[Third indorsement.]

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, May 28, 1861.

As the requests of the within letter come through Major Delafield from the Governor of the State of New York it is necessary that they be laid before the Honorable Secretary of War, to whom, therefore, they are respectfully submitted, with the above remarks of the officer in charge of the Ordnance Department.

[J. G. TOTTEN.]

MOUNTAIN CITY, COLO. TER., May 24, 1861.

Honorable SIMON CAMERON,

Secretary of War:

SIR: Here in these mountains we have hundreds anxious to contribute to the support of the Government and to assist in maintaining the integrity of the flag of our country. If we organize companies will the Government accept our services? If we had the assurance that the volunteers would be accepted there would be no lack of men inured to toil and hardships ready to enlist for the war.

Yours, respectfully,

HENRY M. TELLER.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 24, 1861.

Colonel B. M. PRENTISS,

Cairo, Ill.:

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and in reply beg leave to inform you that this Department cannot accept the volunteers for either three months, or three years, or during the war, except through the Governors of the respective States, to whom you should properly make your application. This Department assigns the quota to be furnished by each State, and they will be furnished to it by the Governors.

Very respectfully,

SIMON CAMERON,

Secretary of War.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., May 24, 1861.

Honorable SIMON CAMERON,

Secretary of War:

We ask the Government to accept the Indiana three-months' men for three years.

We have just visited the camp and find them in fine condition.

W. DENNISON,

Governor of Ohio.

RICHD. YATES,

Governor of Illinois.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, U. S. Army.