President of the Confederate States to call upon you for troops for the defense of this department. The necessity for a strong and efficient army is present and pressing, and I therefore avail myself of the permission above cited to call upon your excellency for 10,000 troops for the service.

I would prefer volunteers for the present war as securing better disciplined, more skilled, and effective forces, and if any such shall volunteer they will be gladly accepted; but dispatch is of the utmost importance, and companies, battalions, and regiments will be received for twelve months.

I beg your influence with the volunteers to bring their arms - rifles and shot-guns; double-barreled guns are effective in the hands of your skilled horsemen. These arms will be replaced by a uniform arm as soon as possible.

I designate Little Rock as one point for the rendezvous of these volunteers, and ask your excellency to select such other points within the State most suitable, having in view the health of the troops and economy of supply while organizing and under instruction preparatory to taking the field and for their march thence to the Missouri frontier of your State.