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

through the quartermaster's department charactered a steamer to go to Fort Donelson, to be employed in placing the obstructions in the river. Yesterday and to-day I have been making reconnaissances around this city, to determine the points for defense, especially against a force approaching by way of the river. The guns I proposed for this defense-32-pounders and 8-inch columbiads-should be obtained with the least delay practicable. In this city no guns of these sizes are being made.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. F. GILMER, Major, and Chief Engineer Wester Department.

HDQRS. ADVANCE GUARD, HARDEE'S DIVISION, Tompkinsville, Ky., November 13, 1861.

Major-General HARDEE, Commanding Division, &c.:

GENERAL: We arrived at this place on yesterday evening about 5 o'clock. We did not find a friend along the whole road from Jamestown here; the houses were closed, the country apparently deserted. We saw a few women and children, but in almost every instance they were surprised and tried to run and conceal themselves at our approach; they have been told, and evidently believed, that we were burning, killing, and destroying as we advanced. One old woman met us with an open Bible in her hand, said she was prepared and ready to die, and could not be convinced that we meant her no harm. As we entered this town, having sent a party in advance to prepare for our encampment, I ordered the advance guard to fall back, you bands to the front, our colors opened, bayonets fixed, and the march at attention resumed, for the purpose of making the strongest display we could. In this order we got nearly to the center of this town, when I was so astonished at the utter silence and desertion, not having seen a human being but two, who both fled, and not having heard seen a human being but two, who both fled, and not having heard from the party sent in advance, that I halted, under the belief the enemy must be at hand, sent our music away, loaded a strong advance guard, and sent our skirmishers, and advanced in this way until we met the party sent our under Major Glenn to select a camp. I merely mention this as an illustration of the feeling existing among the people here. To-day most of the women and children have return, but all the men (a dozen, perhaps, excepted) are absent in Grider's camp at Columbia.

There is a rumor here that a detachment of Rouseau's force, 10,000 or 15,000 strong, is advancing, and but a few miles from here. This I regard as too false to base any calculation whatever upon it. I am satisfied of one thing, there is of once on any of the roads leading to Gallatin, Tenn., and no very immediate danger to the railroad in that quarter from any section of the country through which I have passed. The people here are under the impression that the Federals have possession of the railroad south of Bowling Green, and that we are only waiting a favorable opportunity to get away from there. This is the nearest camp to us. There are tow regiments of Kentucky volunteers there, and hundreds have fled there in front of our advance. I am informed, however, they are dissatisfied with their officers, dispirited, badly armed, and many down with measles. I am reliable informed that there are few,

35 R R-VOL IV