Today in History:

738 Series I Volume VII- Serial 7 - Ft. Henry-Ft. Donelson

Page 738 OPERATIONS IN KY.,TENN.,N.ALA.,AND S.W.VA. Chapter XVII.

KNOXVILLE, December 5, 1861.

SECRETARY OF WAR:

I learn that there are 1,250 rifles at Columbus not in use. Can I not get them? I have here 1,700 men, only 400 armed. Will report fully to-night.

WM. H. CARROLL,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

RICHMOND, December 5, 1861.

General W. H. CARROLL,

Knoxville:

The rifles at Columbus are at the disposal of General A. S. Johnston.

J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War.

KNOXVILLE, December 5, 1861.

Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR:

The following dispatch received this morning, dated from Bird's Point:

Captain Cocke just in with two bridge-burners and other prisoners. Have no news from Colonel Leadbetter. Colonel Powell reports by special messenger that he has seen no gathering. Will hold his position. Will throw my forces over the river in the morning and report.

Dispatch from Morristown says courier in from Monsarrat. Cannonading and musketry at 8 o'clock. Tories have made a stand.

WM. H. CARROLL,

Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.


HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
Bowling Green, December 6, 1861.

Major General LEONIDAS POLK,

Commanding First Division, Columbus, Ky.:

General Johnston has provided the means for commencing the building of the gunboat on the Tennessee. As you have been authorized by the War Department to build this boat, he desires you will make requisition in time for the additional funds and the liquidation of the expenditure he has made.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. W. MACKALL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.


HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION,
Camp Beauregard, Ky., December 6, 1861.

Captain E. D. BLAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Columbus:

SIR: I have the honor to report that the citizens of Calloway County have made application to me to establish a command at Wadesborough or Murray, saying that they have ample surplus of provisions, especially pork, and quantities of forage, to sustain a command, and will sell cheap to the Confederacy-corn, 25 cents per bushel; wheat, 60 cents, &c.

There is a strong position immediately east of Murray (a mile, say),


Page 738 OPERATIONS IN KY.,TENN.,N.ALA.,AND S.W.VA. Chapter XVII.