There was one from Jefferson Davis, himself, another from the astute Benjamin, another from Toombs, bold and brusque as befitted his temperament, and yet more from Stephens and Slidell and Yancey and others.

Colonel Kenton read them one by one to the twenty men who were crowded into the room.

They were appealing, insistent, urgent.

Their tone might vary, but the tenor was the same.

They must take Kentucky out of the Union and take her out at once.