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

are but five regiments being organized at the present time in the State of Arkansas; that said regiments are forming under a requisition from General McCulloch; that said regiments are being but slowly filled. I understood from Governor Rector that General A. S. Johnston had made a requisition on him for ten regiments; that he telegraphed General Johnston to know if the ten regiments called for were independent of the five regiments previously called for by General McCulloch; that no answer to this inquiry had been received; that been received; that he (Governor Rector) had made no call for volunteers under the requisition of General Johnston.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. N. R. BEALL, Captain, C. S. Army.

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,

Huntsville, October 25, 1861.

Major W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: Your letter of the 22nd instant, informing Brigadier-General Walker that the enemy are advancing in force upon the position of General Zollicoffer, explaining the necessity of the employment of every man for the defense of the line, and directing this command, so far as it may be armed and organized, to be sent forward to Knoxville as fast as possible, has been received, and he instructed me to answer that he immediately, on its receipt, replied by telegraph, in general terms, informing General Johnston of his unarmed condition and the impossibility of rending any immediate aid in the direction of Knoxville. But he desires to state more fully the attendant facts, so that his position may be the better appreciated. before leaving Richmond be obtained from the Ordnance Bureau assurance of a sufficient number of arms for the three regiments assigned to his command, composing the Alabama quota towards the reserved army corps called for by the President. But three arms were afterwards diverted by the Government. He has since then dispatched in all directions-to Richmond, Lynchburg, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Holly Springs, and to other points, wherever he thought arms might be procured-but with little success. He has sent special messengers to La Grange, Memphis, New Orleans, Lynchburg and Richmond, but, so far, with very limited results. One hundred and sixty stand of arms, chiefly muskets without results. One hundred and sixty stand of arms, chiefly muskets without bayonets, are all that have been positively secured, with promises of a few hundred in addition that have not yet arrived.

As a last resort he has dispatches to the President direct, asking the favorable interposition of his authority with the Ordnance Office; and has assumed the responsibility of making contracts with manufactures, through which he hopes to be supplied with ten days with 1,000 country rifles, rebored for the Minie ball, adapted to the percussion-cap, and fitted with the saber bayonet. In connection with this last movement he has requested authority to employ agents to purchase up in the country old rifles and muskets to be similarly treated, and, if countenanced, has good assurance that he may be able ultimately to arm his entire command.

From this statement he hopes it will satisfactorily that all has been done in respect to arms that could have been done. As fast as he arms a detachment it will be sent forward to Knoxville, unless otherwise ordered. He has in camp near by two regiments and an