Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-12-12
l will write you again soon.
 Your brother, R. W. JOHNSON.
RICHMOND, Noy'r 29th. IsG

 RIcH'D II. JOHNSON.
 Day before yesterday the act of Congress passed admitting the State of Missoura member of this Conieieracy, and yesterday the President signed and approved it. The twelfth star upon our flag was found gittering n the bright sunshine this morning. The MissouIians are free; they stand now beneath our flag and they can no longer be seized and sentenced and shot without trial Retaliation is our law, and five fold if necessary. The people of Arkansas will symplthize and re. oce with the brave and gallant true hearted Ms. sourians. We rejoice, too, to hear, at the same time, that the enemy flying before that gallant and sleepless commander, Gen. Price.
 have, this day, submitted a resolution instruct ing the committee on military afflirs to enquire into the expediency of au appropriation to com pce the gap in the Memphis Gl Little Rock rail- l0ai between White river an the town of Ii di- sou-about ? or % me5--asa matter of military necessity, and of little cos. If the residue shali be soon com eted from Little Rock to White river, as am informed it will be, it's military inn porsauco will be palpa5le. I beg most earnestly that the company and contractors, and the public authorities, will urge this road forward, and that they will give me reliable Snd authoritative intor- mutton ot the facts from time to time. Next spring, if not sooner, all will be able to see the utjal importance of this road and have great hope 1t may be completed with the aid of this Congress. This. with the aid of telegraph lines to Poo1hontas and Fort Smith, will add immca- surAbly to the defensibility of our state, and to the effective prosecution of the war for the relief of Missouri, and, with any energetic activity dis played Ut home, we my well hope that Congress will realize the feasibility and great importance of securing these great agents in the war at such trivial cost.
 Congress will, hope adjourn before Christmas, and vii meet again by the lst of February, to wind upits business and put the new and permanent government in opera tion.
 must close this now, as bcs.lcs the regular business of the state, have vast number of let ter3 before me, the private affairs and wishes of our eo7le and here I may say it is impossible to answer all, and as a general rule, " here can do no good by writing letter, hope will be par doned for not doing it, by my friends know 1 would be pardoned by them if they could see the great number before me, and having the constant pressure of other public business on hand would not require me to undertake the task of writing ei 5ht or ten letters day.
 can not clo SC without saying that have now scarcely doubt that we shall have another great battle on the Potomac, in eight or ten days, ol sooner It will be McClelian's frst, and bis all will be at stake and with every advantage of arms, equipments, and preparation on his side, it will be desperate. The scene of the fight, it is thought now, will be at Transport, where we have blocka- ded the Potomac. II so, our Arkansas regiment, under Col. Pagan, will have the post of honor This regiment ranks inferior to not one in Holmes brigade, and every thing hear of them 2 ives me unlimited confidence in it's Colonel, its officers anC its men. They are thoroughly drilled, and they will conquer build piles of the enemy's dead be meath the flag of Arkansas. Tn every battle it ha been 90 yet. We may well feel proud oi the name and chiva.ry of the state werliye in.
 Yours,
 F " JOHNSON