Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.
Camp Dick Robinson in considerable force have encamped and are fortifying the place. The enemy has cavalry, artillery, and infantry. At latest dates he had about 2,000 men. The cavalry are scouring the border and pillaging to a considerable extent. To resist these depredations upon the citizens it seems to me our forces ought to be augmented and constituted an invading column. Too much unprotected country, it would seem, intervenes between the command of Generals Buckner and Zollicoffer. This intervening border invites the invasion of the enemy. By appointing an able brigadier and giving command of the regiments of Colonels Stanton and Murray in Overton to him, and by increasing his command to 5,000 men, an advance into Kentucky could be made and co-operation established with Generals Buckner and Zollicoffer. The border war now raging would be transferred to the soil of the enemy and the down-trodden Southern men of the section of Kentucky referred to lifted up. They are being forced in Cumberland, Clinton, Russell, Wayne, and Pulaski Counties to take the oath of allegiance at the point of the bayonet by the federal forces and Home Guards. Such as seek Tennessee do so with much peril to their lives. Should you determine to accept the cavalry company of Overton, please authorize Colonel Murray to muster it into service, and order the same to be armed forthwith. Give them as good arms as can be furnished, for they will be in hands who will deservedly and bravely use them. Such orders as you may make please transmit to me, and I will see to their execution.
Respectfully, in much haste, your obedient servant, JAMES W. MCHENRY.
HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF KENTUCKY, Bowling Green, Ky., October 10, 1861.
Brigadier General J. L. ALCORN:
SIR: It is against my policy to seize the banks. They must not be permitted, however, to furnish supplies to the enemy. To prevent this, you will station a small guard over the banks. You will require the president, cashier, and directors to give their parole to the effect that they will not dispose of the coin or bills of the bank; that they will not receive any orders from the mother bank which may be in the enemy's country, and that they will in no way use the funds or influence of their bank to favor our enemies. You will recognize as directors only those who give their parole to the above effect, and will exclude the others from participating in the deliberations of the directory or the exercise of authority as bank officers. In your communication to them on this subject you will distinctly make known your policy to be strictly defensive in its character and as protective of the interest of the people of this section of the State against a common enemy. I have urged the military board at Clarksville to furnish you more artillery. It is probable I will send a force in a few days to occupy, in connection with your movement, a point on Green River six or eight miles below Muddy River. Major Breckinridge and Colonel William Preston will probably visit you in a few days. You will direct the remnant of Captain Woodward's company to this place. I send an officer to muster into service the new companies, including those in Caldwell. As soon as they are mustered you will direct the cavalry companies in your district to join you. In the way of supplies, re
