OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.
ordered and the rates at which they were to be furnished. The work has generally proved very satisfactory, and, indeed, equal to any furnished in any shops anywhere. I have also been obliged to have a shop put up in Memphis for the alteration and repair of guns.
The amount for these expenditures made I have directed Captain Hunt to send you. You will perceive that we must have remittances if we are to be supplied with the means of defending the valley.
In the article of field batteries I am now getting all that is required, reaching from McCulloch's and Price's commands in the West to Zollicoffer's in the East, though it has required a large amount.
We still want 12, 18, and 24 pounders as siege pieces and for the arming and flanking our forts. Where shall we get them? We hope you will continue to send us as many rifled guns as possible. Can we not have Mr. Read, of Alabama, the inventor of the shell, to come to Memphis to put our people in the way of making his shell?
I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. POLK, Major-General, Commanding.
FORT HENRY, October 14, 1861.
Major General LEONIDAS POLK:
SIR: Saturday night, immediately after tattoo, a signal rocket from my picket, 3 miles below the fort, announced that a boat was in sight. I sent Captain Morgan with his company at once as an additional picket, and to ascertain if any troops had landed, got the regiment under arms, and the gunners at their posts. Shortly after the first picket came in, stating that two reliable men, who live near the mouth of Blood River, 9 miles below the fort, came up in a skiff, and informed them that two gunboats were lying at that place; but to be sure of the fact, I directed Lieutenant Berrie, of Captain Ford's company, with two mounted men from the neighborhood, to proceed to that point to reconnoiter, and by all means to ascertain if any troops had landed. By that time a dense fog hung over the river, which prevented the approach of any boat.
Next morning (Sunday) Lieutenant Berrie returned, stating that two gunboats were coming up, and that they had fired a shot from a small gun at them, and that they had landed a few men, who shortly after returned to the boat. A black smoke was now visible below the island, which made the approach of a boat certain. I recalled the pickets, struck tents, took the regiment into the fort, and we were ready.
A little before 11 o'clock the boat showed her broadside in turning the bend of the river and passing the chute below the island, showing that she moved very slowly and with great caution. Shortly after she turned the foot of the island, showing her bow to the fort, stopped a very short time, and retired. As the boat had stopped some distance below the range of our guns, which I was not willing to expose, and which is short beyond all reasonable expectation for 32-poundres, I did not permit a gun to be fired.
Last night I sent a mounted picket, which I formed from the minute-men of this vicinity, again down as far as Blood River Island, and they reported just now that there are no boats in the river as far as they could see.
Sixty men, under the command of Captain Graham, were sent to me from Fort Donelson, who will return this evening.
