COLUMBUS, OHIO, August 1, 1864,

Honorable E. M. STANTON

Secretary of War:

Have been to Cincinnati and arranged for the patrol-boats, but the arrangements for manning them are still on my hands. Please answer the following questions; What number of men to handle the armament shall be assigned to each boat? River men recommend thirty to FIFTY. Will you authorize me to require the assistance of Provost- Marshal to assign men who are duly enlisted for gun-boat service to this particular service while it continues, and then to be turned over to other boats? An officer with the rank of major should be assigned to the command of the whole, and one captain or lieutenant assigned to each boat. I have no officers to assign. Will the Department detail them and furnish me a list? They should report early to Colonel Swords, at Cincinnati.

JOHN BROUGH.

LOUDON, August 2, 1864-7. 55 a. m.

Captain W. P. AMMEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

I this moment received the following dispatch:

I sent 150 men and one piece of artillery.

M. B. EWING,

Commanding Charleston.

M. L. PATTERSON,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

LOUDON, August 2, 1864.

Captain W. P. AMMEN:

I have received the following message from Athens, 2d:

Colonel PATTERSON:

There are reported to be three companies of rebels within three or four miles of here. Send help at once; nearly all my men are out on a scout. The enemy is coming in the direction of Madisonville.

MARSHMAN,

Lieutenant.

I have ninety men on scout at Athens now. Can you send a force to Athens by railroads? I can't spare the men. No train here to send them on.

M. L. PATTERSON,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

LOUDOUN, August 2, 1864.

Captain W. P. AMMEN

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Nothing further from Athens. We have it reliable that forty or FIFTY rebels were at Madisonville this p. m. -2 o'clock. Scouts have been sent to ascertain facts. Will keep you posted.

M. L. PATTERSON,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding,.