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

RICHMOND, November 15, 1861.

Major-General POLK, Columbus, Ky.:

We received but about 9,000 rifles by the steamer, and I have assigned one-half to the coast defense, and ordered the other half sent to General A. S. Johnston at Nashville.

J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.

COLUMBUS, KY., November 14, (via Chattanooga, November 15, 1861).

Colonel S. COOPER, or SECRETARY OF WAR: From information in my possession, and from what I know of the enemy's preparations, I am fully assured that he will attack me in a few days with an overwhelming force. I beg that re-enforcements may be ordered to me at the earliest moment.

L. POLK.

BOWLING GREEN, November 15, 1861.

Major-General POLK, Columbus:

Retain General Pillow's command at Columbus. General Johnston revokes the order for his movement on Clarksville. Send at once a return of your troops by regiments and independent companies.

W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Bowling Green, November 15, 1861.

HonorableJ. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of [14th] this date, and to express the gratification which the announcement of son going provided with a few thousand Enfield rifles affords me. I shall endeavor as far as practicable, in the urgency for immediate armament, to give those arms into the hands of the troops for the war who are now in the field and not efficiently armed, and then distribute the remainder among the volunteers for shorter periods. I have not been able yet to ascertain how many men have joined the different rendezvous under the call upon the governor of Tennessee. So far as heard from I believe not a large fraction of the number called and very few armed. Under the belief that by proper exertions many of them might be furnished with arms, and at the request of the governor, I have suspended my order for mustering out the unarmed men for fifteen days in Tennessee. The call upon Mississippi not being approved, the order for the discharge of the unarmed men there was not suspended except for those at the rendezvous. I shall further extend the time, to give the opportunity of arming them if possible. I shall soon have emptied the hospitals at this place by transferring the sick to Nashville. My force here has ben much diminished by the number of sick.

On the 4th instant, anticipating that the enemy would send a column