This organization is necessarily irregular, but the necessity is so great that I must have them, and therefore have issued to them arms and clothing during the process of formation.
This has facilitated their enlistment; but inasmuch as the Legislature has provided money for organizing the Kentucky Volunteers, and intrusted its disbursement to a board of loyal gentlemen, I have endeavored to cooperate with them to hasten the formation of these corps.
The great difficulty is, and has been, that as volunteers offer, we have not arms and clothing to give them.

The arms sent us are, as you already know, European muskets of uncouth pattern, which the volunteers will not touch.
General McCook has now three brigades--Johnson's, Wood's, and Rousseau's.

Negley's brigade arrived to-day, and will be sent out at once.

The Minnesota regiment has also arrived, and will be sent forward.

Hazzard's regiment of Indiana troops I have ordered to the month of Salt Creek, an important point on the turnpike-road leading to Elizabethtown.
I again repeat that our force here is out of all proportion to the importance of the position.