CHAP.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-CONFEDERATE.

HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF KENTUCKY,

Bowling Green, KY., October 17, 1861.

Colonel S. S. STANTON:

SIR: General Johnston directs me to send you the following instructions:

With your own regiment, Colonel Murray's regiment, the cavalry, and such armed militia as you can induce to join you, you will break up all the Lincoln camps which threaten the citizens of Tennessee and the southern-rights men of Southern Kentucky. Your own judgement must to a great extent dictate the best mode of accomplishing this object. From the position I understand you to occupy at this time, I suggest that you proceed first to peak up Frame's camp, on Indian Creek. After accomplishing that, you will next proceed to disperse the camp at Burkesville and Albany. In order to accomplish this without any considerable risk, it will be necessary to employ the entire force which has been placed under your orders. The object of General Johnston is to remove from the frontier of Tennessee the occasion of the apprehension now existing in the minds of the citizens. In order to meet with success, you must move with all the rapidity possible, thus preventing any large collections of the enemy. As your expedition will continue longer than was contemplated in your last instructions you may find it necessary to make contracts for supplies for your forces.

You are authorized to do this through the quartermaster's and subsistence departments. As soon as these orders are executed, you will proceed with own regiment in the most expeditious way to obey your previous order to move to Bowling Green, marching well to the southward. Upon laving, you will place the rest of the command under the orders of Colonel Murray, and direct him to station it in such position as will best insure the protection of the border. Accompanying this is a copy of my former instructions and of an order directed to you and Colonel Murray in reference to granting furloughs.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. B. BUCKNER, Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.

FORT HENRY, October 17, 1861.

Major General LEONIDAS POLK:

SIR: Inclosed please find a letter which I received early this morning from Colonel MacGavock, at Dover, the contents of which I have telegraphed to your as well as to Governor Harris.

My picket reports this morning that three gunboats are 30 miles below the fort, so stated to them by Mr. Marry, who lives 6 miles below. I dispatched Lieutenant Gibson, mounted, to ascertain facts, but he has not yet returned. Under existing circumstances I could send but one company to Fort Donelson, and artillerists I have non to spare; not near enough to man the guns at this fort. It is to be regretted that Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Stankiurez only have experience in gunnery; their men have none.

My urgent request to headquarters at Nashville to recruit the artillery company at this post to its full strength has not been complied with; neither has my demand for a company of cavalry, os indispensable for this post for vedettes and scouting, and to communicate with Fort Donelson and the telegraph office at Danville.