WM. T. Withers to ; MEMPHIS, TENN., July 21, 1861, July 24, 1861

Camp Boone, July 24, 1861.

Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War:

. SIR: Inclosed please find a letter from Brigadier-General Cheatham, – ofthe Army of Tennessee, relative to small-arms and a field battery of — six pieces that have been brought to his camp by a body of Kentuck- . jans. I have declined to receive the arms, informing General Oheatham – that I would refer the matter to you. He will doubtless hold them until — I can hear from you.

_ Some ten days since forty-four altered rifles were brought from Ken5 tucky to the vicinity of our camp by parties unknown to me and who were

e rri lr Pru AL ccv n t A t d

not connected with this brigade. These guns are in a building in the vicinity of our encampment, and the governor of Kentucky has written requesting me to send them to Kentucky. As I had nothing to do with bringing them to Tennessee, and the parties who brought them stated — to Colonel Hawes that they were part of the guns sent by Lincoln to the Union men of Kentucky, I will await your instructions before taking any action on the matter. If any of the men composing this brigade were to bring arms from Kentucky belonging to that State I should return them promptly. This, however, presents a different case, and I will await your instructions.

Very respectfully, yours,

; MEMPHIS, TENN., July 21, 1861.

General WITHERS, Camp Boone: i ;

SIR: I have this moment learned fróm a messenger who has just

arrived from my camp at Union City that a party of Kentuckians yesterday brought to my camp from Maytield a large lot of muskets and.

a field battery of artillery. I presume they are a portion of the State

arms that were at Mayfield, Ky. I write this to let you know that they