There are from 50 to 100 soldiers passing through this place very week by the railroad. From fifteen to twenty cavalrymen are to be seen in the streets of this place every day. Where from or to whom they belong we do not know, only from their base statements. Quite a number of horses have been stolen, in some instances going into the fields and taking them forcibly in the presence of the owner. Walhalla is approached from East Tennessee by two roads or gaps in the mountains - one through Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia by the Blue Ridge Gap, and the other through Western North Carolina by Cashe's Valley. Both of these roads are in a condition to be used by cavalry, artillery, and wagons. Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia are full of tories and deserters. In fact, nearly all of the good and true population have left that part of the country, having been eastern out by the tories, deserters, and Yankee raiders, and also by our own cavalry passing through to and from Longstreet's army in East Tennessee. In Walhalla we are very apprehensive of a raid both from tories and deserters, and also from the Yankees, there being nothing to prevent their approach by either of these routes but the difficulty of foraging their horses. They have several times approached quite near to Franklin, N. C., about fifty miles from Walhalla. They have stolen a great many horses and cattle and nearly all of the provisions in Cherokee County, N. C., which is about sixty miles from Valhalla. When the grass springs up and the grain crops, wheat and rye, are somewhat matured, there will be no difficulty in their foraging their horses and forcing their way into this State.

If our forces in East Tennessee should change their present position we would be very much exposed to the enemy both from that portion of East Tennessee and also from the enemy at Chattanooga. If we had a company of cavalry on each of these roads, say about ten miles from Walhalla, with their scouts thrown out in advance, also scouts scouring the mountains for deserters, with ready communication with each other, so as to concentrate on either road at short notice and hold the enemy in check, and also couriers to forward immediately and bring up the militia or the already organized conscripts of the districts below to their aid, it would go very far to, if not entirely, prevent our State from being invaded from this quarter. The fact that there were troops stationed there might of itself prevent a raid bein effect would be to prevent false alarms during the season for making the crops. The country is so destitute of labor, there being but a small negro population in this part of the country, and nearly all of the laboring part of the population being in the army, and the country being now in a dreadfully destitute condition so far as provisions to sustain life, it is very important that those who are now at work making a crop should not be called out by a false alarm. We have already had several false alarms created by citizens of North Carolina flying from the raiders with their families and negroes, passing through Walhalla to a safer place, which caused our militia to be called out and a great deal of unnecessary loss of time and great excitement. Some negroes and also some citizens flying from conscription have made their way to the Yankee lines through Walhalla. Greenville District is very similarly situated to Pickens, but as you will visit that district you will be better informed of the danger of that quarter. Allow me to repeat that I am extremely sorry that engagements which I had made previous to my knowledge that you were coming up prevented my seeing you in Walhalla and going with you on your tout of observation.

I am, dear, sir, your obedient servant,

EDAM SHAPE.

[35.]