is town, I have
taken possession of it by the forces under my command. The
circumstances leading to this act we reported promptly to the President
of the Confederate States. His reply was, the necessity justified the
action. A copy of my proclamation I have the honor to transmit you by
mail.

"_Respectfully_,
"LEONIDAS POLK, _Major-General Commanding_."

In a letter of the same date, inclosing his proclamation, General Polk
said, after explaining the cause of his delay in writing:

"It will be sufficient to inform you, which my short address here will
do, that I had information, on which I could rely, that the Federal
forces intended, and were preparing, to seize Columbus. I need not
describe the danger resulting to West Tennessee from such success, nor
say that I could not permit the loss of so important a position, while
holding the command intrusted to me by my government. In evidence of
the information I possessed, I will state that as the Confederate
forces occupied this place, the Federal troops were formed, in
formidable numbers, in position upon the opposite bank, with their
cannon turned upon Columbus. The citizens of the town had fled with
terror, and not a word of assurance of safety or protection had been
addressed to them."

General Polk concluded with this language:

"I am prepared to say that I will agree to withdraw the Confederate
troops from Kentucky, provided that she will agree that the troops of
the Federal Government be withdrawn simultaneously; with a guarantee,
which I will give reciprocally for the Confederate Government, that the
Federals shall not be allowed to enter, or occupy any point of Kentucky
in the future.

"I have the honor to be
"Your obedient servant, respectfully,
"LEONIDAS POLK, _Major-Gen, Com._"

General Folk's proclamation was as follows:

"COLUMBUS, _Sept. 14, 1861_.

"The Federal Government having in defiance of the wishes of the people
of Kentucky, disregarded their neutrality, by establishing camps and
depots of arms, and by organizing military companies within their
territory, and by constructing a military work, on the Missouri shore,
immediately opposite, and commanding Columbus, evidently intended to
cover the landing of troops for the seizure of the town, it has become
a military necessity, worth the defense of the