There are four companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry in camp at to Lorenzo Thomas, November 6, 1861

Paducah, Ky., November 6, 1861.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, -D. O.:

. SIR: The telegram of the Major-General Commanding the Army, dated at 7 p. m. on the 2d instant, directing a report on the number and position of troops, &c., was not received until this morning. We have telegraphic communication with Cairo, put up at my instigation,

order of Major-General Frémont. A cable is latd over the river at this

point. The wire is in my quarters. I answered the General’s telegram

by telegraph to-day. A copy is inclosed.*

There are four companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry in camp at

Old Fort Massae, badly armed with old carbines. The whole of this

regiment was under my orders, but, at the request of Brigadier-General

Grant, I detached six companies to him at Cairo. I forwarded a requisition for arms for the regiment—sabers and pistols; no earbines—to

the headquarters of the Department of the West many weeks since,