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

FORT DONELSON, October 17, [1861--5 a. m.

General POLK:

The gunboats reached Eddyville, Ky., at noon yesterday and landed 200 cavalry. They have taken possession of the town. We are in a defenseless condition here, having only three companies of raw recruits, poorly armed, and not one artillerist to manage what heavy guns we have. One regiment of infantry, one company of artillery, and two companies of cavalry are required here at once. Please furnish me with guns, if possible, for the companies now here. Answer by telegraph immediately.

R. W. MacGAVOCK, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding at Fort Donelson.

BOWLING GREN, KY. October 17, 1861.

Brigadier General J. L. ALCORN, Hopkinsville, Ky.:

You are directed to send 200 infantry of your command and a company of mounted recruits to report to Colonel MacGavock, at Fort Donelson, near Dover, with orders to rejoin you when MacxGavock receives other re-enforcements, now en route. You will by means of spies, and with such part of your forces a may be necessary, watch the movement of the enemy in the direction of Eddyville, and rally to your command our friends in that vicinity. Report speedily your information to these headquarters, and especially of his forces have been increased.

By order of Brigadier General S. B. Buckner, C. S. Army:

ALEXANDER CASSEDAY, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,} ADJT. AND INSP'R GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 182. Richmond, October 17, 1861.

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XII. Brigadier General J. P. McCown, Provisional Army, will report for duty to General A. S. Johnston at Bowling Green, Ky.

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

BOWLING GREEN, October 18, 1861.

J. P. BENJAMIN:

I have suspended an order of Quartermaster-General Myers to Quartermaster Shaff, at Nashville, to send to Richmond all stores of that depot in his hands, and I report to you reasons by to-day's mail. Those reasons I beg you hear before the order. They are weighty.

A. S. JOHNSTON, General.

FORT HENRY, TENNESSEE RIVER, October 18, 1861.

Major-General POLK:

SIR: I beg leave to submit the following report, to which I most respectfully call the general's attention: Fort Henry is situated on the east bank of Tennessee River, about 1