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

account, through Lieutenant Dixon, a young officer of great energy, will soon, I hope, have it put in a fine state of defense, unless Major Gilmer shall determine to fortify Line Port instead. He and Dixon were to go to-day to inspect that point and to determine which position should be fortified. I left them last night at 10 o'clock at Dover. Dixen returned yesterday from an expedition down the river, where he had gone to blockade it by sinking old barges in the channel. Two were sunk at Line Island, and six at Ingram's Shoals, some 10 miles below. Captain Harrison, and old steamboat captain, familiar with this river, concurs with Dixon that the work is effectually done. They think it will be impossible for gunboats to pass Ingram's Shoals even when the water is 10 feet higher than it is now. It seems to me the guns at Donelson, if well manned, would be amply sufficient to defend this river against the Lincoln gunboats. Though Donelson is unfortunately located on the river, it certainly possesses great natural advantages against a land attack. A succession of deep ravines nearly surround it, including 10 or 15 acres of land thickly lined with trees ion the right place, which, if failed with the tops outward, would protect it against cavalry, the approach of artillery, and almost of infantry. This is my military opinion.

I rather think it will be supported by Major Gilmer's.

With great respect, your friend,

G. A. HENRY.

Dixon reported the gunboats in sight when he finished the work at Ingram's Shoals and came up the river.

MEMPHIS, TENN., November 1, 1861.

To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President C. S., Richmond, Va.:

SIR: We beg leave respectfully to call your attention to the military operations now in progress in North Kentucky and the eastern portio of this State, and to submit to the Government at Richmond some suggestion as to the policy which we think should be adopted in reference to those persons (in each one of the section mentioned) who have been misled and induced to assume an attitude hostile to the Government of the local and political influences which operated to seduce them their proper allegiance, enables us probably to present the subject in clearer light than it has heretofore been submitted. Your excellency os perhaps apprised that a large portion of our fellow citizens in East Tennessee who have for some time past been greatly disaffected to our government have of late signified their loyalty to the South by taking the oath of allegiance. Many of these, who had already fled from their homes and gone into Kentucky to assist in maintaining what is called the neutrality of that State, have now returned and joined the Army of Tennessee, having been assured that their property and formed position would be restored to them. This policy, we think, if continued, will bring back to our support all who have left the State. There are, however, some yet who doubt whether or not they will be permitted to enjoy this immunity from arrest and punishment who are in consequence banding themselves with those who are unfriendly towards us. We therefore wish to obtain authority from your excellency to say to them, that if they will lay down their arms, return

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