OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Montgomery, Ala., October 7, 1861.

HonorableJ. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War:

SIR: Your letter of the 19th September was received a day or two since, asking me to aid in arming the regiments composing General Walker's brigade. It would give me the greatest pleasure to do so if in my power, but it is impossible. I have just armed two regiments at the request of the late Secretary of War, and Brigadier-General Withers notifies me that he needs another regiment, to arm which will exhaust all the State arms. It will be remembered that Alabama transferred to the Confederacy all the arms (20,500) taken at Mount Vernon, and has armed 11,000 troops in the service of the Confederacy, reserving only enough to arm three regiments for State defense.

Very respectfully,

A. B. MOORE.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Columbus, Ky., October 7, 1861.

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Columbus, Ky.:

SIR: In answer to your communication of to-day, I have the honor to state that there are but three officers assigned to duty in this department as engineers - Captain Dixon, Engineer Corps; Captain Gray, infantry; and Lieutenant Snowden, infantry. The former is the only engineer officer with this command. The two latter are employed on the fortifications in the course of construction at Island Numbers 10. None of these officers can well be spared nor do I know where one can be obtained, unless a detail be made from one of the officers of the line on duty in this department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. POLK, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Columbus, Ky., October 8, 1861.

Major General , LEONIDAS POLK:

General Johnston directs you to send Lieutenant Dixon to Fort Donelson, Cumberland River, instantly, with orders to mount the guns at that place for the defense of the river.

As Colonel MacGavock's regiment has been by you notified to hold itself in readiness to move, you will detach him from the regiment and order him to remain in vigilant command of Fort Donelson. Respectfully,

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General.

COLUMBUS, October 8, 1861.

Brigadier-General ZOLLICOFFER, Commanding East Tennessee, Headquarters Knoxville:

GENERAL: I am instructed by General Johnston to say that he has made preparation at Knoxville for 4,000 men of the new levies of Tennessee, and he now wishes you to muster such of these as may be armed