HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KENTUCKY,
Lexington, Ky., September 6, 1862.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that after giving my men one day's rest at Richmond, a rest which I deemed absolutely essential, I pushed on toward this place on the 1st instant, and entered it with a portion of my infantry on the 2d. The cavalry, I sent forward in pursuit of the enemy, who had retreated by the Frankfort road. It would be impossible for me to exaggerate the enthusiasm of the people here on the entry of our troops. The evidently regarded us as their deliverers from oppression and have continued in every was to prove to us that the heart of Kentucky is with the South in this struggle. They are rapidly rallying to our flag, and my especial object in writing this letter is to urge upon the Confederate Government to support the people of this State in the present movement by rapidly throwing to our aid men and arms. If Bragg occupies Buell we can have nothing to oppose us but raw levies, and by the blessing of God will always dispose of them as we did on the memorable August 30.

I am still unable to give you a detailed report of the combats of that day. The killed and wounded of the enemy exceed 1,000; the prisoners amount to between 5,000 and 6,000; the loss-besides some twenty pieces of artillery, including that taken here and at Frankfort-9,000 small-arms and large quantities of supplies. Their scattered forces are represented by every one as being totally demoralized. They escaped by mounting their infantry behind their cavalry and upon the wagons.

Our cavalry, under Colonel Scott, pursued the enemy to within 12 miles of Louisville, when the jaded condition of their horses forced them to abandon the pursuit. The remnants of the enemy's force are in Louisville and Covington. I have sent a small force to Frankfort to take possession of the arsenal and public property there. I am pushing some forces in the direction of Cincinnati in order to give the people of Kentucky time to organize. General Heth, with the advance, is at Cynthiana, with orders to threaten Covington. At both Louisville and Cincinnati the troops are said to be fully 30,000. Although the people about here are rapidly enrolling their names, yet without some immediate aid from the Government we can hardly hope to resist successfully the hosts that are preparing to meet us.

Hoping that this matter will receive the prompt attention its importance demands, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. KIRBY SMITH,

Major-General, Commanding.

General S. COOPER,

A. and I. G. C. S. Army, Richmond, Va.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KENTUCKY,
Lexington, Ky., September 16, 1862.

GENERAL: In my short letter of the 30th ultimo I gave you the results of my actions of that day, of which I have the honor now to make a more detailed report.

Before leaving Barboursville for this part of Kentucky I wrote to you, fully explaining the reasons that prompted me to take that step. Until my advance descended the Big Hill it with no opposition from the enemy. Here, on the morning of the 29th, the enemy was discovered to be in force in our front, and a bold reconnaissance by the cavalry, under