great importance that a sufficient force should be held available to resist any attempt that may be made by the enemy to reach that place for the purpose of destroying the stores there accumulated.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE.

Knoxville, May 27, 1862

His Excellency Gov. JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Milledgeville, Ga.:

SIR: The movements of the division of the enemy in North Alabama point unmistakably to an attack on Chattanooga.

The force threatening this department by way of Cumberland Gap prevents my meeting such an attack with anything like adequate numbers.

Even of the very small number of troops under my command several thousand are unarmed. Can you not send me two or more armed regiments, or arms to put in the hands of those who are without them? The boxes of arms marked: "J. E. B.." which you directed me to retain, have never arrived. Any assistance which you may render me at this critical juncture will greatly redound to the cause of our country, and be thankfully received by your obedient servant,

E. KIRBY SMITH,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE.

Knoxville, May 27, 1862

Major-General J. C. PEMBERTON,
Commanding, &c., Charleston, S. C.:

Brigadier General A. R. LAWTON,

Commanding, &c., Savannah, Ga.:

GENERAL: The movements of the division of the enemy in North Alabama point unmistakably to an attack on Chattanooga.

The force threatening this department by way of Cumberland Gap prevents my meeting such an attack with anything like adequate

numbers.

Even of the very small number of troops under my command several thousand are unarmed. Can you not send me two or more armed regiments, or arms to put into the hands of those who are without them? Any assistance which you may render me at this critical juncture will greatly redound to the cause of our country, and be thankfully received by your obedient servant,

E. KIRBY SMITH,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE.

Knoxville, May 27, 1862

Brigadier General D. LEADBETTER, Chattanooga, Tenn.:

GENERAL: The commanding general directs me to say to you that he has received your communication, announcing that Colonel Adams'