ffl 1070 * / Bnv H55 I CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE \Ul' DEPlMlffl m GENERAL LOFELL, ' HELATING TO TH8 DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS. SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO A RESOLUTION ^* ■ OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TASSED THIRD FEBRUARY, 1863. RICHMOND: R. M. SMITH, PUBLIC PRINTER. 1863. ■^H55 MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. Richmond.. Va., March 11, 1863. To the JTouse of Representatives : In response to your resolution of the third ult., I herewith trans- mit for your information a copy of my correspondence, together vrith that of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with the Governor of Louisiana, and with Major General Lovell, during the period begin- ning October 25, 18G1, and ending with the date of the capture of the city of New Orleans, in reference to the defences of that city. JEFFERSON DAVIS, 4-31 i»/0 COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR. Confederate States of America, ^ War Department, • V Richmond, Ya., Feb. 27, 1863. ) To ifie President of the Co?ifederate States : Sir : I have the honor to submit, under a resolution of the House of Representatives, copies of the correspondence between Major General Lovell and the War Department in reference to the defence of New Orleans, from the 25tk October, 1861, to the date of the sur- render of that city ; also, copies of the correspondence on file in this department, between the President and Secretary of War, and the Governor of Louisiana, on the same subject. A copy of General Lovell's report has been, already, submitted to Congress. It is be- lieved that all the correspondence, pertinent to the subject, is embraced in the volume now placed before you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. [COPY.J C. S. A. Executive Department, j> Richmond, Va., Feb. 4, 1SG3. \ To the Hon. Secretary of War : Sir : I am directed by the President to for'-vard for your attention and the proper action, the following resolution of the House of Rep- resentatives of the 3d instant : " Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the President be requested to furnish this body, if not incompatible with the public interests, with copies of the correspondence between Major General Lovell and the War Department, in reference to the defences of New Orleans, from the 25th October, 1861, to the date of the surrender of that city ; also, copies of all correspondence between the President or Secretaries of War and Navy, and the Governor of Louisiana on the same subject." Your obedient servant. . (Signed) BURTON N. HARRISON, Private Secretary. Confederate Sta'tf.s of America, ) Navy Department, \ Richmond, Va., Feb. 9, 1863. ) The Preside.nt : Sir : In response to the following resolution adopted by the House of Representatives, on the third instant : " Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the President be re- quested to fumish this body, if not incompatible with the public interests, with copies of the correspondence between Major General Lovell and the War Department, in reference to the defences of New Orleans, from the 25th October, 1861, to the date of the surrender of that city ; also, copies of all correscondence between the President or Secretaries of War and Navy, and the Governor of Louisiana on the same subject." , I have the honor to state that this department had no correspondence with the Governor of Louisiana in reference to the defences of New Orleans, from the 25th of October, 1861, to the date of the surrender of that city. H-l^LIO I transmit, however, copy of a letter addressed to the Governor of Louisiana, on the 18th of September, 1861, by the department to ■which no reply was received. . ' With much respect, your obedient servant, S. R. MALLORY, Secretary of the Navy COllPtESrONDENCE. (No. 1.) Richmond, Va., October Hth, 1861. Gen. M. Lovell: Sir: I am induced by the impi'ession made on the mind of the Sec- retary of War, in a conversation which you had witli him just before your departure, to write to you on the subject of your relations to the officers of the navy. When you mentioned the subject to me, I supposed you referred to the case provided -for in the 61st and 62d Articles of War, as enacted by the Congress of the Confederate States. Therefore, it was that I read and commented on those articles, parti- cularly the 62d. The fleet maintained at the port of New Orleans and its vicinity is not a part of your command ; and the purposes for which it is sent there or removed from there are communicated in or- ders and letters of a department with v/hich you have no direct com- munication. It must, therefore, be obvious to you that you could not assume command of these officers and vessels coming within the limits of your geographical department, but not pliced on duty with you, without serious detriment to discipline and probable injury to the publiQ service. To promote harmony, to secure co-operation and increase the power for public defence, it will often be desirable that each arm should know the objects and means of the other; to this end, it is hoped that there will be unrestrained intercourse and cordial fraternization. Very respectfully, yours, , (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS, A true copy. G. W. CusTis Lee, A. D. C. (No. 2.) IIeabquarters Dkfartmknt No. ],) New Orleans, Oct. 18th, 1861, j Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Acting Secretary of War : Sir: As this city, the first in importance in the Confederacy, has been greatly drained of arms, ammunition, medical stores, clothing 8 and supplies for other points, I would respectfully suggest that the heads of bureaux b^ requested to order nothing further of that de- scription to be forwarded from here until we hive provided ourselves with a fair supply for the force required for the defence of this city. Anything that, in my judgment, could be spared I would readily send forward, but it will require great exertions to put ourselves in a proper state of defence, and nothing should be divided from that purpose un- til the object is attained. The actual state of preparation I shall not put on paper. When companies or regiments, enlisted for twelve months, have been in service under State authority for a portion of the time and are then transferred to the Confederate service, persistent objection is made in some instances to being mustered for a longer period than the balance of the original twelve months. Most of these have fully nine months to serve, and as the fate of New Orleans for this season, must be settled within that time, I shall not stand upon that point, unless you direct me by telegraph to do so. I am greatly in need of two things, viz : an assistant adjutant gen- eral, acquainted with the details of office matters, forms, &c., who can iixstruct the volunteers and keep the records in such shape that claims may be settled at some indefinite future period; and some saltpetre for the manufacture of powder. While the first would greatly facilitate matters hero, it is not indis- pensable— the latter is. We are daily expecting funds, without which we cannot get on a great while. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. LpVELL, ^ Major General Commanding. (No. 3.) New Orleans, October 33, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin : Is it impossible to give us powder or saltpetre, in quantity, im- mediately. M. LOVELL. (No. 4.) RrcHMOND, October 23, 1861. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans : We calculate that we have sent in powder and saltpetre to New Orleans, within the last month, the equivalent of five hundred barrels of powder, to be added to the stock previously on hand. We can spare no more at present -without urgent necessity. Telegraph me what your whole supply is. J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War A (No. 5.) CoNFFnERATE StATES OF AmERIOA, Headquarters, Department No, 1 , New Orleans, Oct. 25, 1861 Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Acting Secretary of War : Dear sir: I have received your telegram relative to the amount of powder and saltpetre sent to this point, within the past month; but think it hardly advisable to make known our deficiency through the telegrapli office. Your dispatch says that " the equivalent of five hundred barrels of powder has been sent here within a month." I find no correct re- turns of ordnance and ordnance stores from the various posts ; but have sent a circular calling for them, and am getting them in. I know that the Acting Ordinance Officei: has several invoices of pow- der, which have not yet come t^ hand. Admit, however, that we have five hundred barrels. We have now at the various forts and approaches, two hundred and ten guns in position, and about one hundred more that wo shall soon have in place; giving in all, three hundred and ten guns, of the caliber of a twenty-four pounder, and upwards. The average charge, large and small, will be eight pounds for each gun, or two thousand four hundred and eighty pounds for a single piece. Five hundred barrels contain fifty thousand pound*, Avhich would give us twenty rounds per gun ; not more than enough for an hour's fight. But the powder received from Memphis wa.s quite worthless, more than thirty barrels invoiced to us have not arrived, and we loaned Com. Hollins-the powder with Avhich he made his attack upon the vessels above the passes, a few days since. We have, therefore, less than twenty rounds per gun. I am hurrying into operation two mills which will give us six or eight thousand bar- rels per day, if we can get saltpetre ; and have sent an agent to con- tract for working some of the idle salt petre caves in the adjoining States. Of sulphur and charcoal we we have a supply. The want of powder is our onl}'- glaring deficiency. I do not allow an ounce to be burnt unnecessarily, and am straining every nerve to add to our supply. If I can get saltpetre and the enemy will give us a few weeks, which I think he will do, we shall be pretty well prepared to defeat him. AVith one hundred rounds per gun, I should feel pretty safe. Respectfully your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, 3faj. GeneYal Commanding. 10 (No. 6.) New Orleans, October 26, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin: Your dispatch about powder received; will answer fully bv mail. M. LOVELL. (No. 7.) C. S. A., War Department, ) Richmond, Oct. 29, 1861. 5 Sir: Your letter of the 18th inst., was not received till yesterday, 28th. I telegraphed you to-day that we have no power to receive troops for less than twelve months. But where troops offer themselves specially for local defence, they may be accepted in any proportion and for any term, as they arc a mere improved militia, not entitled to pay or subsistence except during actual service. See act of 21st Au- gust No. 229, of 3d session. I cannot restrain the heads of bureaux from purchasing or forward- ing supplies from New Orleans. This interference with commerce exceeds my power, except in case of extreme urgency. I much pre- fer that you should make requisition for everything in the way of supply that you need, and have your purchases made in New Orleans ; and thus it is easy to prevent the removal from the city of what is required for its defence Avithout infringing on the rights of any one. I anxiously await your letter about the supply of powder and salt- peter. I cannot conceive what has become of the qu mtity recently sent to New Orleans, say within the last six weeks. I hope your de- mand for supply was based on erroneous information from persons who did not know the facts, I have ordered a young oiScer said to be of high merit, as an engi- neer, to report to you, (1st Lieut. Cunningham,) just appointed in artillery, with a view to assign him to engineer corps, if he proves as competent as represented. I am much gratified to learn, from different sources, that you have succeeded in inspiring general confidence in New Orleans, thereby justifying the confidence reposed by the Government in yourself. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secrttary of War. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans. (No. 8.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Departme?it No. 1, > New Orleans, 3 l^t October, 1861. > His Excellency, President Davis : Dear Sir : The works for the defence of this city are progressing rapidly, and I think in a couple of weeks we can defeat any force that n shall attempt invasion, if we can provide ourselves with po^vder. I have now one mill in operation which will turn out twelve hundred pounds per day, another which can make fifteen, hundred, and in two weeks hope to have a third in full blast, which will make three thou- sand or three thousand five hundred pounds per day. I have your dispatch about saltpetre, and am looking for it daily, but we ought to have today fifty tons of cannon powder on hand, besides what we can make. My letter to Mr. Benjamin, of the 2 jth instant, Avill give you an idea of what we require to serve our guns. I think we can fix the raft between forts Jackson and St. Philip so as to make a complete obstruction under the fire of those works. I send you enclosed a sketch of the works and raft, the dotted black lines above the latter, running diagonally to St. Pliilip, represent an arrangement which I propose to shed the drift over towards the opening in the raft on the Fort Jackson shore. With your pern ission I will urge strongly upon you the appoint- ment of Col J, K. Duncan as a brigadier general ; he is worth a dozen of Ruggles, and has rendered most efficient service with a zeal, untiring in'lustry and ability which entitle him to your high consid- eration. Had he more rank he could be of great assistance to me in- organizing and giving directions, and I can assure you that help would not be unacceptable, as I have to keep driving all day, and frequently the larger part of the night. If you have serious objections I will not press it, but the public service would be advanced by giving him. rank enough to direct, and if necessary order, the colonels of volun- teer regiments in this department, who require a great deal of diy- nursing. General Bragg consents to the removal of Major Lovcll to service here. I have two armed boats which ho could use to material advantage on the coast of INlississippi, where I am sorry to say are many disaffected persons who Avill communicate with the enemy at every opportunity. I receive every assistance here, except from some of the speculators, who endeavor to secure matei ials that the government must have. The first operation 1 can fix upon them I shall publish their names to the community. I am inclined to think that the attack on this coast will be on Mo- bile from East Pascagoula by land, with a strong demonstration by. water. Is that city defended by intrenchments on the hwid side ? Ilespectfully, your obed"t serv't, (Signed,) M. LOVELL.. (No. 9.) New Orleans. Nov. 4, 1861. lion. J. P. Bf.njamin : Will the Secretary of the Treasury allow us to use the marino hospital for military purposes ? ^hall I recognize foreign consuls ? M. LOVELL. 12 (No. 10.) 11ichj:ond, Nov. 4, 1861. General M. Lovell, New Orleans. : Foreign consuls are recognized by our government in all commer- cial matters. What kind of military use do you propose to make of the marine hospital ? Answer and I will apply to Secretary of Trea- sury. I ordered ten tons of saltpetre sent to you by express from Augusta Arsenal. J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War, (No. 11.) Richmond, Nov. 6th, 1861. General M. Lovell, New Orleans : Secretary of Treasury says you may have hospitaHf the collector has not made a different disposal of it by contract. See Hatch and show him this dispatch. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. [No. 12.] Confederate States of America. ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, n New Orleans, Nov. 8, 1861. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Dear Sir : Governor Moore has just handed me your dispatch of to-day relative to saltpetre.* The amount named therein (24 tons,) will all have been received when the lU tons, now on their way from Augusta, shall arrive. The acting ordnance officer. Captain Rawle, informs me that he has not yet ackaowledged the receipt of the 14 tons already received, because [■■■■COPY OF DISPATCH xVBOVE REFKRHED TO.] "RiCHMDXD, Nov. 8, ISOl. ■ ' Got. Thomas 0. Moore, N'ov Orhans-: " It is impossible for me to comi.rehend what has ]?ec ina of the saltpetre sent to New Or- leans. " I have sent twenty-four tons, and cannot learn that one pound has been received, or one poHnrl of powder made. On the 26th September three tons were sent by freight train. On the 27th September one ton waa sent by express. On the 1st October three tons were sent by ex- press. On the 2d October seven tons were sent by express. On 2d November ten tons were seacbr express. All this was sent from Aiiguf'ta, and I cannot get the acknow'cdgment Jhat one poind was ever received, you now say you have not one ounce. " This mystery must be explained before I can send any more. ' (Signed) ■ ' J. P. BENJAMIN, " Acting Sccretavy of War. " 13 he has had no invoices with the greater part of it, and does not know from whom it came. The onljr invoice we have from Augusta, is that for 10 tons, now on the way. Every pound we have on hand is being made up into pow- der, but a good deal of it is so mixed with foreign matter that it does not give more than pound for pound of powder. But when all made up, it will only make about 50,000 lbs. which, when distributed, will give us about 20 rounds per gun as fully explained in my letter to you of 25th ultimo. We have a battery of 1 ght artillery here, raised by order of Gen. Twiggs, composed of Confederate recruits under Captain Higgins, with a c )mpliment of 4 horses to each gun and caisson. He applies to me for a farrier, which I consider necessary and a judicious econ- omy, but find no legal authority for erilploying one. I am satisfied that a good farrier would more than pay for himself, especially here wherj the price of horses is so high. Will you authorize his employ- ment ? I have been requested to ask your attention to the case of Dr. S. Burke, now on duty at Fort Jackson. He was the surgeon on duty with the Louisiana regiment of artillery, when it was mus- tered into the Confederate service on 1st June, but, by some oversight on the part of the mustering officer, he was not transferred. He nevertheless remained at his post on severe duty from that time up to 21st September, when he received his commission. This he hesitates to accept as he thereby loses nearly 4 months rank and pay, and one of his juniors take precedence of him. He asks that his appointment may date 1st June, the day of transfer of the regiment which he has been serving since its entry into service. His zeal and attention to duty are highly spoken oft' by his commander, Col. Duncan, who inter- cedes for him in this act of justice. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your printed circu- lar of instructions, as also of your letter of 29th ult. I have to thank you for the expression of confidence therein contained, and shall do my utmost to prove that the administration has made no mistake in my case. We are progressing rapidly towards a good state of de- fence. The interior line of works will soon be complete and the guns mounted. I have incre'ased the armament of forts Pike and Macomb by 4 forty-two's each, and have sent 12 to Col. Duncan for the forts below. I think we shall make a complete obstruction of the raft, (see the sketch I sent the President,) and if we stop the enemy's ships we can hammer him to pieces, {if the powder holds out ) I have sent 1,000 men to Berwick's Bay, and have called for 4 companies of mounted men (local defence men,) from St. Mary's parish^ mainly to show themselves occasionally among the negroes. Respectfully, Your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding.. 14 (No. 13.) C. S. A., War Department, Richmond, Nov. 17, 1861. Major General M. Lovell, New Orleans: Dear Sir : I have your letter of 8th instajit, and am happy to learn that the saltpetre has been received in New Orleans. I beg your special attention to the manufacture, as from imperfect refining of the saltpetre, much of the powder made at different points absorbs moisture so rapidly as quickly to become worthless. Our supply of powder, and of material for its manufacture is so small, that it would be really a calaaity to exhaust our material, and find the powder valueless. I received your former letter in regard to the quantity of powder required in your department, and am anxiously awaiting the promised report of the ordnance stores on hand, for there was of course quite a quantity of powder on hand before the saltpetre was sent I beg you will have made for me as early as possible, a complete official return of all " ordnance and ordnance stores " in your department, as it is impossible for me to introduce regularity into the administra- tion of this department without such returns. I always feel- a sus- picion when they are not furnished, that makes me reluctant to respond to requisitions. I have also learned to regard with great distrust the statements of manufacturers of what they are going to make. A statement of the actual results of one week's work in the powder mills in New Orleans would be far more satisfactory than any number of assurances of prospective efficiency. I see no objection to your employing a farrier if necessary for your company of light artillery. The law, however, does not permit the enlisling of such an artificer to any other than cavalry companies. In regard to Dr. Burke's case, I beg you to inform him that many such cases exist, but I cannot remedy then* until I get authority from Congress, which I am now about to ask, and hope to obtain. As some additions have been made to my printed circular, I 'send you another copy as amended. I am much gratified to hear of your rapid progress in perfecting the defences of New Orleans, and especially from different friends of jour success in inspiring confidence amongst our people. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. 16 (No. 14.) Confederate States of Amekica, \ Headquarters Department No. 1 , ^ New Orleans, La,, Nov. 19, 13G1. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, * Secretary of War*. Dear Sir : Since my last communication, we have steadily pro- gressed in our preparations for defence ; six tons of powder iiave been made and distributed to the various works in due proportion. I have increased the armancnt of Fort Pike by 4 42-pounders, Fort Macomb with 5 42's and 1 S-inch shell gun, Fort Livingston with 1 S-inch Columbiad, and Forts Jackson and St. Philip with 6 42-pounders each. The raft in the river between the last named forts has been further secured by four anchors, of three hundred pounds each, and fastened by heavy chains to either shore, and I think will stop a fleet under the close fire of more than one hundred heavy guns, (with Commodore Hollins assistance about one hundred and fifty). Feeling satisfied that ships under steam can pass forts in an open channel, I am taking prompt measures to obstruct the passage at Forts Pike and Macomb, at Berwicks Bay, and in the Mississippi above the city, at a point where I shall concentrate the fire of fifty guns of heavy calibre. I have ordered the marine hospital to be fitted up for army use, by the quartermaster. On enquiry, I found that we could not rent a hospital for less than three thousand dollars per annum, and it would cost half as much more to fit it up. Besides this, we have three or four build- ings for ordnance stores. The sum of these rents laid out on the hospital will enable it to answer all purposes, and the improvements will belong to the government. Nothing will be lost in rent. We shall have in operation in a few days three powder mills, two of which are private property, and one belongs to the city. They will turn out more than three tons per day. The powder is proved and rejected if much under range. We will Avant all the saltpetre that can be had ; as we will be able to work up about three tons a day. Permit me to call your attention to the necessity of a telegraph line between Meridian and Mobile, also between Meridian and Montgom- ery. The line hence to Mobile runs along the coast, and can be cut at any time by a force from the enemy's fleet, to say nothing of the largely disaff'octed population on the Southern coast of Mississippi. I enclose you a letter received from Mr. Douglas on this subject. It requires immediate attention. General Pillow telegraphed me to send hira five thousand men to Columbus. This I declined, as I have no more than are necessary for the defence of New Orleans and its approaches. If the river had been obstructed above so as to prevent a fleet from passing down, I might have felt justified in giving him some assistance ; but I should have attached more weight to the call, if it had come from General Jehnstcn. 16 ' I regret that I cannot have some columbiads and mortars in addition to my present armament. Some of the detached companies transferred from the State service under General Twiggs orders, have become much reduced and disor- ganized by bad management and poor officers, and I should ^vish to have po-^Ncr to disband some and consolidate others, so as to make the ferce more effective ; also authority (under your sanction,) to discharge men in certain cases of hardship, family affliction or where they aro required for important work : as for instance, some cases of widows only sons, or where parents have died since entry into service or when they are Required in foundries or workshops where government work is being done. I should exercise such authority very sparingly, and only in cases where I feel satisfied you w'ould approve. Colonel Preston, who was to join my staff, has gone to South Car- olina. Am I not entitled to two officers in the Adjutant and Inspector General's Department, one Lieutenant Colonel and one Major ? I have received the appointments of Majors Palpey and Lanier. General Ruggles has been sick since his arrival here, which, has devolved all the inspection of troops upon me. from Berwick to Mis- sissippi city. I was in hopes that the President would act on my request in relation to Colonel Duncan. Matters, however, by dint of incessant attention are progressing favorably, and I hope soon to be able to report myself as beyond the chances of an attack. Has your attention been called to the fact that the enemy can land near East Pascagoula, and march twenty-four miles over a good road into Mobile ? I understand that there are no entrenched lines on the land side around that city, but can hardly think it possible that it has not been done. If so, it is an easy road from Ship Island to Mobile. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. LOYELL, Major General, C. S. A. (No. 15.) New Orleans, Nov. 20, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin: Do you want any more Sulphur seized for the Government. M. LOVELL, (No. 16.) Richmond, Nov. 25, 1861. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans: I think it best to avoid seizure whenever possible. If you can buy the sulphur at a price not exceeding two hundred dollars per^ton, I . 17 prefer that to seizing it. Buy all the nitric and sulphuric acid you can find at any reasonoble price. If extortion is attempted, seise it and have it valued. J. P. BENJAMIN. Secretary of War, (No. 17.) New Orleans, Nov. 27, 1861. Hon J. P. Ben.'amin: 1 have sent the thirteenth (1 3th) Louisiana and third (3d) Missis- sippi Regiments — sixteen hundred men to Columbus, M. LOVELL. (No. 13.) Confederate States of America, 'i Headquarters Departnunt Nu. t, > New Orleans, La., 5th Dec, 136 L } Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: Sir: I avail myself of Col. Davis' trip to Richmond, to send you a map and description which will give you some definite idea of the ex- isting condition of affairs in this department. Commencing at Caloasin Bay, we have one company with tv/o 24- pounders, which arc now being put up and will prevent foraging par- ties from reaching the cattle-grazing prairies around the head of that lake. At Grand Chanine there is a company of militia that I am furnishing with one six pounder gun. In St. Mary's Parish there are two companies of infantry and one battery (at Franklin.) I liave also mustered one company of cavalry ^'for local defence.'^ T!\ese troops are also intended for moral effect in that densely slave populated section. Passing east to Atchapaloga Bay. I have placed there a regiment of 10(10 men, less two companies at Franklin, having one company each at Forts Berwick and Chene, at each of which forts are mounted one 32-pounder rifled gun and four 24-pounders. I have thus strengthened this point, because the railroad which supplies us with Texas cattle, here approaches very near to the coast, and is accessible with eight feet of water, I have also ordered the main channel of the Atchnpalaga to be filled, by sinking live-oak trees, leaving open an intricate channel eigl.ty feet Viide for the entrance of vessels running the blockade. Flats loaded with live-oak will be kept in rearlincss to sink in this channel at a moment's warning. Rafts are also being S 18 prepared to obstruct the bajous under the guns of Forts Berwick and Chene, We can support tins point in four hours by the Opelousas road by troops from the city. There is no navigable bayou until \ve reach Grand Caillon, on which I bave a work with two 32-pounders and two full companies. The other bayous are unnavigable except Lafourche, on which I have also located a work with two y2's and two cojnpanies of men. These works extend from swamp to swamp on either side of the bayous. At Fort Livingston are four companies (aboait 300 men.) -w^th one rifled 32, one S-inch columbiad, seven 24's and two flank howit- zers (24's) with four 12-pounders on the land side. Should this work be passed, all the inlets converge at the Little Temple, where a work is just finished where I shall put two 32's and a hundred men. On the Mississippi, Forts Jackson and St. Philip are in good order, and garrisoned by ten companies, nearly lUOl) men. They are armed as follows. Fort Jackson. — Six 42-pounders, twenty-six 24-pounders, two 32» pounder rifles, sixteen 32-pounders, three 8-inch columbiads. one 10- inch columbiad, one ten and two 8 inch mortars with two 48 and tea 24 pounder howitzers. Fort St. Philip. — Siz forty-two pounders, nine thirty-two pounders, twenty-two twenty-four pounders, four eight inch columbiads, one eight and one ten inch' mortar, and three field guns. Between the forts the river is completely obstructed by a raft of logs securely chained to both banks and held by fifteen large anchors, Aveighing from two thousand five hundred to four thousand pounds each ond laid in twenty-five fathoms of water with sixty fathoms of strong chain. This raft is a complete obstruction and has an enfilading fire from Fort Jackson and a direct fire from St. Philip. On the lake Borgue side, we have, first, a work one mile back from Pruelorsville with six guns,- (two 32's and four 24's,) with one hun- dred men. They can be rdnforced from the city by the Mexicn Gulf Railroad. I have contracted for a telegraph line from here to the work, to be paid for by the city. At Tower Duprue there is one large company, with five twenty-four ]>ounders. The adjoining bayou has been obstructed by piles. At ijnttery Bienveau I have one hundred men with ten 24 pounders. Fort Macomb is garrisoned by three companies, (250 men) and armed with four 42's, one eight inch columbiad, twenty- one 24 pounders and four flank howitzers, (24's.) The live-oak grove which grewVithin three hundred yards of the tort, and offered a secure ap- proach for the enemy I have had felled at a cost of $1000, of which the State paid half and the City half. Fort Pike has a garrison of three hundred and fifty men and the following armament: Four forty-two pounders, one nine inch and one eight inch gun; two thirty- two pound rifled guns; twenty twenty-four pounders, -and five twenty-four pound flank howitzers. I have had logs cut and chains and anchors bought to obstruct the channel, both at forts Macomb and Pike. I have, also, contracted to 19 . shoal the mouths of West and East Pearl river to four feet, by sink- ing obstructions. I keep a regiment and a field battery in advance at Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, and have made a depot of fifteen thousand rations at Ganesvillc, in case they are driven back, suddenly, from the coast, by a large force of the enemy. The foregoing comprises the e.xterior line, with which I am in com- munication, by telegraph, to Berwick's Bay, Fort Jackson, Fort ^la- comb and Fort Pike. Instructors have been sent to the various forts requiring it, and the garrisons are all quite proficient in the drill of the sea-coast gun. The interior line, as you will observe on the map, composes, with the intervening swamps, a complete, continious line around ihe city, including Algiers within its limits. It is almost entirely finished. Ten thirty- two pounders are mounted on the line below the barracks at Its junction with the river, and ten forty-two pounders will soon be up on the opposite side, giving a cross fire of twenty guns at that point, The lines extend to the swamp on each side, and have flank- ing arrangements for thirty-two pound carronades to sweep the whole- point. Their development is eight and a half feet, with a wide ditch which is filled with water. On the Gcntilley Ridge the sftme kind of work, with four guns ; on tlie Ponchartrain Railroad, ftve guns ; the canal, four guns ; the Bayou St. John, four, and the Jefferson rail- road, two guns ; all with flanking arrangements for infantry. The guns of these small works will all be mounted within ten days. Above the city the line extends from the svamp to the river, with flanking arrangements for artillery, and terminates at the river with a powerful battery of fourteen forty-two pounders. At this point Major Lovell is building an obstruction under the fire of this battery, which I think will prevent any vessel from passing down the river. On the Algiers' side, the line is just behind the Barataua canal, and runs from the river to the swamp. It is all complete except the battery on the river, where it is intended to mount ten thirty-two pounders. The whole should be mounted in two weeks, when New Orleans will be a citidel. The exterior line is manned by about four thousand fiv» hundred men, and I have about three thousand five hundred for the interior line, besides about six thousand well armed volunteers in the city who are uniformed and drilled. With fifteen thousand men I can defend the city against any force that can be brought, unless- we are attacked on all sides at once. I have, also, had two sham parapets, made in the city and some guns mounted as schools of prac- tice for the volunteers. In enumerating the troops, I do not reckon two regiments (one thousand six hundred men) that I sent up to Col-- umbus last week, to General Polk's aid. Tlie two powder mills are in running order, one at the barraclcs: and one at the old marine hospital. 5lajor Rains came down last week, and after a full inspection, reports that they can easily turn out two tons of powder per day, and lam making a contract with respon- sible parties here for two hundred tons of saltpetre; sulphur and 20 charcoal v;e have in abundance. The new marine hospital is being fitted up at a small cost, one half for a hospital and the other for a laborotory and store rooms for munitions of war, implements, arms, etc. With a sufficiency of powder, I should consider myself in a position to hold New Orleans for an indefinite length of time. The only point then for consideration would be provisions. I am endeav- oring silently, through other parties, to induce holders to lay in not less than sixty thousand barrels of flour, of v.hich the city consumes about eight hundred per diem. This, with beef cattle from Texas and from Mississippi, via Mardville, would enable us to stand a siege of two or three months, if it should be necessary. I have thus endeavored to give you a rough sketch of the progress that has been made in the work assigned me by the administration. There arc a thousand minor matters which have taken up a good deal of time and given much trouble, but the heaviest part of the work is done. The amount of labor involved has been more than I anticipated, as matters werein a much worse condition than I could have sup- posed possible ; but I have no hesitation in saying that I regard New Orleans at present as strong enough to withstand any attack that is likely to be made. Respectfully your obedient servant, ^ M. LOVELL, Major Geiierul commanding Department No. 1. (No. 19.) Confederate States of AI^ierica, ^ War Department, > Richmond, Dec. 7, 1862. ) Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, . Commanding Department, Headquarters New Orleans : Sir: I respectfully enclose you, for your attention, a copy of a letter recently received, by the President from Samuel A. Cartwright, of New Orleans, The subject is referred to you for consideration •and for such action as you may deem proper. I am, respectfully, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 20.) Confederate States of America, \ Headquarters Department No. 1 , \ New Orleans, La., Dec. 10, 1861. ) tJen, S. Cooper, Adft 4- Insp. GejiH C. S. Army : Sir : When I assumed command in this department I found that a number of independent companies, originally mustered into the State 21 service, had been transferred to tlie Confederate service at the re- quest of General Twiggs. Some of these companies had very poor officers, and in cases the ■anks were filled, in part, with men totally unfit for military service; and the sifting out of these companies has, in some instances, reduced them below llie number required. What I desire to know is, whether in companies, thus reduced, and when the officers are manifestly incompet:nt, I cannot have the au- thority to break them up or to transfer the good men, and let the offi- cers be turned over again to the State authorities ?- I could thus add much to the efficiency of the service, while mate- rially diminishing the expense, in getting rid of inefficient and super- numerary officers. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, 3Iaj. GerCl Comd/g BepH. (No. 21.) Confederate States of America, \ Headquartd'S Department No. 1, > New Orleans, La., Dec. 10, 1861. ) Gen. S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General : Sir : After great delay and many blunders, I have succeeded in getting up a return of the troops in my department for the month of October. It is not as accurate as it should be but will give you an approximate idea of the force here. I have sent the 13th Louisiana and 3d Mississippi regiments to Columbus, at the earnest instance of the generals in command tliore, but have called upon Governor Moore for two regim nts to replace them, which I have ordered to be mus- tered. I do not know whether this exceeds my authority or not; if it does, please give me the necessary orders, as I want all the men I can arm. The November returns shall not be delayed so long. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOYELL, Maj. GenH Comd'g Dep't. (No. 22.) Richmond, December 12, 1861.. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans : The Governor of Kentucky has sent a commission asking our aid to seize the property of the banks of Kentucky that may be found in ■22 New Orleans. Congress is noNY deliberating on the proper measures. In the meantime you are instructed to seize and hold, till the pleasure of Congress is known, all the property, funds an! assets belonging to the different banks of Kentucky that can be found in New Orleans^ whether deposited in tiny of our banks or in the hands of agents of the banks of Kentucky. # J. P. BENJxVMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 23.) Confederate States of America, ^ War Department, > Richmond, December 12, 18G1. ) Maj. Gen. M. Lovill, ComiTg Bep't, §•£., Headquarters New Orleans: ^ Sir: I have read your endorsement of 29tli ult. on the let^r of Major Lovell, now on duty under your command, asking that he may be appointed lieutenant colonel in the provisional army and ordered to continue on duty with yo.u. I have already informed Maj. Lovell that such appointment is impossible. The law does not authorize ap- pointments in the provisional army other than staif appointments, except to command troops actually in service. I am, respectfully. Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN", Secretary of War. (No. 2-1.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. I , > New Orleans, La., 16tli Dec. 1861. ) Hon. J, P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: -- ^ Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 7th instant, enclosing a letter from Dr. Carcwright to the President, relative to the Mexican Gulf railroad. I am not aware that the government, or the parties who claim to have purchased the road, have any intention of using the iron for shipbuilding purposes, nor do I believe that, any such purpose exists. Hud any plan of that railroad been laid before me, I should have weighed the respective advantages to the government of *using the iron on the road or on the ships, and decided accordingly. I am well satisfied that the whole scheme is to make a grand speculation for private pur- 23 poses, either by selling the iron in this market, or by forcing the road upon the government at an exorbitant price. I have a work at Proctersvilie, across the railroad, mounting aix thirty-two pounders, and manned by one hundred men, distant from the city twenty-seven miles, which covers the valuable plantations along the left bank of the river. To rcinforco this work rapidly I have constructed a switch from the I'ontchartrain to the Mexican Oulf road at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars, and am put- ting up telegraph lines between the city and Proctersvilie, which will enable me to receive early notice, and by using the rolling stock of the Pontchartrain road to send down four thousand men in four hours. Ic is this arrangement that I do not wi!>rtmf. --t, ) Richmond, I bill Dec. I8G1. \ Major General M. Loveu., Cjumnndirig Department, dc. New Orleans: Sir : In compliance v.ith request addressed to this depaitment by the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, you are instructed to do all in your power, consistently with the exigencies of the military service in your department, towards supplying Flag Officer llollins, C. S. N., with cannon powder, uponliis requit-ition therefor. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 24 (No. 2G.) C. S. A., W/.R Department, Richmond, 23d Dec. 1S61, Major General ]\r. Lovell, Is^ew Orleans: Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of jour two letters of the 10th and one of the 16th instant. 1st. I entirely approve your forwarding th: thii'teeuth Louisiana and third Mississippi regiments to the aid of our commanders in Ken- tucky. While I. do not feel at liberty under present circum^itances to Gi'der unconditionally any troops to be sent from your department, I shall be most happy to leani that you can spare any for the aid of the generals in Kentuck}^ who are sadly cut-numbered ; of course it is useless to call out any troops that you cannot arm, unless they are willing to enlist for the war, in which event the government is -willing to pay the expense of holding them in camps of instruction until armed. We want all the men that will enlist for the war ; and we want all armed men that will enlivSt for twelve months. I only require that you keep your returns up to date, so that I may at all times be advised of the entire resources at command of the government in your department. 2d. In relation to your question about the pov^er to break up and re-organize companies so as to get rid of incompetent officers, I have to say, that under the acts of Congress company officers are always elective, and this right of the men must be kept steadily in view and always retipected. Now you have done well to sift out the men unable to do duty, and discharge them from the service. The companies thus reduced below tl;e standard number may be disbanded at your pleasure if not filled up by other able men. We have no right to assig7i them to communders whom they have not elected, but Vi^ have a right, wifk their consent, to consolidate them into new ccmpanies, and have new elections of officeis. The Oest plan it seems to me is to get the men to agree to form new companies and re-enlist. On getting their agree- ment, muster the old companies out of service, and new companies into service at the same time, and let the latter elect their new officers. With your advice and influence they could readily be induced to elect competent officers. But the whole matter must be managed by con- cert with the men, and not by exercise of authority, for we have none. 3d, On the subject of the iron of the Mexican Gulf railroad, I will Write you again in a day or two. Mr. Gordon is here and it is pos- sible an arrangement may be made advantageous to the government and satisfactory to the company. 4th. I have now to ask your attention to the sul^ject of the coast defence of Mississippi. The interception of your communication with that portion of your department hixs caused us to take into se- rious consideration the formation of a new district, extending from the mouth of Pearl river to East Pascagoula, and detaching it from 25 your coDimand, as it must be almost impracticable for jou to give it any personal attention. In the meantime, however, our concern has been awakened by news that there is considerable communication kept up between our coast and the enemy by small traders running with sloops and schooners out of the different streams that empty into the Mississippi sound, and supplying the enemy at Ship island and the Chandeliers, with all the intelligence they can gather, as well as the daily papers of New Orleans, I enclose you for examination and reflection a p:iper on this subject prepared by lion. 0. J. McRae, who is intimately acquainted with the whole coast, and on which the President has written an endorsement, that I also recommend to your attention. We must, as far as possible, protect our people against marauders, and the proclamation issued by the Yankee general, as contained in the pipers, is so open an invita- tion to the slaves to revolt, that they ought, in my opinion, at once to be removed out of the reach of the incendiary gang who are not simply our enemies, but the enemies of the human race. If you think 3'ou cannot communicate with the southern coast of Mississippi Avith sufficient facility to supervise efficiently defensive measures, you will be good enough so to inform me at once, and we must try to find a commander for it as a separate district. Please inform me how the powder factory is getting on, and what quantity of powder you have. Major Rains tells me that the mills thus far are not making over one thousand five hundred pounds a day, although capable of making twice that quantity. I am, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, S cretary of War. % [No. 2*.] Co.NFEDERATE StaTT-S OF AmERICA, ^ Ileadquarlers, Department No. 1, > New Orleans, La., Dec. 24, 1861. ) lion. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir ; I have tlie honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 18th inst., relative to furnishing Commodore Hollins Avith cannon powder. I have made it a point, without instructions, to aid him to the extent of my ability, and he has already been furnished oy us with nearly four tons of powder. I have collected materials at great trouble and expense, and urged to completion a large mill for making powder, for the purpose of sup- plying my own wants, and they are yet far from being in a satisfac- tory condition. I have already turned over to the navy more powder than, in justice to the army, I should have done, and it Avill require more than I have on hand to give a half allowance to the guns I have 26 mounted. If I can be supplied with saltpetre in large quantities I can easily furnish Captain Ilollins and myself, or if he will procure the saltpetre I will have it worked up. As matters now stand, he cannot rely upon me for a pound; I must supply myself first, and I feel satisfied that you will endorse my action, when you are made ac- quainted will all the circumstances. I beg leave to ask your attention to my recommendation in refer- ence to Colonel Duncan. There are nearly 5,(lli!) men in the works on the exterior line, without any competent brigade commander, who should be a thorough arrillcrist and unnderstand Avell the nature of the coast. It is utterly impossible for me to visit these works while keeping up the affairs of the Department in this city. llespectfuUy, Your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding. [No. 28.] Co FEDERATE StaTES OF AmERICA, ) Headquarters, Department No. \. \ New Orleans, La., Dec. 25, 1861. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : I have received your letter, stating that Major Lovell could not be put on duty here with rank of field officer, except to command troops. I was led into mistake in the matter by having in mind the case of Col. Duncan. I cannot spare Major Lovell whose serv'ces in obstructing the d|an- nels have proved invaluable, and the objection as to command can be easily obviated. There are, in this Department on duty, twenty-one separate compa- panies of volunteers, who cause as much office detail at department headquarters as 21 regiments would do. With your permission I will organize these troops .into regiments and battalions and assign field officers to them. I can thus place Major Lovell on,duty here with troops as a field officer and his position with General Bragg's army can be filled by another officer. Shall I thus assign him ? I have mustered in regiments in place of the troops that I sent to General Johnston, and have called upon Governor Moore for an additional regiment to man the guns on the interior line. If, in this, I have been in error, please let mo know. In conversation with the President before leaving Richmond, I understood him to say that I could call for- such troops as the^case might require, taking care not to create more expense for maintaining men than was absolutely necessary. 27 As the enemy is congregating at Ship Island I shall organize the forces here as rapidly as possible. The Governor, at my request, has ordered all the independent vol- unteer companies to form into regiments and elect their field officers, which Avill give about 6,00!) pretty vrcll armed men in the city subject to call. Do they bring their General officers, when called into service ? A militia law has also been draughted and presented, ^^^ich I think will make about one-third of the militia available at short notice. Respectfully, Your obedient serviint, • M. LOVELL, Mnjor General Commanding. [ No. 29. ] New Ouleans, Dec. 27, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of IVar : I have made into good powder all the saltpetre sent, can you spare any more ? M. LOYELL, (No. 30.) CONFEPERATE StaTKS OF AmERICA, ^ Headqunrters Department No 1 , > New Orleans, La., Dec. 29, 1861. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : At 12 o'clock last night Hobart & Foster's powder mill, in the old marine hospital exploded. One cargo of powder (4,000 lbs.) was in the drjnng room, and another of the same amount vas in the cyl- inders, all of which was lost. I had taken out 4,000 lbs. the same day. The mill was turning out this amount daily. The mill that 1 brought over from Handsboro will be put up in twenty days, and this, together with the city mill will enable us to turn out 2,500 or 3,000 lbs. daily. Ilobart & Foster will proceed immediately to rebuild their mill, and I shall drive it through with all the means at my control, and hope to have it in operation again in si.x weeks. The total amount of saltpetre invoiced to this point since the middle of last September is 82,506 lbs. gross, of which only 62,000 ever came to hand. The weight of the casks and sacks is to be deducted, be- sides which some of it was very impure. Ilobart k Foster had three days supply on hand at the time of the explosion (10,000 lbs.,) which was not injured. 28 The enemy has now at Ship Island twcntj-tvro vessels large and small, and is landing troops in large num'bers. They have been sounding and staking out the channels leading towards the Rigolcts and Chef Mentone pass, but I think this is only a blind, to draw our atten- tion from Mobile which I think is their object of attack. They cannot take New Orleans by a land attack with any force they can bring to bear. I should much" like to have for an inspector general an officer of knowledge and experience. I am almost entirely deficient in the way of officers. General Ruggles and Colonel Duncan are the only two serving with troops who can render me aid. No other department is so deficient, and certainly none is more important. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General Commandwg. (No. 3!.) i Richmond, Januai-y 1, 1862. ' General M. Lovell, Neio Orleans: Can give you no more saltpetre, but expect large supply very soon. Send me return of your entire stock of ammunition. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 33.) C. S. A., War Department, ) Richmond, Jan. 5, 1862. ) Major General Lovell, New Orleans: Sir : Your letters of the 2 4th and 25tli ultimo, have been received. I. My request in relation to the powder asked for by Commodore Hollins Avas of course subordinate to your discretion, but I am anxious to accommodate the navy on all proper occasions, and to keep up cor- dial relations in all branches of the service. II. I will call the President's attention again to your recommenda- tion in l^xvor of Colonel Duncan. III. Your suggestion as to organization of independent companies into regim.ents and battalions is entirely approved. I had no idea that the condition of your forces was such as you represent. We never permit an accumulation of independent companies. We consult their wishes, however, in throwing them together, and you arc requested 29 ■with this view to organize two regiments out of these twenty-one companies, and to send to this department a return of the organiza- tion with muster rolls, and a recoaimendation for appointment of field officers. In this way provision can be made for Major Lovell within your department. IV. Your muster in of other regiments in place of those sent to Kentucky is approved. Indeed, until further orders, you are author- ised to receive and muster into Confederate service all companies, battalions or regiments that tender themselves for the v^'ar or three years. But bear in mind we will accept no men for a less terra, unless they arm themselves at their own expense. In this event you may accept them for not less than twelve months. "V. The militia, when out as such, bring their generals with them. VI. I hope soon to hear of your having been able to do something to check the enemy and encourage our people on the sea coast of Mississippi, though, of course, I cannot and do not expect yon to weaken your command in New Orleans for the purpose of punishing maurauders on the coast. If you could get up a small local organ- ization, however, with a flying battery equipped with good, reliable horses for rapid movement, so as to prevent the landing of small par- ties of plunderers, it would have a happy effect and give pleasure and confidence to our people in Southern Mississippi. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. P. S. You may, perhaps, not have beard that your appointment has been confirmed by Congress. Your commission will be sent as soon as we can get time to issue any commissions. ( No. 34. ) Confederate States of AMEurcx, ^ Headquarters Department No 1 . > New Orleans, Jan. 7, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : After reading the letter of Mr. McRae, relative to the use of lauches on the coast of Mississippi Sound, I suggested to Cominodorc Ilollins to .make some arrangements with that purpose in view. Nothing has been done, nor is it likely that anything will be done by the Navy Department there, unless under orders from Richmond. You will recollect our conversation the evening before I lefc Rich- mond, in which }0u took a different view from myself. I felt satisfied that if the. protection of the navigable streams running up into the country, was removed from my control, it would, in all probability, not be properly arranged in connection with the land defences, while the General commanding the Department would be considered by the 30 people at large, as responsible for inroads into tlie territory of his command. This is just what has happened. I shouUI have had light draught armed vessels or launches at nu- merous points along the coast, had I not kept in view your expressed wish that all clashing (even in appearance) should be avoided between the two arms of service. 1 have now on Lake Borgue a larger armed force than the Navy has, but it is kept up under the name of supply- ing our posts on the sound, it being necessary that the vessels should be armed for their own protection. I hope that, in connection with Mr. Mallory, you may be able devise some plan by which either the entire matter may be placed under my control, or the naval officer in command may have orders to afford such aid- as I may officially re • quire of him. The blame of Avant of protection will rest upon me in any event, and I should, therefore, have some power to say what should bo done. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOYELL, Major General, cMmmanding. (No. 35.) E-icilmojnd, January 6, 18G2. Major General Lovell, Nuc Orleans : 1 have laken all the powder by Vanderbilt. Arrange with owners for bringing it all to New Orleans, except five tons of cannon powder and one ton of rifle powder ordered to Galveston. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 4t" (No. 36.) Confederate States of Asserica, ^ War Departmcjit, > Eichmond, January 6, 18tl2. ) Maj. Gen. M, Lovell, New Orleans: Sir: Your letters of 24th and '29th instants, are received. I have to announce to you that the President has authorized the appointment of Colonel JOuncan as Ikigadier General and his nomination will be sent to Congress to-morrow. The President desires that you assign General Trimble to the com- mand of the district stretching from the Rigolet to Pascagoula, and confide to him the defence of that part of your department, furnish- ing him one or two light batterieg, well equipped for active movement, and such number of troops as may be sufficient for checking maraud- ing parties that may attempt plunder. 31 It is not, of course, expected that he can resist an army, but you can furnish him Tvith sufficient force to encourage and inspirit the people on the sea shore, cut off communication of evil disposed per- sons jvith the enemy and check boating parties attempting to carry on a predatory warfare. I am sorry to hear of the destruction of the powder mill with its contents, as we have not a pound to spare. You will please be good enough to send me, at once, a statement by which 1 can discover which of the saltpetre shipments have failed to reach you, as you se.m to be short at least twenty thousand pounds by your letter of 'SOth. I will see, if I can, send you a good inspecting officer, I think Major Pickett is disposable, and the only one we have, at present, not in active and important service. 1 have taken all the powder, said to be forty-five tons, just arrived by the Vanderbilt, and telegraphed you to that effect. Please have it inspected, ; o as to be sure that we are not paying such an enormous price as two dollars per pound for damaged powder, and aid the owners in having it all brought for distribution to New ()i leans, except five tons of cannon and one of rillc powder, which I desire l^nt to Gal- veston. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of Wdf. (No. 37.) C0NFEDER.\TE StaTES OF A.MERICA, i Headq^'artcrs, Department No. I. V New Orleans, La., -January S, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: Sir: Some six weeks since, at the urgent call of an cfficer in Kentucky, and believing that I would be safe from attick until Jan- uary, I sent two regiments to Columbus, with the distinct understand- ing on my part, and so expressed, both to Generals Johnston and Polk, that when the enemy appeared here they should be returned. General Polk now, in answer to my. call, telegraphs me that he has asked you to send me other troops, and you have consented. I hope that this is not so. The troops I sent him are natives of this part of the country, and cannot be replaced by others. The third Mississippi regiment is composed largely of the fishermen, oystermen and sailors of Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, etc., and are well acquaint- ed with all the inlets, bayous and soundings of that intricate and difficult coast, and can be of more service there than any other body of men. 1 have, therefore, written to General Polk to insist that the third Missippi regiment, at all events, shall be sent down. They can as well be replaced there as here by fresh troops, but none can supply their place to mo on the Mississippi coast. The regiment was raised 32 particularly for that service, about Lalf of it being amphibious, and I shall -want to put a number of them in boats. The country troops will not answer rny purpose. I beg, therefore, that even if you per- mit General Polk to retain the thirteenth Louisiana, you will telegraph him to send me the third Mississippi regiment immediately. He docs me great injustice by leaving me 'till this late hour under the impression that when I wanted these two regiments they should be it turned, and I have so written him. Respectfully your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General commanding (No. 39.) New Orleans, January 13, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjvmix: A party will contract to deliver here seventy-five tons powder, if we advance the money, under bonds, satisfactory to me, at .eighty-four (84) cents per pound, specie, or one dollar fourteen cents in Confed- erate notes ; if approved, notify and enable me to raise the money. M. LOVELL. (No. 40.) Richmond, January 14, 1862. Gen. M. LovELij, New Orleans: You will impress, immediately, for public servive, the fourteen ships hereafter named: The Mexico, the Texas, the Orizaba, the Charles Morgan, the Florida, the Arizona, the Jewess, the Atlantic, the KoustQD, the Magnolia, the Matagorda, the W. H. Webb, the Anglo Saxon and the Anglo Norman. You will please have them valued by disinterested parties, of the highest character. The recent sale of the Tennessee will afford a good opportunity for testing their true value. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Seen tar y of War. Operator : I want an answer from your operator in New Orleans, when he delivers this. (Signed) J. P. B. (No. 41.) ExEcuTiTE Office, Jackson, Jan. 14, 1862. Hon. J. P. BfxNjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : Enclosed I send you a letter from Major General M. Lovell, on the subject of the return of the third regiment Mississippi volun- as teers, and respectfully join in his request, that you order their return, for reasons given in former letters. Respectfully, (Signed,) JOHN. J. TETTUS. The enclosure referred to is General Level's lettter of January 8, 1862. (No. 42.) New Orleans, January 15, 18G2. Hon. J. P. Ben.i.\min : Fourteen vessels taken. The Atlantic is small and poor. Shall I take the Galveston in her place ? M. LOVELL. i: No. 43. ] Richmond, Jan. 15th, 1862. Gen. M. Lovell, iVeto Orleans : Will take the powder if delivered at an early day. Will let you know to-morrow whether we will send you specie or notes. (Signed) J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War [ No. 41. ] Richmond, Jan. I6th, 1862. Gen. Mansfield Lovell, New Orleans : One hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars ($195,001),) will be placed to your credit to-morrow in Treasury notes, for completing the contract for the seventy-five tons of powder. Make the contract for delivery as soon as possible, and let it be all cannon powder. (Signed) J. P. BENJAMIN. Secretary of War. [No. 45.] C. S. A., War Department, ) Richmond, Jan. 19, 1862. J Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans. Sir : A few days ago I sent you a telegram, requesting the seizure, 34 for account of the government, of fourteen steam ships, and received vour reply informing me that the request had been complied with. These instructions were sent you in consequence of the passas;e by Congress of two laws Nos. 344 and 350 herewith forwarded, providing one million of dollars for application to floating defences for the Wes- tern rivers, to be expended at the discretion of the President, by the Secretary of War, or Secretary of the Navy, as he shall direct, and authorizing a corps of not more than 6,000 men to be raised for tem- porary and special service on the Western waters. The terms of the acts will at once suggest to you that the force in- tended is a peculiar one. It is not to be part of the navy, for it is in- tended for service on the rivers and will be composed of the steamboat men of the Western Avaters. It will be subject to the general command of the military chief of the department where it may be ordered to operate, but the boats will be commanded by steamboat captains, manned by steamboat crews, who will be armed with such weapons as the captains may choose ; and the boats will be fitted out as the respective captains may desire. The intention and design are to strengthen the vessels with iron casing at the bows and to use them at high speed to run down or run over and sink, if possible, the gun boats and mortar rafts, prepared by the enemy for attack at- our river defences. These gunboats and mortar rafts have been so far protected by iron plates and by their pe- culiar construction as to offer, in the judgment of the President and of Congress, but small chance of our being able to arrest their descent of the river by shot or shell, while, at the same time, their weight, their unweildy construction and their slow movement, together with the fact that they show very little surface above the water line, render them peculiarly liable to the mode of attack devised by the enterpris- ing captains who have undertaken to effect their destruction by run- ning them down, if provided with swift and heavy steamers, so strengthened and protected at the bows as to allow to them rush on the descending, boats without being sunk by the first fire. Captains Montgomery and Townsend have been selected by the President as two of these who are to command these boats. Twelve other captains will be found by them and rec >mmended to the Presi- dent for appointment. Each Captain will ship his own crew, fit up his own boat and get ready within the shortest possible delay. It is not proposed to rely on cannon, which these men are not skilled in using, nor on fire-arms. The men will be armed with cutlasses. < »n each boat, however, there will be one heavy gun to bo used in case the stern of any of the gunboats should be exposed to fire, for they are entirely unprotected behind, and if attempting to escape by liight, would be very vulnerable by shot from a pursuing vessel. I give you these details as furnishing a mere outline of the general plan, to be worked out by the brave and energetic men who have un- dertaken it. Prompt and vigorous preparation is indispensible. The department relies confidently on your co-operation in rendering effec- tive this plan, which may perhaps not only be of vast importance for the peculiar service now hoped for on the upper Mississippi, but may 35 prove very formidable aids to your future operations in the lower part of the valley. I shall at once place to your credit three hundred thousand dollars, to be expended for the purpose of preparing and outfitting these ves- sels as rapidly as possible, and shall renew the remittances as far as re- quired while the appropriation will permit. It is expected that you will allow a very wide latitude to the captains in the prepartion of these vessels, merely exercising such general supervision as to prevent the throwing away of money in purely chimerical experiments, and in checking any projligafe expenditure. Your chief quartermaster can keep the accounts so as to relieve you of the responsibility of a disbursing officer, and you can dis- charge yourself any money liability by simply taking hi« receipt as your voucher for turning over this money. To a commander of your intelligence and capacity it is deemed sufficient thus generally to sketch the outline of a scheme of defence, without attempting to lay down any minute rules or details for carry- ing out what is necessarily a novel experiment ; yet, one from which much is hoped by the governmtnt. This letter will be delivered to you by Captain Townsend in person, he being one o^the two already elected by the President for the com-- mand of boats. I am, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 46.) CoNFEDKRATE StATES OF AmERICA, , i Headquarters Department No. 1, \ New Orleans, La., Jan. 13th, 1862. > Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond: Sir : I have the honor to state in reply to your telegram, that the- amount of powder in this department, in round numbers of pounds, is as follows : At Forts Jackson and St. Philip, '* Pike, '* Macomb, ^ *' Proctorvillc, Bienvenu, Tower Dupres, Fort Livingston, Grand Caillon, Fort Berwick, " Chene, " Guyon or Bayou Lafourche, Culcasicn Pass, In magazine in and around New Orleans, Total, 116,751) pound)?. 55,000 pounds 11,500 6,900 750 2,200 500 4,500 1,350 1,100 5,100 1,000 850 30,000 The quarterly returns are coming in slowly, and when received will enable me to report exactly the quantity of powder on hand ; but I have caused the above estimate to be made out carefully, and am convinced that it will not vary materially from the aggregate of the official returns. Considering New Orleans to be in condition to resist an attack, I am turning my attention particularly to the coast of Mississippi. I had received no notice of the assignment of General Trimble to my command. If the third Mississippi regiment which was raised mainly on that coast be returned to me from Columbus, I can easily provide him with a force sufficient to pi'event communication with the enemy and repel predatory parties. The water communication between here and the eastern portion of this department being somewhat precarious, I have organized trains for supplying the troops, to be located in that section, by land. I have ordered an accurate reconnoisance and to- pographical map to be made of the country between the Jackson rail- road and Mississippi city, W'hich Vtill enable me to select the most de- fensible positions for General Trimble's command, to hold the enemy in check should he attempt to push up to the Jackson railroad. Mean- while, I have in hand a well organized movable column, (General Rugglcs' brigade,) of about 5,000 men, including artillery, which I can throw over Lake Pontchartrain at a few hours' notice, to operate against his column should he be foolish enough to attempt such a flank movement. If, however, he should attempt to land at Pascagoula, and strike for Mobile, I could move Trimble's brigade, reinforced by Rugglcs', against his base of operations at Pascagoula, and thus perhaps compel an abandonment of the attack. These movements will, of course, depend upon my ability to transport troops and supplies through that section of country by land. I shall probably have on that coast two batteries of four guns each, and two mounted companies — all from this city ; and if the naval de- partment will give me half a dozen launches to place in Biloxi bay, Bay S'Louis, and Pearl river, I think we can obtain all necessary re- sults on that coast. We cannot, of course, prevent an army from landing under cover of their gunboats. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) * M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding. (No. 47.) Confederate States of America, i Headquarters, Department No, 1 , > New Orleans, 15th, Jan., 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War ; Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two let- lers of 5th and 6 th instants. 37 I sent you on the fifth Decemher, by Colonel J. Davis, aid to the President, a rasp with a descriptive letter giving a summary of the defences of the department, as arranged at that date. I hope it reached you safely, as it has important information. In my letter of the 13th instant, the powder in this department was placed in lound numbers at 1 15,000 pounds. A considerable quantity of this is not cannon powdor, and by reference to the letter of oth ultimo, you will see that there are more than three hundred heavy guns in this depart- ment, scattered from Calcasieu to Pearl river. I mention this in reference to the distribution of the powder by the Vanderbilt. There is not a single ten inch gun in this department. I can have some ca='t here in a few days, provided machinery can be had to bore them. The Belleville foundry has two lathes large enough to bore twelve inches, but the foundry is shut up, and the parties will neither sell, hire nor lend the lathes, hoping to compel the government to purchase the works. In case I fail to negotiote for them, shall I take them, appraise and pay for them ? Through Mr. Dunn and other sources, I have collected (by purchase mainly) about nine hundred small arms, half of which are double bar- relled shot guns. After perfecting as far as possible the arming of the " war " men, I should propose to exchange the shot guns for some miserable muskets and carbines in the hands of twelve months troops. It would look bidly to go into action with p)or guns while better ones Avere in our possession, merely because the men were not enlisted for the war. Besides, the *' war " men generally are an inferior class of shots, while the twelve months men are nearly all well skilled in the use of arms, and should be entrusted with the best weapons. The rifles that I have collected have been cut off to equal lengths and bored out to the calibre of the old United States rifle, (fifty-fourth of an inch ) It was reported yesterday that Lieutenant Foster of the Unitei^ States navy had been in the city as a spy some days since. Should I arrest a Federal officer under such circumstances, is he to be punished with death ? I ask, having in view Tyler's case, of our army, who was arrested in Cincinnati last summer, but has never been tried as a epy- vV'hen our large powder mill blew up we got to work upon the ma- chinery of the mill that I ordered to be removed from Harrodsboro', and yesterday a charge was put in. This mill turned out on its old site about twelve or fifteen hundred pounds per day. The city mill has had a twenty horse power engine placed in it, which will increase its capacity considerably, I sent Mr. Thomas B. Lee, of this city, agent to Texas, to bring over the A''anderbilt powder, as soon as I got your dispatch. Feeling satisfied some time since that letters were being sent to the United States, conveying intelligence, by the private expresses carry- ing mails, via Havana and Mexico, I ordered all such letters to be examined, and appointed Messrs. Greenwood & Benochi, two gentle- men of high standing here, as an examining committee. In addition to the defences stated in my letter of 5th ultimo, we 38 are now erecting eight small batteries at Manshac, and on the Lake shore, where the Jackson railroad skirts the water, so as to prevent interruption of that line of communication by the enemy. These batteries are for two guns each — sixteen in all. Major Rains took on a proposition from me about the Steamer Ten- nessee. He telegraphed that you approved the plan, but I have had no official authority to guarantee half the value of the ship, or to raise funds for the purchase of our half of the return cargo. I am engaged in organizing the independent companies into two regiments, and will send on the names of the officers in a few days. It is difficult to find good officers who will take the positions for the short time (six months) that these troops will have to serve. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Maj. General Commajiding. (No. 48.) ^ Confederate States of America, \ Headquarters Department No. 1 , V New Orleans, La., Jan. 16, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond : Sir: On the twenty-first December, 1861, I caused the twentieth regiment La. volunteers. Colonel Reichard, commanding, to be mus- tered in for local defence within the limits of the State of Louisiana, and immediately aftei wards called it into service and assigned it to the brigade of Brigadier General Ruggles. This regiment is com- posed entirely of companies which were for some months in the service of the State of Louisiana. Something over one half of the men are for the war, the rest for the unexpired term of their State enlist- ment, averaging 1st September. Although I gave no grounds for the conviction, those of the regi- ment who took service for the war, appear to have done so under the conviction that they would thereby become entitled to the fifty dollars bounty, which is offered by act of Congress to such as enlist for the war. The question has arisen whether they are really entitled to this bounty moiicy who have enlisted for service only within the limits of Louisiana, or at the utmost within this military department No. 1, .and I have the honor to request your decision upon the question. Respectfully your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General commanding. 39 (No. 49.) Confederate States of America, ) Headquarters Department No. 1. ( New Orleans, La., January 16, 18G2. S Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : i Sir : In compliance with your telegram, I took possession yester- day of the following steamers, viz: Mexico, Texas, Orizaba, ('harks Morgan Florida, Arizona, WiUiam Ildnes, Atlantic, Austin, Magnolia Matagorda, Wtlliam IF. JVehb, Anglo Saxon, and Anglo Norman, fourteen in all. Captain Huger of the navy, who accompanied the party that took possession of the ships, thinks the Atlantic will hardly answer as a war vessels, and I telegraphed yesterday to know whether I should substitute the Galveston for her. After the ships were seized 1 asked Comodorc Ilollins to take charge of them until further orders lu this connection permit me to call attention to Caotain Ilicrains who lately resigned, with a view of fitting out some of those v?°8el3 tor war purposses, under State authority. This seizure puts an end to his business. lie is an officer of the old navy, of experience, skill ami high reputationas a bold and efficient officer, llis services would be of great value in assisting to fit out a fleet here, and in firrhtinrr it afterwards. ° ° 'vu- ^^^ ^''^"0^3 reports about the occupation of Biloxi by the enemy Ihis IS a mistake; some sixty men landed there last week, reaiaincd tor a tew hours, doing no damage, and returned to the fleet. They liave no footing on the main shore as yet. We have here about five hundred "prisoners of war, who are a serious nuisance. Is there a prospect of exchanging them ? Respectfully sir, y^ur obedient servant. (S'Sned,) M. LOVELL. Major General commanding. (No. 5(1.) TELEGRAM. New Orleans, January 21, 1862. To Gen. S. Cooper, Richmond: Is General Trimble ordered here ; if so, when will he come ? (^'g^^^^') M. LOVELL. answer. No order transferring General Trimble. (S'Sne^l) S. COOPER. Adjutant and Inspector General. 40 (No. 51.) Confederate States of Amertca, IVar Department, Richmond, January 24, 1862. Gen. M. Lovell, Commanding New Orleans : Sir: Your letter of the 16th instaiit is received. In reply you are informed that no troops who are enlisted for special or local service only, are entitled to the privileges of the late act of Congress, in regard to bounty, etc , unless they re-enlist, unconditionally, for three years or the war. Respectfully, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. P. S. By *' unconditionally " I mean for any service to which thej may be ordered. (No. 52.) C. S. A., War Departsient, > Richmond, Jan. 27, 1862. ] Sir : The overwhelming pressure of business in this department causes some unavoidable delay in correspondence, 1 now acknowledge receipt of your letters of I3th, 15th, ICth and 17th instants. I, Your letter of the 13th disclosed to me the fact, that, by some unaccountable hallucination, I used the name of Gen. Trimble instead of that o£ Gen. Ruggles in my letter of 6th instant. My intention was to say that the President desired you to place- Gen. Rvggles in command of the Mississippi coast, and I congratulate myself that this strange error of mine has not produced any disastrous- result. I have read in the same letter, with great interest, your plans for the defence of your department, and am rejoiced to find that your vigilance leaves no exposed point without protection. Your powder returns show less supply than I had hoped, but stils* sufficient, I think, to relieve us of apprehension till some of the sup- plies daily expected shall reach us from some quarter. II. You are authorized to use your owh discretion in relation tO' the planing machine and lathe in the Belleville Iron Works. If the owners are unwilling to part with them by sale or hire, they must be impressed, if necessary, for the public service, and on impressment you should give the owners the choice whether the impressment shall be by hire or purchase. If the owners wish, however, to use these machines themselves, I do not think the imprfessmeut would be jus- tifiable. 41 III. The map and letter by Col. Davis were duly received, and I thought I had acknowledged the receipt some time since. lY. In relation to the distribution of arms between "war men" and "twelve months' men," although as a general rule we desire the best arms given to the former, we do not intend to preclude you from the exercise of a sound discretion in any exceptional cases such as you suggest. Y. If you arrest a Federal officer as n spy, he is to be put to death without the slightest hesitation in accordance with the articles of war. Tyler's case, to which you refer, was not that of a spy; he did not go to a city threatened with attack, nor for any hostile purpose ; he went simply to see and bring away his wife, and it would have been a bar- barous outrage to have considered or treated him as a spy. YI. I have instructed Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to open negotiations with McGlellan by flag of truce, for general exchange of prisoners. As soon as I know the result, I will try to relieve you of your pris- oners. VII. I have organized the two regiments, and made the nomina- tions, as proposed in your letter of 17th inst. VIII. A certain Captain W. F. McLean, who commanded a com- pany called the F>en McCulloch rangers in the Wise Legion, was sub- jected to grave charges by Gen. Wise, but managed by some means to get a sick leave of sixty ^ys, from 3d instant, without the knowledge of his General. You are instructed to order him to come back in- stantly and submit to his trial. You may allow him to resign if he prefers to do so. He is now in New Orleans. I am, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Seen tart/ of War. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans^ La. (No. o3.) New Orleans, 20th January, 1863. Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of t our "un- official, of the 12th instant, and this evening, by Captain MontgoiAery, your note of the 13th. I fear I have gone almost too far with the Tennessee matter to withdraA\ On 17th December, Major Raina wrote me that th.e plan proposed was acceptable to the President and yourself, and I authorized the parties to go to work at once, notifying you by telegraph — also by letter. The Tennessee was bought for one hundred thousand dollars, of which we are to guarantee one-half in case of capture. Saltpetre in Europe is ten cents per.pound — hefe forty cents, and in case she brought us only one hundred tons, we should save not less than sixty thousand dollars. But by the terms of the proposed agreement we are to have half of her storage on the re- 42 turn voyage, ■\\hich, in case of success, -will nctt us a large amount. If it is impossible to obtain the necessary credit abroad, I may be able to make arrangements with parties here to make the purchases, •we to pay them at such a rate, as in case of success, to reimburse the fifty thousand dollars, which we risk by way of guarantee. I inclose you a copy of a letter received from Major Rains, to-night, which con- firms me in my favorable view of the proposed plan. Please telegraph > me on receipt of this, and say whether I shall make the best terms I can, taking it for granted that it Avill be impossible to obtain the ne- cessary credits abroad. The party who ofi"ered to bring in seventy-five tons of powder, if we advance the money, under bonds, offers E. Ganthein & Co., of New Orleans, as bondsmen. I objected to the security, but he says their status is well known to you and to the President, and wished me to advise with you. Mr. Leo, whom I sent to Texas for the Vanderbilt powder, reports that Gen. Heberthad takenhalf of it without examination. Acting under orders from me, he examined one hundred and thirty-five boxes of the remainder, rejecting thirty boxes, as being ^' some wet, some damp, and others lumpy." When he gets through with half, he will go to General Hebert to carry out your instructions with reference to the balance of the cargo. The part that passed inspection was shipped to me on the 13th instant, from Beaumont, TejfSs, via New Iberia. I was in Mississippi sound yesterday, made a close reconnoissance of the enemy's fleet, and found twenty-four vessels at the island. Two of their steamers got under weigh and drove us back to Pass Christian. Poloxi is not, and never has been, occupied by the enemy. They came ashore with sixty men, staid for a few hours and left. The reports about outrages and communications with the enemy are grossly exaggerated. With the third Mississippi regiment and a few- launches, I can do all that we propose, i. e., prevent marauding par- ties from landing, negroes from escaping, or any communication with the enemy. Governor Pettus, under authority from Richmond, is mustering in, and sending here some companies rather poorly armed and equipped. I shall have to complete them from the government stores in such manner as to make them effective. I have sent one of ray staff to Jackson to endeavor to make such arrangements with the Governor as will conduce to some more systematic concert of action. Some of the State organizations allow more officers to a company than the Confederate law permits, and where the companies are first mustered into the State service and then transferred, we are compelled to drop one or more of the officers. I had much rather send an officer from here to muster in the companies, as it saves trouble in the end. If I do not need the one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars placed to my credit, I will advise you at once. I have to thank you for your prompt and considerate attention and assistance in my duties here. It gives me unbounded satisfaction. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General, C. S. A. 43 Inclosure in the foregoing, Nashville, Tenn., January 17, 18G2. My DEAR L. : It feel very anxious about a certain matter. The .amounts received now are less than what they were two month since. It is absolutely necessary that we should receive supplies from other sources, and I trust the arrangements to that effect will be speedily put into operation. I am in a better position to know the situation of the Confederacy in the matter in question than any other person, and you will understand me when I urge the absolute necessity of in- creasing our store. It is in vain for one portion of the country to be placed in a secure state of defence and broad openings left at the places. The safety of each part depends at last on the security of the whole. You may feel entirely safe from successful attack, but other vital points have not your resources, and their necessities must be looked after without delay. The Secretary gave me full powers to make and authorize any contract I might deem necessary in my de- partment, but I have seen no prospect so promising, wherever I have been, as the one we spoke of. I trust you will bring your energy to assist in the matter. It is more vital to the country than anything else at this period. The "certain matter" referred , to in the beginning of the above extract, was the proposed plan for obtaining saltpetre, which I sub- mitted to you through Major Rains, in December. (Signed,) M. L. (No 54.) CoNFEDFRATE StaTES OF AmKRICA, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, > New Orleans, 22d Jan., 1862. > Hon. J, r. Ben.iamin, Secretaiy of War: Sir : The party who proposes to deliver powder here at one dollar and fourteen cents per pound, in case we will advance the money, has furnished as his bondsmen, the house of Charles Kock & Co., of New Orleans, who will bind themselves to refund the money if the powder is not delivered in sixty days. The security is ample, as they have an abundance of real estate in this City and State. I have agreed, therefore, to advance two-thirds the value of the powder, viz: I$125, 000; the balance to be paid on tfcc delivery of the seventyseveA and a half tons, if the powder passes inspection. Will you send the mo- ney here to me, or shall 1 draw upon Richmond for it; if so upon whom, l^lease let me have your answer by telegraph. Respectfully, your most obedient servant, (Signed) M. LOVELL, Maj. Gen, Command'.ng. 44 (No. 55.) Confederate States of Americv, j Headquarters Department No. 1 , \ New OrleaQs, La., Jan. 2S, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: SrR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1 9th instant, by Captain Townsend, relative to the plan for floating defences on the western waters. The foul teen vessels named in your telegram, were seized and ap- praised by a board consisting of Messrs Bogart, Stephenson Frost, Grinnel, Milliken and the naval constructor Porter. Several of the vessels were costly and could be replaced by others equally well adapted to the contemplated service at much less expense. I have, therefore, caused those changes to be made reducing the value of the seizures from $9U0,()UU to $620,000, and the ships we have areas good, or better for what w^e want that those named. The parties own- ing these ships are anxious to be paid at once, as in some instances agreements had been made for their sale. Are these appraised values to be paid out of the appropriation of one million, made by act of 9th January, 1862, or is that money Ui be expended for altering, fitting up, payment and subsistence of oifxcers and men. If the latter, how shall I pay the owners who are clamorous for their money. If the former, one million dollars is not enough. The fourteen vessels named in your telegram would alone have coit nearly that sum. I think it advisable that the captains should recommend to the Presi- dent some competent person to have general control of the fleet, in fitting it out and making general rules and orders for its control and management. Fourteen Mississippi river captiuns and pilots Avill never agree about anything after they once get under weigh. More- over, as each ship will carry one gun, there will be some necessary arrangements for munitions of war, signals, &c., &c. They have already got to work upon some of the ships. I will send you a list of their names, with valuations, as soon as I recieve the official report of the appraisers. I sent Mr. Lee to Texas for the Vanderbilt powder. Gen. Ilebert, acting, as he says, under necessity, had taken half the powder, and taking into consideration all the circumstances, of their distance, their want of local means and other facilities, I think it is about as well that he has done so. The other half is en route for this point and will arrive in a week or ten days. Some forty boxes are wet, but these can be worked over at our mills. The securities proposed by Mr. Angoman (Charles Kock & Co.) have withdrawn their names, as they consider it impossible for him to bring in the seventy-five tons of powder. The steamer Calhoun, on her way here from Havana with fifty thousand pounda powder, four hundred bags of coff'ee, &c., was abandoned last week near the mouth of the river, most unnecessarily and timidly, and fell into the hands of the enemy. She will prove a great pest on the coast, as she is very 45 fast and of light draught. Her crew tried to set her on fire, but in their fright and haste they failed to do so effectually.- It was an un- fortunate piece of business. I sent Gen. Johnston, after the defeat of Crittenden, two hundred thousand cartridges, four hundred double barreled shot guns and six- teen tons of lead, as he telegraphed me he was out of that article. I will also send up to him the five Mississippi Companies that Governor Pettus sent me for coast defence, when it was understood that General Polk had declined to send back the 3d Mississippi regiment, as soon as I can have them put through the measles, a process which they are now undergoing, one half of them now being sick. In your letter of the 6th instant, you indicated particularly the duties which it was proposed to assign to Gen. Trimble, but he has never made his appearance here as yet. The nature of the proposed duty requires a young and active man, but I will gladly receive any assistance that you can spare. General Cooper telegraphs, in reply to my question, that no order has been issued transferring General Trimble to this department. There must be some mistake about it. I beg that you will advise me at your early convenience as to the time and means of paying for the steamers seized here, as the parties annoy me considerably. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General, commanding. { No. 56.] Richmond, January 28, 1862. Gen. M. Lovfll, Neio Orleans: Your letter of 20th received. Make the best arrangements you can for the Tennessee. It is impossible to put credits abroad, but we can make any proper advances on this side. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, S'cretary of War. (No. 57.) New Orleans, January 30, 1863. Hon. J. P. Benjamin : Can the navy department give up any cutlasses and pistols for river flotilla ; if so, how many ? M. LOVELL. 46 (No. 53.) Richmond, January 30, 1862. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans : Remittance of one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars is now on way to you to pay for povrder. 1 write to day. (Signed,) J. P. BFNJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 59.) Confederate States of America, ^ War Department, \ Richmond, January 30, 1862 ) Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, Nw Orleans: Sir: I have your letters of 20th and 22d instant. I sent you a dispatch in relation to the Tennessee, and now repeat the authority to make the hest bargain you can with the owners for sharing in the adventure, so that we may have half of the return tonnage for saltpetre. Let me, however, caution you on one point. If they have all the profits of an outward cargo of cotton, we ought not to be expected to bear any of the risk of going out, if we take half of the risk, we must have half the profits. If we are to share only in the return cargo, we must only share the return risk. Your proposal of Charles Kock & Co., for sureties for the contract for powder, is quite satisfactory. Before getting your letter, I had drawn in your favor for one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars to cover cost of seventy- five tons of powder, and the money must now be in your hands. As, however, your advance is only one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, you will have a surplus of seventy thousand dollars, most of which you will require for settlement for powder per Vanderbilt. I got a letter from Mr. Sumner, proposing to receive in part pay- ment of the powder, per Vanderbilt, one hundred and twenty thou- sand dollars in eight per cent, bonds. This suits us much better than issuing treasury notes. I accordingly drew a warrant on treasury, in your favor, for one hundred and twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, of which one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in eight per cent, bonds, and seven thousand five hundred dollars in treasury notes. In settling with the owners of the Vanderbilt powder, there- fore, you will give them the bonds and the balance only in treasury notes. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 47 « (No 60.) CoNFEDEK^^E StaTES OF AmERICA, J % Headquarters, Department No. 1 , \ New Orleans, La., Feb. 1, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: Sir: I received a telegram from 3^011 yesterday, stating that one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars was now on the way here for me to pay for powder. The fact that this is the exact amount placed to my credit already, in answer to my request for money to carry out the arrangement with the steamer Tennessee, for arms and powder, induces me to write and say, that I have already entered into the arrangement with the Tennessee, and that this sum is not availa- ble to pay for the powder by the Vandcrbilt. It may he that the co- incidence is accidental, but I think it safest to advise you. I will send on a copy of my agreement with owners of Tennessee in a few days, by which you will see that we get two hundred thousand dollars in Havre, by depositing one hundred thousand here, and insuring half the ship, fifty thousand dollars, in case of capture. On the re- turn cargo we take the risk of first cost and half the value of ship in case of capture, the powder to be delivered at one hundred per cent., and the arms at fifty per cent, above invoice price. As a money transaction, I have calculated that it results in our favor largely more than in risk. Respectfully your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major Gemral commanding^ (No. 61.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, y New Orleans, La., 4th Feb., 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : On the 30th ultimo your telegram stated '• one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars was on its way to me to pay for powder." When the drafts arrived, one was for one hundred and twenty thou- sand dollars, and the other for seven thousand five hundred dollars, instead of seventy-five thousand dollars, the sum necessary to make up the total stated by you. I have no doubt that it was the intention to make it the latter sum, as the estimated value of the cargo of the Vandcrbilt was more than one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, which, with the transportation to this point, wou'd bring it up to the sum named by you. As General Hebert has taken half of the powder, T shall not pay for the whole until I hear from him what part of his half was dam- • 48 aged. In the part received by me there were forty boxes more or less damaged. The draft for one hundred and ffwenty thousand dollars was drawn upon the Treasurer at Richmond, and Mr. Guivot will not, of course, pay it here. 1 return it to Mr. Elmore to-day. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General, Commanding. (No. 62.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, \ New Orleans, La., 6th Feb., 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letters of 27th and 3()th ultimo. With regard to General Ruggles' assignment to the duty of caring for the Mississippi coast, I think it would be exceedingly unadvisable. His services in organizing a brigade of five regiments as a movable force to any point of the Department, are more valuable than they would be on the coast. Neither his age nor his rank are exactly in conformity with outpost duty, in command of two regiments. He would feel mortified, I am sure, at such an assignment. I can manage matters better by leaving them as at present. With ten thousand men in this department, and a long extent of coast to guard, I would recommend the appointment of a brigadier general from Mississippi for duty on that pxrt of the line. I have but two here, while in the department of Mobile, (General Bragg's,) I learn there are not less than five or six officers of that grade. II. I have just received the first installment of powder by Vander- bilt, and on testing it I found it much below range. In justice to the service it should be worked over again. I will probably reject it; certainly at two dollars per pound. III. The Federal prisoners, four hundred and ninety-three in num- ber, will leave to-day for Salisbury, North Carolina, pursuant to tele- graphic»order from General Cooper. IV. I look daily for appointments of officers in the new rEgiments. Major Lovell's resignation has been accepted but not his new appoint- ment. As he is coHrstantly on important duty, giving orders, &c,, it is a little awkward, but he continues at work. At the written request of Captains Montgomery and Townsend, I have placed him in charge of the ordnance and disbursements of their expedition. V. After careful search and enquiry, we can find nothing of Cap- tain W. F. McLean, alluded to in your letter of 27th January. When found I will act as advised by you. VI. Your impressions about the arrangement with steamer Tennes- see are not quite correct. We take no risk on the cotton at all, but 49 guarantee fifty thousand dollars on the. ship in case of capture on out- ward voyage ; and in case she arrives in Havre, (the chances of which are largely in our favor,) we receive fifty thousand dollars in the shape of exchange, as the parties buy for us there two hundred thousand dollars worth of arms and munitions. We thus risk the loss of fifty thousand dollars for the certain receipt of that amount in case of success, as it would cost us that sum to get a credit of two hun- dred thousand dollars in France. On the return we take a risk of fifty thousand dollars on the ship and two hundred thousand dollars' on the cargo ; hut the prices, if delivered, are so arranged that in case of success we should save more than three hundred thousand dollars on present prices of arms and powder. YII. I had no knowledge of the arrangement with Mr. Sumner about the bonds, and therefore got the draft for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars cashed here. No bonds came to me, nothing but two drafts, one for seven thousand five hundred dollars on assist- ant treasurer here, the other for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars on Treasurer at Richmond. There must have been a- mistake on his part in carrying out your views. Respectfully your obedient servant, (Signed,) '• M. LOVELL, Major General commanding (No. 03.) ^ TELEGRAM. New Orleans, Feb. 7, 1862. To Gen. S. Cooper : Is appointtnettt of F. S. Ruggles as brigade commissary con- firmed ? M. LOVELL. (No. 64.) C. S. A., War Department, ) Richmond, Feb. 8, 1862. 5 Sir : The President desires that, as soon as possible, on receipt of this letter, you dispatch five thousand men to Columbus to re-enforce that point sorely threatened by largely superior forces. The menac- ing aspect of affairs in Kentucky has induced the withdrawal from points, not in immediate danger, of every man that can be spared, to prevent the enemy from penetrating into Tennessee or passing Col- umbus. A draft has been made on General Bragg ; four regiments have been ordered from Virginia, together Avith several batteries, and 4 50 vith the number now required from your coraoiand, we hope to stem the tide until the new levies called out from the State shall be in con- dition to take the field. New Orleans is to be defended from above by defeating the enemy at Columbus ; the forces now withdrawn from you are for the defence of your own command, and the exigencies of the public' defence allow us no alternative. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Maj. Gen. M. Lovels>, New Orleans, (No. 65.) Secretary of War. RrcuMOND, Feb. 9, 1862. MaJ. Gen. M. Lovell, Neiu Orleans. I have written you to-day by President's direction to send imme- diately five thousand of your best equipped men to Columbus, to re- inforce General Beauregard. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War.. (No. 66.) New Orleans, Feb. II, 1862. ^Hon, J. P. Benjamin : Please send appointment of field officers ; their services are needed fjr the two regiments. M. LOVELL. (No. 67.) Headquarters, Department No. I, ) Neiv Orleans, Feb. 12, 1862. 3 Ifon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : I received, yesterday, your dispatch directing me to send five thousand men to Columbus. I have already sent one the (13th,) and shall move five more regiments in two days, (Ruggles' entire brigade,) with a field battery. I shall order General Ruggles to go on, in command of them, and shall go to work at once to endeavor to organize a force for the defence of the interior lines from the volun- 51 teers and militia of this city and State. Unfortunately the legisla- ture passed a law at its late session re-organizing the whole militia, which has to be done at a very inconvenient ir.oment, but I am in hopes that most of the volunteers will elect their company and field officers, on the instant, so that we shall soon have a force on hand. I regret the necessity of sending away my only force, at this particu- lar juncture, and feel sure that it will create a great panic hero, but will do my best to restore confidence by a show of strength. Yau have never sent me any orders about the 'distribution of the Vanderbilt's powder. General Hebert has one half; and a part of the remainder arrived here lately. On proof, it was found to lack 15 per cent, of saltpetre, but I can work it all over in 12 days and make it into good powder. We shall have about 40,000 lbs. I gave Commodore ITollins 3,500 lbs. of my own stock to go up the river ; and General Bragg has sent to me for some of that by the Vanderbilt. I shall make it go % far as I can. Ref-pectfully, your obodient servant, M. LOYELL, Major General Commanding. P. S. — I borrowed from the navy two launches armed with one gun each, which 1 manned with crews from the 3d Mississppi regiment, and stationed, one in Bay St. Luies and one in Biloxi Bay. The Secretary of the Navy requires that they be returned to Mobile, whence they came. Such accessories are very necessary on that coast, and I should like to have authority to use any funds that may be in my hands to construct two more to replace those I have. I can get no assistance from the navy as they have no founds. (No. 68.) IIeadquartkrs Department No. ],} New Orleans, Feb. 15, 1863. S lion. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond: ^. Sir: I have at last found Captain W. F. McLean, Ben McCulloch Rangers, whom I stated in a former letter that I had been unable to find, and according to your instructions I have ordered him to proceed immediately to Richmond and report to the Adjutant General, He would not accept your permission to resign. There are five hundred blankets remaining here which were not issued to the prisoners of war when the other articles sent by the United States Government were distributed. I had ordered a supply of blankets, comforts, etc., to be given the prisoners before the receipt of the clothing from the North,, and therefore withheld the issue of these blankets. I have now to- request that you will instruct me whether I shall turn the^e blankets in to the quartermaster to replace those I ordered to be issued, or forward them to Salisbury,' N. C, whither the prisoners have been removed. oz The *' Victoria " propeller schooner has run into Barratannia Bay, \vith some powder and a small quantity of arms, but I have not yet been able to learn the exact amount. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General commanding. (No. 69.) Richmond, February 16, 1862. General M. Lovell, New Orleans: Send every musket received by the Victoria afbnce to Grand Junc- tion, subject to orders of General A. S. Johnston. Send an agent with them to force them forward by express. Inform General John- ston of what you have done, and of the kind of arms, and such details as will enable him to prepare ammunition for them in advance. Inform me of what you do, and of the number of arms sent. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 70.) Richmond, February 16, 1862. KJeneral M. Lovell, New Orleans: Your letter of 6th received. Your course in relation to General Ruggles is approved. If you have not yet sent the troops to Colum- bus as advised by my dispatch, let them stop at Memphis, and send telegram so informing General A. S. Johnston. The great line of attack by the Cumberland river may make it necessary to send the itroops Eastward from Memphis, instead of sending them to Columbus. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of Wa7: (No. 71.) New Orleans, February 21, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjamin: The Victoria has one hundred and fifty (150) guns, and twenty thousand (20,000) pounds powder. Wha\ price shall I pay ? M. LOVELL. •53 (No. 72.) New Orleans, February 21, 1862. J. P. Benjamin There are but one hundred and fifty ( 150) guns, and twenty thou- sand ( 20, 000) pounds powder on Victoria. Have sent four ( 4 ) regi- ments to Corinth. M. LOVELL. (No. 73.) New Orleans, February 21, 18G2. J. P. Benjamin : Who fixes the rates of pay of men for Montgomery's expedition? Shall I give a month's advance. M. LOVELL. (No. 74.) New Orleans, February 21, 1862. Hon. J. P. BenjaxMin Steamer Miramon has arrived with twenty thousand (20,000) pounds powder, and four hundred (400) guns. M. LOVELL. (No. 75.) Richmond, February 23, 1862. General M. Lovell, New Orleans: Seize all the powder on the Victoria and Miramon, paying for it two dollars per pound, if of full proof, and making a rateable deduction if not proof Send twenty thousand pounds of cannon powder here by special agent, with instructions to force it through without an hour's - delav. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 5-1 (No. 76.) Confederate States of America, ^ War Depa'-tment, > • Richmond, February 23, 1862. ) Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans: Sir: I am in arrears v/ith my correspondence, but the pressure on this department is so intense that I cannot always be punctual. I have your letters of 2Sth ultimo, and 1 6th and 12th instant. I await your returns of the list and appraisement of the steamers prepared for defence of ]Mississippi river. I will then take immediate measures for payment. Pray let me know immediately on receipt of this (and by telegraph, if necessary,) when the boats will be ready, and if they have full crews, and their armament. Also the names of commanders, &c. The change you have made in regard to General Ruggles is fully approved. The order for the defence of the Mississippi coast was issued against my judgment, but the urgency of the members from that State on the President was so great that it was not politic to re- fuse at the time to gratify their wish. Events have shown how un- reasonable was their demand, and we must dismiss all idea of scatter- ing our force in defence of unimportant points, and concentrate them at vital lines. 3. The appointments of the officers in the new regiments arc all complete, but the number submitted to Congress and confirmed at the last session was so gi'eat, that I am not yet able to send them all. They are confirmed, however, and you can assign to them their com- mands. 4. I am very much pleased with your arrangement about the Ten- nessee and hope she has got out safely. 5. You are authorized to use any funds in your hands for the con- struction of two launches to replace those borrowed from the Navy for guarding the Mississippi coast. 6. I dispatched to-day to impress all powder by Miramon and Victo- ria, I don't want you to let an ounce of powder, or any arms or muni- tions of war escape you at any time. They are a matter of life and 'death to us, and scarcely any price is too much to pay till our people are .armed, although, of course, I desire to save every dollar we can. I inclose you a letter to General Ilebert, which you will please forward by special express. I leave it open that you may understand the policy of the government. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 55 (No. 77.) Confederate States of America, ) War Department, ^ Richmond, February 24, 1862. 3 Major General M. Loveli., New Orleans: Sir : Your snggoctions in regard to the m-odfe of supplying newly mustered regiments, with surgeons and assistant surgeons during the period before actual appointment, are approved as regards the tem- porary arrangement. But it must not be forgotten that the surgeons and assistant surgeons tlien appointed must still submit to the regular examination bj the medical board, as appointed by the Surgeon Gen- •eral. The'preliminar}' examination, which you propose to institute, €ver proper in itself, cannot, of course, replace th eofficial examination required by la\v Respcctfullji, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, (No. 78.) •Confederate States of America, ^ War Department, ^ Richmond, February 2G, 1862. ) Major General M. Lovell, Commanding at New Orleans, La. : Sir: Your letter of the 15th instant, has been received. Tlie blankets remaining on hand, which were sent by the United States Government, and were not issued to the prisoners of war, should be ^raed -over to the quartermaster at New Orleans. Respectfully, J. P. BENJAMIN, Sxretary of War. (No. 79.) / New Orleans, February 26, 1862, J, r. Benjamin: Please delay confirmation of Captain of river expedition until you iiear from here. M. LOVELL. 5Q (No. 80.) New Orle.\ns, February 26, 1862. lion. J. P. BE>JAMrN; What arrangements to pay for vessels for river defences. Parties vant money badly on account of losses in running blockade. M. LOYELL^ (No. 81.) Headquarters Department No. 1, > . New Orleans, 27th 1^'eb., 1862. j Hon. J. P. Benjamin^ Secretary of War : I have the honor to report that since my last letter I have sent for- ward to Tennessee Ruggles' brigade of four regiments, with a battery of six field guns, also a new company of artillery, (Vaiden's,) witb six guns and their harness and equipments. Yesterday the fourth Louisiana, and to-day the seventh Mississippi moved to the same des- tination. The twentieth Louisiana regiment was mustered for State- service, but not wishing to remain behind, eight companies have reor- ganized for the war, and I shall send that regiment on in a few days. This will make a total of eight regiments and two batteries from the department, besides a quantity of shot guns (five hundred) and a mil- lion of cartridges. People are" beginning to complain that I have stripped the department so completely, but I have called upon Gov- ernor Moore for ten thousand volunteers and militia for State service. E.aw troops with doubled .barrelled shot guns are amply sufficient to hold our entrenchments against such troops as the enemy can send to- attack them. Besides 1 regard Butler's Ship Island expedition as a harmless menace so far as New Orleans is concerned. A black re- publican dynasty will never give an old Breckinridge democrat like Butler command of any expedition which they had any idea would result in such a glorious success as the capture of New Orleans, He will not have ten thousand men for a demonstration by land upon any of the gulf cities. IL Bowling Green has been turned by the Cumberland river, as I predicted, in the plan which I submitted to you early in October,, although at ^hat time they had no such men there as Buell and Hal- leek to command such an operation. 111. I fransmitted to you in January a letter of Captain Buchel, in reference to a draft that he had drawn in Texas, for supplies to subsist troops, and asked your instructions ; since then the draft was presented, and I paid it in specie, out of the funds in my hands. Had it been protested, our troops on the Rio Grande could not have re- ceived provisions. I hope it meets your approval. 67 IV. The river defence expedition is progressing favorably, but con- siderable dissatisfaction has been expressed here at some of the ap- pointments made by Montgomery and Townsend. The matter -will be put before you by some citizens of this place. I have disbursed about half of the three hundred thousand dollars placed to my credit on that appropriation, and large amounts are dije. I tiust that there will be no delay from want of funds to keep the works from being driven for- ward with all despatch. Time is an important element at this junc- ture. V. In view of the constant demands from all points upon me for munitions, repairs of arms, etc., and the defenceless condition of our workshops and machinery at Nashville and Baton llouge, I oidered preparations at the ncAv marine hospital to be made for carrying on all such operations on a considerable scale, and directed an estimate for funds to be made by Captain Lambert, which was returned by Colonel Gorgas, with the remark that " he did not comtemplate having a laboratory here." The necessities of the public service in my judg- ment demand all and much more than I have done to keep pace with the requisitions daily made. I have fifteen gunsmiths at work putting in order the old weapons of all kinds collected from the country, and am preparing ammunition and implements for artillery, which I cnn- not get elsewhere ; indeed I have furnished Generals Johnston and Polk with large supplies, and hope that nothing will be permitted to interfere with operations so necessary to our salvation. If I cannot get the funds from Richmond, I must throw myself upon the gene- rosity of the people of the city. The work must go on unless you order it to be suspended. Knowing the immense pressure upon your time, and trusting that you had confidence in my judgment, I have assumed a good deal of responsibility and gone on with matters which I conceived to be important for the public good, without referring every trifle to you for consideration. If you wish me to pursue a different course, please indicate your view. Whatever has been done has been upon principles of a sound and wise economy, and has thus far produced beneficial results. VI. The Tennessee has been unable as yet to get out of the river. The Magnolia, Florida, Whitmore and Vandcrbilt got to sea. last week, but one of them (supposed to be the ^Magnolia) has been cap- tured and taken to Ship Island. The powder by the Victoria turns out to be musket powder, although it seems to be of good quality. That by the Miramon, which came in at the Grand Caillon has not yet reached the city. As soon as I work over twenty thousand pounds of the Vanderbilt powder, I will dispatch it to Richmond as ordered by you in a telegram. • VII. Some of the parties who met with heavy losses on the Cal- houn, J. L. Day and Magnolia, owned several of the boats seized by us for Montgomery's, fleet, and are ver}' anxious in their straitened circumstances to be paid for the vessels that we took. Can funds be placed at my disposal for that purpose ? The total value of the steamers seized is about six hundred thousand dollars. I will enclose a schedule of the appraisements with the remark that some of the 58 owners liave protested that the amounts allowed are not a fair price. Those objected to I had re-appraised, and the board adhered to its first decision. No more should be allowed. VIII. I turned over to the navy ten forty-two pounders to arm their two gunboats for like service, and hope that they will get them out pretty soon. But whether from want of funds, or lack of syste- matic expenditures, the credit of that branch of the public service here is so bad that it is almost impossible for them to get anything done. A few days since I wanted a crew fi>r a boat to work on the lower rafts, but could not get a man until they were satisfied that it was not intended for service in the naval department. This is a se- rious embarrassment to them in their work. IX. With some funds that I got from the city, I bought, and am fitting up as launches with one light gun each, twelve luggers, for a coast guard, to watch the enemy ard prevent communication with the shore. X. I am a good deal delayed by the want of competent officers to assist me in the laborious details of this department. We want an ordnance officer here iJadly. Many things are necessarily kept back by having Msijor Smith perform the duties of engineer and ordnance officer, either one of which would tax a competent man to the utmost. It is neither justice to him nor to the service to make him responsible for such an immense and varied amount of detailed work. With much respect, your obediefit servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding. (No. 82.) New Orlf.ans, March o, 1862. lion. J. P. Benjamin: Vanderbilt powder had to be re -worked. Victoria powder was all musket, and Miramon powder not arrived. Shall I send musk©4 pow- der ? M. LOVELL. (No. 83) ' Richmond, March 5, 1862. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleaiis : Your dispatch of the 5th received. Send ten thousand (10,000) pounds of musket powder and ten thousand pounds of cannon powder, with an agent to force it on bv express. .J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. 69 (No 84.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1 , > New Orleans, La., March 6, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of you letters of the 23d, 24th and 2Gth ult., which reached me yesterday. I. The riA'cr expedition is progressing well. Seven of the boats will be ready, except the gun, on Saturday, the 8th, and the remain- der in a week from that time. . We are working under many dis- advantages, but no time is being lost. I shall be out of funds for that purpose in a few days. The appraisement of the ships was forwarded in my letter of 27th ult. II. I received your telegram directing 20,000 lbs. cannon powder to be sent to Richmond. All the powder that came in the Vander- bilt, Victoria and Miramon is small grained, not cannon powder, and that, by the first and last of those vessels,i requires to be re worked with an addition of 15 per cent, of saltpetre. This department is being completely drained of every thing, and I trust that the arrival of the Nashville will enable you to leave here all the powder that we have on hand. We have filled requisitions for arms, men and muni- tions, until New Orleans is ab'^itt defenceless. In return we get nothing. Mobile and Pensacola, even Galveston, are defended by 10-inch Col- umbiads, while this city has nothing above an 8-inch, and but few of them. The fortified line about the city is complete, but I have taken 10. of the guns for the navy and sixteen for the vessels that we are fitting up for the river expedition. My reliance to defend these lines will be upon militia with doubled barreled guns and thirty-two pound carronades. If now, you take the powder from me, we shall be in no condition to resist. The only thing to provide is a sufficiency of powder to enable us ^ to resist a prolonged attack by ships and mortar boats upon two points, forts Tike and Macomb, and Forts Jackson and St. Philip. If the first are passed, we still have a land defence to make ; if the last, a fleet can proceed at once to the city. III. I shall send up this week the Crescent regiment, the 20th regiment, two batteries of artillery, four companies Mississippi volun- teers, besides several seperate companies, which will make eight regi- ments, four batteries of field artillery, and several companies, arm-jd, equipped and provided with a good supply of ammunition. I cannot organize the militia left here without the assistance of a general officer of 'experience and detailed knowledge. The circum- stances of the case render it imperative. You will see, by the letter accompanying this, that I have urged upon the President the appointment of Major Smith as the proper person to fill that position. His engineer duties are drawing towards a condition which will enable him to be of great service in command 6C of troops. He knows the whole country from personal observation, and moreover, is fairly entitled, from his great and faithful labors, to be put more nearly on a par with his class-mates at the military academy, all of whom are in high position — mostly general offices. He is willing to act as the engineer officer of the department, in connec- tion with a command in the line. My desire is to place him in charge of the troops intended for the defences of the interior lines, which, as an engineer, he has constructed, and, as ordinance officer, armed and provided. His appointment would be acknowledged by the commu- nity here as a just tribute to faithful merit and valuable services ren- dered. They feel much indebted to kim for their present condition of defence. Major Smith is a class-mate of Smith, Van Dorn, Long- street, Anderson, McLaws, D H. Hill, A. P. Stewart, myself and others, high in rank. He alone, one of the first in the field, has been left in a position of inferior rank. The absence of General Ruggles demands a brigadier here, and there is every reason public, as well as private, that Major Smith should receive the appointment. I hope you will urge it upon the President, and let me know by telegraph his answer. I want the ser- vices of a general officer at once. IV. Several persons here are refusing to take Confederate notes. They don't come under military supervision or I would put an end to it in short order. What do you think should be done ? I am almost daily urged by prominent citizens to declare martial law here. It would, however, only remedy a few evils, while causing much incon- venience. I think that every desirable end could be attained by a military police and a registry of all comers. I would like to have your views about the propriety of having martial law here. Thus far I have steadily declined to do so. V. After the disasters in Tennessee, and when I became satisfied that Columbus could not he held. I ordered all the stores on hand at Baton Rouge to be sent here, as that city could be taken and all the public property there destroyed by half a dozen gunboats at a dash. Meanwhile I am enlarging the laboratory and arsenal here, so as to be prepared, in some small measure, in case the Baton Rouge works should be destroyed. It does not seem to meet with the approval of Col. Gorgas, who regards it rather with the eye of the head of a bu- reau than as a military commander. Meanwhile I must go ahead with preparations which I consider to be of vital importance until you put a stop to it. I have at the Ma- rine Hospital a steam engine and a large number of hands employed in repairing arms, making ammunition, &c. &c., and had it not been for this we never could have forwarded eight regiments and four bat- teries to aid them in Tennessee, for nothing of any description has been sent here, except some saltpeter. •VI. I am hunting all over the Confederacy to procure saltpeter to re-work thfe powder lately arrived from Cuba. They are sending it from Memphis to Augusta. I have, however, sent an agent to Texas to get some that I heard was at Houston — and there is a lot of six thousand pounds en route here from Georgia. Until T get some, the powder must remain in statu qiio. VII. Permit me again to urge upon you the necessity of sending here an officer of ordnance, to attend to the numerous requisitions constantly made upon this department from all quarters. Much delay and difficulty has arisen from the want of such a person here. This duty has been performed by Major Smith in addition to his other du- ties; but by this arrangement injustice is done both to him and to the public service. VIII. I am somewliat fearful that a little too much latitude has been given to the steamboat captains and pilots in charge of the river expedition. If the curt-ent of opinion here should set against them, they Avill be unable to get crews, and I would recommend a responsible head to the expedition when it is ready to move, otherwise there Avill be discussion, confusion and consequent inaction. IX. The Calhoun runs up the river below the forts, and we have nothing to keep her back, I hope the Secretary of the Navy will keep at least one vessel here to prevent the enemy from making rc- connoissances under our very guns. X. I allow no arms or powder arriving to escape me, but have no need to ** impress," as I will not give a permit to go out until I have the promise of the refusal of the cargo. The arrangement works smoothly. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commarding. (No. 85.) New Orleans, March 7, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjamin: In case of evacuation of points now fortified, please order ten inch guns and mortars here. M. LOVELL. (No. 86.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters, Department No. 1. > ^ New Orleans, La., March 9, 1862. ) Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War: Sir : In obedience to your orders I have sent forward to Tennessee, besides the thirteenth Louisiana, already detached the following regi- 62 ments, viz : the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and fourth Louisiana, and the seventh Mississippi regiments. The twen- tieth will leave on Tuesday; Gibson's and Vaiden's field batteries have also gone forward In addition, Governor Moore has sent the Crescent regiment and fifth Company Washington Artillery ; and the Orleans Guard battery, with three companies of that battalion will go in a few days, all nom- inally for ninety days, but there is every reason to believe that once in the field, they will remain. These troops have all been fitted out completely by the State, I have only furnished ammunition, subsis- tence and transportation. One or two independent companies will probably join Beauregard in the same manner The four Mississippi companies of Ilardcastle's battalion which were here, I have ordered to join their own corps now with General A. S. Johnston. You will thus perceive that this department has been completely stripped of every organized body of troops. To replace them, I have called upon Governor Moore for ten thousand volunteers and militia for the defense of the lines about New Orleans, which call I hope will meet with the approval of the government. Persons are found here who assert that I am sending away all troops. so tlmt. the cHy may fall an easy prey to the enemy. ■ All requisition for ammunition have been filled until I have none left, except what is in the hands of troops. Neither have I funds placed at my disposal to create supplies in place of those sent off". If the enemy intends an attack here, he will make it soon, and I trust no further calls will be made until we are placed in a defensible condition. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding. (No. 87.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, > New Orleans, La., March 10, 18G2. ) lion. J. P. Benjajiin, Secretary of Wa^ : Sir : The steamer Tennessee has been unable to get out of the river so far. When she went down to make the attempt, it was understood that she would be assisted to the extent of calling off" the attention of the blockaders, by one of our gun-boats. These, however, have all been ordered up the river, and she still remains at the lower forts. Since the river expedition (Montgomery's,) was set on foot, circum- stances have so materially changed as to require, in my judgment, at least a temporary change in the programme. The evacuation of Columbus puts an end to any attack upon the en-Gmies fleet at Cairo. es Still I should have sent the whole number (14) up as soon as thej were ready, notwithstanding the Secretary of the Navy had ordered every gun afloat up the river, had not the heavy drift and current broken up, in a great measure, the river obstructions at Fort Jackson. Under these circumstances, with the enemy's fleet collecting, and be- ginning to enter the mouths of the river with boldnes?, and having an open passage to New Orleans, if the batteries below are passed, I have written to General Polk that I could put no guns on the boatsof the expedition, and that until I could replace some obstructions in the river I should feel compelled to keep here six of the steamers. The fleet threatening us below is much more formidable than that above, and I object strongly to sending every armed vessel away from New f Orleans at this time. This city has been already too much weakened by the detachments of all kinds. Loud complaints are made on all hands ; and until we are placed in security below I do not think it advisable to draw anything further from this point, except the eight ships strengthened and prepared for their guns, which can be furnished above as well as here. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ' M. LOVELL, Major General commanding. (No. 88.) New Orle.\i\3, March II, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjamin: Quartermaster, commissary, river defence, engineer and medical funds exhausted. Time is important, can't move rapidly without money. M. LOVELL. (No. 89.) Confederate States of America, ^ War Department, > Richmond, March 12, 1862. ) General M. Lovell, New Orleans: Sir : I have your letter of 27th ult., together with its inclosurea, I have also received several communications in relation to the com- mand of the river steamer defences, and both the President and myself have felt much embarassed by them. The expedition was planned and gotton by Captain Montgomery and Townsend, reccommended by the whole Missouri delegation, and General Polk, and the objections 64 made to them now appear to us of the most vague and inconclusive character. The President has great confidence in Captain T. C. Lathers, and if he can be induced to go as commander of the expedition, you are requested to put him in command of the whole, Captain Montgomery second, Captain Townsend third, and the remainder in such order as may be fixed by Captain Montgomery, The. list of captains recommended by Montgomery and Townsend, is as follows, viz : January 15, Captain John A, Stevenson. *' 26, Isaac Hooper. ' '* 27, Burdett Taris. 28, John H. Burke. * t " 29, James Beverly Smith. 30, James C. Delancy, *• 31. Joseph Davis McCoy, February 1, William H. H. Leonard. * " 2, James Henry Hurt. 3, George Willholland Phillips. '* 4, William W. Lamb. *' 5, Joseph A. Sturtevant. * The three against whose names crosses have been placed, are said by some of the citizens of New Orleans to be unreliable. If you could replace them (the last especially) by some captains acceptable to our people, with the consent of Montgomery and Townsend, it would be well. I do not, myself, find suflScient reason for distrusting the parties, but public opinion ought to be satisfied if possible. In relation to these three parties you Avill use your own discretion. The expedition ought to go as promptly as possible ; subject to the orders of General Beauregard, as regards the service required of it, (but of course without any interference in their orginization.) and the relative rank of each officer settled in a general order which you are hereby authorized and requested to issue to them in conformity with the foregoing instructions. I have sent you three hundred thousand dollars on account of the expenses of this expedition, and will send you further remittances very promptly. As soon as 1 can get one moment, I will answer the rest of your letter, but I conclude by saying that your whole conduct of your department justifies the confidence reposed in you, and that I have not yet found a single act of yours which I disapprove in the smallest degree. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. P. S. — If Captain Lathers won't go, then give the command to Montgomery. If you can get Captain Holmes to take charge of one of the boats I would be gratified. He is an excellent officer. 65 TLe expedition is in no event to be put under control of officers of the navy. (No. 90.) Confederate States of America, l War Department, ^ Richmond, March 22, 18G3. ) Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans: Sir: Before turning over the affairs of this department to ray suc- cessor, I am anxious to give you full replies to your letters of 6th, 9th and lOth instants, as VrcU as those remaining unansvvered in your letter of 27th ultimo. r. I send you a remiitance of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which will enable you to pay sixty per cent, of the value of the fourteen steamers seized for the public use. I applied to Con- gress for a further appropriation of half a million of dollars which will, it is hoped, s\iffice to complete all payments for these vessels. II. I have seen Col. Gorgas on the subject of the works at the ma- rine hospital. Your action in, this matter is fujly approved, and no- thing is more gratifying than the zeal and activity you have so intel- ligently applied to remedying the deficiency under which we labor in the conduct of this war. Exercise your discretion in concentrating all our resources for the public defence, and feel assured of executive support and approval. III. The nomin&tion of Ool. Smith as 3?rigadier General, was sent to the Senate more than a week ago, but from some cause it has not yet been confirmed. I shall inquire into the difficulty immediately. IV. No more calls will be made on you for any supplies. Your assistance to the army in Tennessee has been most timely an New Orleans, La., March 22, 1862. ) Hon. J, P. Benjamin, Secretary of War : Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th relative to Montgomery's expedition. The evacuation of Columbus overturns his original intentions of destroying the enemy's licet at Cairo, and, in my judgment, they can now be used only aa assistants to the land and naval forces in defending our own positions. The people of New Orleans thought it sti-angc that all the vessels of the navy should be sent up the river, and were disposed to find fault with sending, in addition, fourteen steamers, leaving this city without a, single vessel for protection against the enemy who was collecting heavy fleets near the mouth of the river. Within the past few days they have had thirteen ships near the mouth, and have succeeded in towing inside several large steamers, which, in my opinion, only await the arrival of the mortar fleet to attempt to come up the river to New 68 Orleans, and operate as a diversion for the column descending from Cairo. Under these circumstances I shall retain here six of Montgo- mery's ships to assist in repelling any attack upon the forts below. At my request Governor Moore is also fitting up, with bulkheads of cotton, two vessels, which will give us eight here. This will be of material service and will quiet the people, who think that they have been too much neglected. In guns of large calibre we are greatly deficient, as I have mentioned before. It was to be hoped that in the evacuation of Pensacola, some ten-inch Columbiads would be sent here, but I have only succeeded in getting one, and that by sending a persevering officer after it. I enclose you two orders on the subject of martial law. Affairs here have reached a crisis (which Mr. Yancey will explain to the Pre- sident) and it became necessary for some one to seize the helm with 2b strong hand, or we should have had trouble, perhaps bloodshed, be- tween men who were all friendly to the cause. A city composed of such heterogenious elements as this, with an excitable population, who are easily led into excesses, is difficult to govern, as there are so many interests to consult, each jealous of the other. This rendered the appointment of provost marshals a matter of great difficulty, more ■especially, as I knew, that there were large and influential associa- tions in existence, whose leaders were desirous to take control. The aniversal approval of my appointments throughout the city, and the satisfaction and quiet, bo apparent to all, leads me to infer that the difficulty has been entirely solved, and everything seems to have set- tled back into its proper channel. We shall encourage our friends, root out our enemies, guard the public interests, and keep the specu- ifttors well in hand. No movement has been made since martial law was proclaimed that has not been received with approval by the people at laraie. I feel sure that the administration and our cause have been saved from a terrible embarrassment here in New Orleans. We are called upon here from all quarters to furnish everything — powder, food, equipments and ordnance stores of all kinds, and it is utterly impossible to make any estimate which will suit the require- laents of the bureaux. We must have money here in large qvantities, for we know not what urgent requisition may come upon us by tele- graph at a moment's notice. Bragg telegraphed to-day for five hun- dred thousand pounds hard bread, yet the estimate of my commissary, approved by me, has been returned from Richmond. /o?" details of what T?e would require. Such red tape will kill us. We had to borrow money to keep troops from suffering. This point being recognized as a great source of supply, I hope you will see the importance of pla- cing large amounts of money here for all the bureaux — commissary, •ordnance, quartermaster and medical purveyors. It is utterly impos- eible to foresee what we will require. Money will have to J)e borrowed to keep our troops in Tennessee from wanting bread. This certainly contd not have been foreseen by the assistant commissary of this de- partment. I thank you very warmly for the confidence expressed in the last paragraph of your letter, and trust that nothing will occur to abate 69 it, Mj position here is one of labor and difficulty, without much chance for glory, but I shall do my duty as I understand it, without " partialitj, favor or affection," Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. LOVELL, Major General Commanding. (No. 95,) New Orleans, March 29, 1862. Hon, J. P. Benjamin : I cannot get heavy guns from Mobile, The enemy is in large forco at the mouth of the river. Please order commanding officer at Mobile to send immediately. M. LOVELL. (No. 96.) • Richmond, March 29, 1862. General M. Lovell, New Orleans : What guns do you mean ? Guns in batteries, or guns on their way to you? (Signed,) G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 97.) New Orleans, March 31, 1862. Hon. G. W. Randolph: A part of the ten (10) inch columbiads and sea coast mortars which were at Pensacola. New Orleans has only one of the former and none of the latter. M. LOVELL. (No. 98.) New Orleans, April 3, 1862. General George Randolph : The seizure of Governor Moore's guns by the War Department loaves 70 me in a precarious condition. We sent off all our men, relying upon those guns to arm others. ' Please order them here. M. LOVELL. (No 99.) New Orleans, April 4, 1862. General Cooper : Is Colonel Smith appointed Brigadier General ? Ilis instant ser- vices are required. Where is the powder to be sent from Columbus ? M. LOVELL. (No. 100.) ANSWER TO THE LAST TELEGRAM. Richmond, April 4, 1862. To General M. Lovell : Colonel Martin L. Smith has been nominated Brigadier General, but not yet confirmed. Colonel Gorgas will telegraph you to-day respect- ing the powder. Signed, S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. (No. lOL) Richmond, April 4, 1862. "General Lovell, New Orleans : I have already ordered Colonel T. M. Jones, at Pensacola, and re- quested Governor Milton of Florida, to hold the arms subject to Gov- ernor Moore's order, and have notified him of the fact. I have also endeavored to get columbiads and sea coast mortars for you from Pen- sacola, but find that all have been sent to Mobile that could be spared. G. W, RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. 71 (No. 102.) Confederate States of America, ) War Department, \ Richmond, April 7, 1862. ) Major General M. Lovell, Commandins, §'c., New Orleans, Im. : Sir: You are authorized to'permitthe removal of the iron from the Mexican Gulf Railroad, if the government have the right to it, or to save it from the enemy. Very respectfully, GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 103.) New Orleans. April 9, 1862. General G. W. Randolph : Can some small arms be sent here ? We have sent all to Corinth with troops, and now require two thousand. M. LOVELL. • (No. 104.) New Orleans, April 10, 1863. General G. W. Randolph : Can you possibly order here four or five thousand small arms \ I have sent all my troops to Corinth, but have several unarmed war re- giments. M. LOVELL, (No. 105.) Richmond, April 10, 1862, Major General M. Lovell, New Orleans : Are the cotton- lined boats ready, and where are they ? G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. 73 (No. lOG.) New Orleans, April II, 1862. General Randolph, Secrdary of War : • With forty (40) vessels in the lower river, please protest in my name against sending the Louisiana up the river; if she must go, let her leave two (2) seven (7) inch rifles now at Fort Jackson. She has one (1) on board besides other heavy guhs — all she she can use in the upper river to advantage. We have not now as many guns of heavy- calibre as at Mobile. M. LOVELL, (No. 107.) Richmond, April 11, 1862. Gen. M. Lovell, New Orleans: We have just had a call for arms from Corinth which we cannot supply, but hope soon to be able to do so and to send you some. Did YOU receive my telegram yesterday, asking where the cotton-lined boats are ? G. y(. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 108.) New Orleans, April 11, 1862. Gen. Ra>dolph, Secretary of War : Five cotton-boats have gone up, three m-ore will go to-night. The- other six are to go below. Four being ready. M. LOVELL,. (No. \m.) Richmond, April 11, 1862. Maj, Gen. Lovell, Nevy Orleans : The Louisiana was ordered- up the river to meet three iron-clad boats which have succeeded in passing Island number ten, and her presence there is deemed very important to the defence of New Orleans. The guns were intended expressly for her, and the Secre- tary of the Navy is unwilling to give them up. 73 You have not answered my two telegrams asking where the cotton- lined boats were. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. . (No. 110.) • New Orleans, April 15, 1862. Gen. RANDOLrn : The enemy is preparing for a formidable attack on the forts below, he shelled them a little for past two days ; no harm done. Twenty- seven vessels in sight from forts. M. LOVELL. (No. 111.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department A^o 1, > New Orleans, La., April 15, 1862. ) Gen. G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War : Sir: I beg leave to report that the funds for the river defence fleet which were sent me, are nearly exhausted. The enormous price of every kind of materials has made the preperations very expensive, in addition to which the river pilots, (Montgomery and Townsend,) who are the head of the fleet, are men of limited ideas, no system and no administrative capacity whatcve;*. I very much fear, too, that their powers of execution will prove much less than has been anticipated. In short, unless some competent person of education, system and brains is put over each division of this fleet, it will, in my jurigment, prove an utfer failure. No code of laws or penalties has been estab- lished, and it is difficult to decide how deserters from the fleet are to be tried and punished. There is little or no discipline or subordina- tion — too much " steamboat" and too little of the " man of war" to be very effective. The expenses of fitting up, provisioning, coaling and paying advances so far on the fourteen ships, are about eight hundred thousand dollars. I have received nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but have paid nothing as yet towards the five hun- dred and sixty-three thousand dollars, at which sum the vessels seized were appraised. The original appropriation was one million. Cap- tain ilontgomery informs me that half a million more has been voted, *if so it should be sent on at once, so as to pay ofl" the liabilities on the vessels. I trust that the results to ba derived from this fleet, will compensate for the outlay; but unless some good head is put in charge of it, I feur such will not be the case. The expenses for outfit, pay- 74 ment for ships and month's wages, "vvill consume one and a half mil- lions. It is due, however, to Montgomery to say, that for everything he has been compelled to pay nearly three hundred per cent, over current peace prices. Eight of these vessels are up the river, and four below, the remaining two will go below in a few days. I telegraphed General Beauregard some time since about fortifying at Vicksburg, although we have no guns to put up there ; but in case we fall back from the Corinth and Memphis line, we might make a fair stand on a line running from Vicksburg, through Jackson and Meridian. I have no officers of engineers to send there, but think the subject of importance. The enemy has forty vessels just below fort Jackson, and has been firing occasionly for two days past. I think they will locate their mortar ships, shell the forts for several days or weeks, and then try to dash by with their steamers. They have four ships of the class of the Hartford, and twelve or fifteen gun-boats besides twenty-one mortar schooners. If we can manage to obstruct the river so as to retain them thirty minutes under our fire, I think we can cripple the fleet. We have several regiments here which have enlisted for the war, but are entirely destitute of small arms, I having sent all I had to Corinth with Ruggles' brigade. - Heavy requisitions, entirely unforseen, are constantly made on this department for supplies of all kinds, and when they come are gener- ally very urgent. To meet such calls large amounts of funds should be kept here, either in the hands of the different disbursing officers, or placed at my disposition. It is too late after the requisition is re- ceived to make estimates ; neither can we give details in advance. I received a telegram from the President that the Secretary of War had, in answer to my dispatches about the necessity of martial law, in some of the adjoining parishes, written me fully on the subject I have not received his letter. The good citizens in many of the neigh- boring parishes are sending petitions constantly to have martial law extended over there. It should be done in order to make it effective in those parishes where it exists. Please inform me on this point, as a-lso how are the expenses of provost marshals to be paid hereabouts. Respectfully, yOur obedient servant, M. LOYELL, Maj. Gen'l Comd'g Dep't. (No. 112.) New Orleans, April 16, 1862. G. W. Randolph : " My commissary, Major Lanier, is out of funds. Cannot use bonds. Heavy demands made on him. He can get no answer from commissary general. M. LOVELL. 75 (No. 113.) New Orleans, April 22, 1862. General Randolph : In case city should be occupied, should cotton and tobacco belong- ing to foreigners be destroyed? I require funds for river defense fleet immediately, or cannot keep it up. M. LOVELL (No. 111.) Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1 , > New Orleans, La., April 11, 1862. ) Gen. G. W. JIandolpii, Secretary of War : Sir: The occupation of Tennessee by the enemy, the low water in Red river, the interruption of the railroads at Decatur, and the want of communication by rail with Texas, all combined have brought about a scarcity of provisions here. Mr. E. Solomon goes hence to Rich- mond as special agent to endeavor to remedy this evil, if possible. I beg that jqu will cause all necessary orders to be given to facilitate his mission, as you will perceive at once, it is one of vital importance. He takes letters from Governor Moore and several of our most prom- inent citizens. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General commanding. (No. 115.) telegram. New Orleans, April 23, 1862. To General S. Cooper: Bombardment continues with unabated vigor, now five days and nights. We still hold out with four casualties, but Fort Jackson much cut up. Want more powder if it can be had. M. LOVELL. 76 (No. 116.) Richmond, April 25, 1862. Major General M. Lovell, New Orleans: It has been determined to burn all the cotton and tobacco, whether foreign or our own, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy. You will therefore destroy it all, if necessary, to prevent them from getting it. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 117.) j' Cam'p Moore, May 1, 1862. General Randolph, Secretary of War: Have received no instructions about destruction of cotton. Shall I destroy all that can be reached by the enemy, leaving each planter a portion for supplies ; if so, what per centage shall be left? Shall I burn the barracks and arsenal at Baton Rouge? M. LOVELL. (No. 118.) Camp Moore, May 2, 1862. General Randolph : Butler occupied New Orleans to-day. Cannot enroll men there. What is to be done about destroying cotton ? M, LOVELL. (No. 119.) « * Richmond, May 2, 1862. General M. Lovell : The following dispatch was sent to you on the 25th ultimo : A. T. Bledsoe, Assistant Secretary of War. " It has been determined to burn all the cotton and tobacco, whether foreign or our own, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the 77 enemy. You will therefore destroy it all, if necessary to prevent them getting it." (Signed,) *' G. W. RANDOLPH, " Secretary of IFar." (No. 120) Richmond, May 3, 1862. Major General Lovell, Camp Moore, via Mobile: This is the third telegram which has been sent you about burning cotton, the last two copies from the first. It is this : It has been determined to burn all the cotton and tobacco, whether foreign or our own, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy. You will therefore destroy it all, if necessary, to prevent them from getting it. Acknowledge receipt of this at once. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 121.) Camp Moore, May 4, 18G2. Gen. Randolph : Dispatch about cotton received. Immediate steps taken to carry out the ii;structions yesterday. Want copy of law to organize guer- rilla parties with authority to act. This is only available force in tho swamps of South Louisiana. M. LOVELL. (No. 122.) RicHMO.VD, May 6, 1862. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, Camp 3Ioore, La. : I see no reason for the destruction of the barracks and arsenal at Baton Rouge. You will therefore preserve them, unless, in your opinion, there is some urgent reason for their destruction. G. W. RANDOLPH, Stc/tl'iry of 'War, 78 (No. 123.) RicHMOKD, May 21, 1863. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, Camp Moore : I am informed that you do not consider yourself instructed as to the destruction of the cotton on the Mississippi, and to avoid miscon- ception or mistake, I now instruct you to destroy cotton, tobacco, mil- itary and naval stores, or other property of any kind -whatever, which may aid the enemy in the prosecution of the war, whenever and wherever, in your judgement, it is necessary to prevent such proper- ty from falling into the hands of the enemy. a. W. RANDOLPH. Secretary of War. [No. 124.] VicKSBURG, May 22, 1862. Gen. G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War : You were misinformed. I have already given full instructions for destruction of the property named. M. LOVELL. (No. 125.) Richmond, Jan. 28th, 1862. Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, Camp Moore : Claims are presented for the steamships Mexico and Orizata. Are they a part of the river defence fleet ? If so, we will apply the bal- ance of the appropriation to the payment of the bills. There will still be a balance of thirty odd thousand dollars due. Have you funds to pay it T G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. * (No. 126.) Richmond, May 31, 1862. Maj. Gen. Lovell, Camp Moore : A claim against the government for repairs on the gunboats. Gen. Lovell in favor of John McLean, Certified by two captains, B. Paris 79 and James B, Smith, and by W. S. Lovell, lieutenant colonel and disbursing officer, has been presented. It obviously blends charges for work on different boats. Accounts, so inaccurately certified, can- not be allowed- Can you certify to the amount ? It is *f;814 37. G. W. RANDOPIl, Secretary of War. (No. 127.) Richmond, June 1, 1862. Gen. M. Lovell, Camp Moore : The sum of two hundred and thirteen thousand dollars is to your credit on the books of the C. S. Treasurer. Authorize, by telegraph, one hundred thousand dollars to be desposited to the credit of the ap- propriation, for the defence of the Mississippi river, and the claims here can be paid. Direct your telegram to the 0. S. Treasurer. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 128.) Richmond, Juno 5, 1862. Major General Lovell, Jackson, 3Iiss. : You will send a flag of truce to General Butler and inform him that you have heard that he has put prominent citizens of New Or- leans to labor with ball and chain. Say to him that we shall retaliate, if such be the fact, but will wait for a contradiction if he thinks fit to make it. GEO. y/. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 129.) Richmond, June 6, 1862. Major General Lovell, Jackson, Miss. : When you send the flag of truce to General Butler for the purpose indicated in my telegram of yesterday, you will also enquire. of him if the statement purporting to come from citizens of New Orleans, that he had appropriated, for the use of his army, a portion of the pro- 80 visions allowed to pass through our lines for the citizens of New Or- leans be true. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 130.) Richmond, June 9th, 1862f^ Major General M. Lovlll, Jackson, Miss. : I am informed that General Smith has ordered Captain W. H. Johnson, of Colonel Starke's regiment, stationed on the Big Black river, to burn all the cotton in his reach, whether liable to fall into the enemy's hands or not. This order, if issued, is illegal, and must be countermanded. G. W. RANDOLPH, - Secretary of War. (No. 131.) C. S. A., War Department, > Richmond, June 10th, 1863. 5 Major General M. Lovf.ll, Camp Moore, Tangipola, La. : General : Your attention is respectfully called to the annexed copy of a letter received from a person in Louisiana, in regard to the evacu- ation of the forts at Grand Caillon ; and you are requested to report to this department the facts of the case. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. W. RANDOLPPI, Secretary of War. [Note. — The letter referred to in the above was that of Governor Moore to the President, of date May 2 1st, 1862, which see with the endorsement thereon, in the correspondence between Governor Moore and the War Department, p. — . (No. 132.) Confederate States of America, \ ^ Headquarters Department No. 1, > Jackson, Miss., 19th June, 1862. ) Gen. G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. : General: In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, requesting the reasons for evacuating Fort Quitman on the Bayou Grand Caillon, 81 I have to state that it was a little earth work, with two smooth bore thirty-tAvo pounders, established by me to prevent ingress for maraud- ing parties by the enemy, in small vessels, through the Caillon and other inlets, into the northern parishes of Louisiana. The fall of New Orleans laid open the foute to those parishes, and as the troops stationed in the fort were supplied from the city, and were at any moment liable to be taken in rear and captured by way of the Opelousas ra Iroad, which was in the enemy's hands, I ordered the guns to be spiked, and the garrison (a small company of twelve months volunteers) to bring away their small arms, the ammunition and the stores, and to rejoin me at Camp Moore. The enemy did not go down, it is true, for some days, but they could have gone at any hour and any day, and taken the men with their arms, which I was anxious to preserve. The order I gave was not obeyed. Instead of joining me at Camp Moore, the men mutinied and disbanded, and both officers and men returned to New Orleans. It would be well, as your corresspondent suggests, to punish the officers, but, as they are now in New Orleans, such a step is impracticable. A glance at the map, which I sent to the Department some months ago, will show that after the city fell, the little works on the coast must be abandoned being altogether unnecessary. The report of the cargo of the vessel and her capture, as in all other instances, is grossly exaggerated. Some few citizens fired upon two or three federals, in retaliation, a number of them were taken prisoners and threatened with death if they did not produce the parties who had committed the act, but the penalty was not inflicted. I had no force to protect the people in that district of country, but sent an officer to raise a partizan corps for that purpose, yet the prominent citizens earnestly entreated that the corps should not be raised there, unless I could send a large body of troops to protect them from the additional outrages to which they would be subject from the Yan- kees for having raised such a corps. Having no large force to send, and objections being raised to a small one, I countermanded the order. The fact is, that that part of the country is inhabited by two classes of people — the rich, fearful of their property and not anxious to resist unless supported by an array in every parish — and the poor misera- ble -nixed breed, commonly called Dagos or Acadians, in whom there is not the slightest dependence to be placed. I gave authority to several persons to raise partisans there, but they met with no success. When I urged that the bri Richmond, October 13, 1861. ) To Governor Thomas 0. Moore, Neio Orleans : My Dear Sir : I snatch a moment this (Sunday) evening to answer your favor of 29th ultimo. Matters have been so changed since the date of that letter that it is scarcely necessary to do more than say, that I have used every effort in my power to put in such a position as shall allay all fears re- lative to the defences of New Orleans. Major General Mansfield Lovell, a brilliant, energetic and accom- plished officer has been assigned to the command of your Department. Powder, saltpetre and cannon have been forwarded, and will be still further supplied as fast as they can be possibly spared, and the recent gallant dash of Captain Ilollins at the blockading fleet, must have infused new life and spirit into our people. The Government is fast providing, to the extent of its ability, aiioes and clothing for our troops, and is greatly relieved in this her- culean task by the patriotic and generous aid of just such Governors of States as our own " Tom Moore." I am sure you will be persuaded that nothing I can do shall be left undone for the defence of Louisiana, whilst you would not wish, I am equally sure, that I should neglect the defences of other points of importance in order to concentrate all our resources in New Orleans alone. Yours, very truly, (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN. (No. 16.) New Orleans, October 14, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond : We want muskets without delay. Send us some. (Signed,) T. 0. MOORE. (No. 17.) Richmond, October 16, 1861. 'Governor Thomas 0. Moore, New Orleans : Will send you the very first muskets that I can dispose of. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War, 101 (No. 18.) New Orleans, October 23, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richnwnd : Harris G. Pearson, of " Orleans Southerns," fifth Louisiana regi- ment. Colonel Hunt, at Williamsburg, is wanted here to drill '' Cre- scent " Artillery. Can he be spared ? Answer. (Signed,) . T. 0. MOORE. (No. 19.) Richmond, October 26, 1861. Governor T. 0. Moore, New Orleans, La. : I have sent two fine artillery ofiicers to Louisiana within a week. Cannot take any body from the Peninsula of Virginia at present. Will continue to send good ofiicers as fast as I can get them. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. (No. 20.) , New Orleans, November 8, 1861. Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmcnd : Mill here now ready. Can make three thousand (3,000) pounds powder per day, but without an ounce of saltpetre. Can't you send it from Memphis ? (Signed,) T. 0. MOORE. t (No. 21.) Richmond, November 8, 1861. Governor Thomas 0. Moore, New Orleans : It is impossible for me to comprehend what has beceme of the salt- petre sent to New Orleans. I have sent twenty-four tons, and can- not learn that one pound has been received, or one pound of powder made. On the 26th September, three tons were sent by freight; on 27th September, one ton was sent by express ; on the 1st October, three tons were sent by express ; on 2d October, seven tons were sent by express; on 2d November, ten tons were sent by express. All 102 this was sent from Augusta, and I cannot get tlie ackno"wledguient that one pound was ever received, and you now say you have not one ounce. This mystery must be explained before I can send any more. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, . Acting Secretary of War. ( iTo. 22.) GOVERNOR MOORE TO SECRETARY OF WAR. New Orleans, December 2, 186!. J. P. Benjamin, Acting Secretary of War: My Dear Sir: I desire to introduce to you Captain John A. Ste- phenson. Captain S. is a commission merchant of New Orleans of high standing. He constructed and built the Manassas. He is a man of large river experience, having for many years had command of steamboats on the Mississippi. Great confidence is felt by our com- munity in his skill, energy and ability, so much so that they are ready to advance the means to build, under his superinterdance, another *' ram." This, however, they will not do without some assurance that the government , will not take the boat out of the possession and con- trol of Captain S. The fact is, that while great confidence is felt here in Commodore Hollins as a naval officer, our people are convinced that he is led astray in his judgment of individuals, as he has no just means of forming a correct estimate of their character and ability. It is no disparagement to his ability as an officer to say this much of him, and it is said in the best and friendliest spirit. Wc all hope you will aid in carrying out the wishes of our people, and do all in your power to further the object in view. Captain Stevenson will commu- nicate freely with you. You can rely upon him. Very truly yours, (Signed,) THO. 0. MOORE. (No. 23.) New Orleans, Januiry 1, 1862. Hon. J. P. Benjamin Dear SIr: I must earnestly request the thirteenth Louisiana regi- ment, as well as the third (3d) Mississippi, be ordered back to New Orleans. The wretchedly armed green troops sent here from Missis- sippi cannot supply the place of Gibson's regiment, armed by me. We are here entitled to that regiment, and I should have urged that they should not have been permitted to leave, if the implied promise 103 of General Polk had not been given that tbej would bave been returned when needed. Thej are needed. Yours very truly, (Signed,) " TIIOS. 0. MOORE. (No. 24.) GOVERNOR MOORE TO SECRETARY OF WAR. Xkw Orleaxs, January 31, 1862. To the Hon. J. P. Bexjame.v, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.: S{R : I have in*Iavana some eighteen hundred and odd Enfield and Brunswick rifles; on board the Gladiator at iS'assau about five hun- dred; and about eight hundred at Cardenas, if the Stephen Hart that left Liverpool early in November for that port, has'arrived. You have a valuable cargo of arms, etc., on the Gladiator at Nassau, and arms at Cardenas, for which Mr. Ileyliger Avas sent. . The difficulty thus far in getting these arras to the Confederate States, has proven insuperable. In order to obtain them, as they are so greatly needed, I am Avilling to incur a heavy ri.sk to get those belonging to this State, if you will join in the adventure, and the risk in proportion to the amount of arms, etc., which you have at the places referred to. I propose to take up a fast steamer, we have many here, send her out with or without cotton as you prefer, and bring home the arms. I will take care that she is properly officered, with competent river and coast pilots on board. There are a number of steamers hero that can outrun anything in the Navy of the United States, and I feel great confidence in the success of the enterprise. If you will share in the risk on the terms proposed, telegraph im- mediately. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THO. 0. MOORE, Govcr^ior. (No. 2o.) New Orleans, February 15, 1862. J. P. Benjamin, Richmond : The new militia law, like the old, rotjuircs all residents to do mili- tary duty. The French, English, Spanish, and other foreign consuls protest against it, their respective nationalities being ordered outside the limits of the city, I do not wish to do anything that will conflict 104 with the police* of the government ; therefore, how shall I treat these consuls — how respond to their protest ? Answer immediately. (Signed,) ^ T. 0. MOORE. (No. 26.) Richmond, February 16, 1862 Gov. Thos. 0. Moore, New Orleans : Foreign residents are bound to do duty in defence of the city^ which is their home. But the President does not deem it politic to insist on their serving outside of the city defences. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of W(n\ (No. 27.) C. S. A., War Department, . b. A., War Department, > Richmond, Feb. 24, 1862. ] His Excellency, Thos. 0. Moore, New Orleans, La, : Sir : I must apologise to you for my delay in replying to your let- ter of the 31st ultimo, but amidst the imm.ense pressure of business- en this department such omissions are sometimes unavoidable. I can now only inform you that before the receipt of your letter arrangements had been made for all the arms of the Confederate Gov- ernment in the West Indies, Respectfully, (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, (No. 2S ) New Orleans, Februairy 26, 1862, Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Fdchmond : Raising war troops is extremely difficult and slow. If Bsauregard's need of reinforcements be as great as we here consider it, and you; will accept volunteers for that special service for a few months, I can send him relief immediately. Aiaswer quickly and state shortest time. (Signed,) T. 0. MOORE, Governor. *So written in the telegram. Doubtless '^policy ^' was intended. 105 (No. 29.) RicHMOKD, March 1st, 1862. Gov. Thomas 0. Moore, iVcw Orleans: You may accept all armed men that will go to reinforce General Beauregard for a term of six months, under the law for local defence and special service. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Sicrctary of War. (No. 30.) Executive Office, New Orleans, February 2G, 1862. To his Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate Stats, Richmond: Sir : This letter will be delivered to you by Mr. William Hender- son, a citizen of this place, and a gentleman of probity, integrity and excellent standing, 1 have deputed him as a special messenger to place in your hands a memorial from the executive sub-committee of a " comii ittee of safety," appointed by, the city council to render such aid as they may be able to the State and Confederate authorities in this department. I refer you to the memorial itself for its design, and to Mr. Henderson for any explanations you may desire, not em- bodied in the memorial. I cannot suppose that your excellency has been fully apprised of the evils which the memorial presents to your attention and consider- ation, and I most earnestly recommend it to you. Your excellency will,no doubt appreciate the necessity for immediate action to preserve not only the dignity and credit of the navy department, but also to proviile such defences as we are in absolute and immediate need of. Citizens as well as the incorporated banks of the city are generous in their support of the government, and I have no fears that this gen- erosity will be abused. I am, sir, with great respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) TIIOS. 0. MOORE, Governor of Louisiana. A true copy : Burton N. Harrison, Private Secreta y. 106 (No. 31 ) New Orleans, Feb. 26, 1862. To His Excellency The President, Of the Confederate States of America : Sir : In the present disturbed condition of our country it has been deemed expedient by our city council to appoint a committee of some sixty persons to be styled the " Committee of Safety. " The object of said committee is to aid and co-operate with the State and government authorities in rendering this department as complete and effectual as possible. The committee is composed of gentlemen of standing and influence, and who have appointed the undersigned their executive committee, and who are not insensible of the labors and responsibiliiies placed upon them. They feel that your Excellen- cy will not be offended at their desire to co-operate with the constitu- tional authorities, in this our struggle for liberty and independence. They find, from investigation, that the naval department at this station, as far as finances are concerned, is in a most deplorable con- dition, retarding by this course the manufacture of all kinds for that department ; also, preventing the enlisting of men for that branch of the public service. The undersigned committee have been led to believe that your Ex- cellency could not be awq^^-e of the extent to which the naval depart- ment at this station has been reduced. They therefore beg leave respectfuUly to represent some of the bad elfects which will naturally and certainly follow in case this defect is not promptly remedied by placing an adequate amount of funds at the disposal of that department to liquidate its present indebtedness, and provide for future contingencies. The present outstanding indebtedness, (judging from facts placed before this committee,) cannot be less than six or eight hundred thousand dollars. A large portion of this is owing to the foundries for shells, fuze, &c., to the machine shops, to draymen, &c., kc. Many of the bills have been approved by the proper officers, and still no means provided for their payment, although some them have stood over for four or six months. It has come to the positive knowledge of this committee that some of these establishments, (so much needed in the present emergency,) have given notice that, for want of the requisite means, they are forced to decline any further orders from the government. It has also come to the knowledge of this committee that private citizens have repeatedly been forced to raise funds for this department in order to prevent ihe mechanics in the employ of the government from stopping work. Indeed, so low has the credit of that partic- ular department sunk, that draymen, whose bills are yet unpaid, hive refused to do further work. Your Excellency will doubtless agree with the committee that this is a deplorable state of things. The committee have been careful to in- 107 vestigate the facts so as not to place before your Excellency any thing Avhich cannot be substantiated. For months and months a sign has been hanging over the payraas- master's office of that department " no funds. " The coramitte feel confident that, unless the proper remedy is at once applied, workmen cannot longer be hand. The committee most respectfullysubmit this statement of facts to your consideration, and for the interest of our common cause, and the safety of our city, would respectfully request that you would give our citizens through this committee some asssurance that the present state of affairs in that department will be changed for the better. (Signed) S. L. JAMES, S. 0. NELSON, J. P. HARRISON, R. C. CUMMINGS, T. GREENFIELD, A true copy. Burton IT. Harrison, Frivatc Secretary. Endorsed by the Preaidcnt. " Secretary of the Navy for pi'ompt attention and report. ''(Signed) " JEFFERSON DAVIS." (No. 32.) Confederate States of AMERtCA, ^ War Department, > Richmond, March 8, 1862. ) ' To the President : Sir : For your information I have the honor to make the following statement in reference to the coT.munication of the committee of safety of New Orleans, submitted to me this day. The credit of the government has doubtless suffered in New Or- leans from the failure of the treasury to meet the requisitions of the department, and this has been a constant source of embarrassment to the department, and of annoyance to its creditors and disbursing agents in that city. I have repeatedly brought the subject to the attention of the Secre- tary of the Treasury and invoked prompt payment, though I have felt that with his limited power to produce treasury notes, and under the rule adopted giving priority to certain disbursements for the army, he was powerless to correct the evil, here is my last letter to him upon lOS the subject. (Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated Feb- ruary 22d, 1862.) The requisitions of this department, upon the treasury for money to meet payments in New Orleans, have usually been made immediately upon hearing from its disbursing officers the amount required, and always, I think, within twenty-four hours there- after; but the delay of the treasury in paying them, has been from twenty-jSve to forty days. In some cases the Treasury Department has after long delay, instead of sending notes for which our creditors were waiting, sent drafts for Confederate Bonds payable in Richmond, and which drafts were useless to our agents and creditors there, and •which, therefore, had to be returned to Richmond for payment, and ^ then sent to New Orleans, thus still further protracting payment. This has been a source of great embarrassment to this department, and complaint of its creditors. In one of these cases a requisition for $42,01)0 was dated December 24th, 1861, payable to navy agent Wm. B. Howell on the 6th February, 1862, he received a draft, one- half in notes and one half in bonds, at Richmond. His letter of ad- vice was received February 15th, and on the 17th of February I called upon the treasurer for the requisition, forty- eight days after- wards. When the department draws its requisition in favor of its creditors, upon an existing appropriation, its duty and its power are alike ex- hausted, and though the department has endured the emparrassmcnt consequent upon these delays, and which it had not the power to avert; it has felt that the condition of the treasury rendered them inevitable, and that the responsibility for them was with that depart- ment. Our agents are instructed to make all contract they can pay- able partly ia bonds, and they do so, and in such cases our requi- sition calls for the amount of bonds to be sent; but the treasury, as you will see by the secretary's letter, deems it proper to send bonds, "when not required, and when we cannot use them, and embarrassment to the department and losses to creditors inevitably fo'low. Our agents, from the nature of their disbursement, can dispose of bonds only to a very limited extent. The following telegram from our navy agent, and the treasury comments thereon will thus show the character of these transactions. "Telegram." ''Ordnance mony received; one-half in drafts on Rich- mond, payable in bonds which cannot use. Shall I pay for what stores received as advised you in my letter of Feb. 8th. Answer of Secre- tary. "I return you the telegram of Navy Agent Howell; if you "will examine the acts of Congress, you will find that a large amount of the means furnished by Congress to pay the expenditures consists of bonds ; these must be distributed among these expenditures for which alone they can be used, and I see no remedy but to require your agents to make their contracts accordingly. It is not possible to supply the means, except in the form provided by Congress, and if the agents, instead of complaining, would set themselves to aid the government by disposing of the bonds, there would be no diflSculty." Similar cases are constantly occuring, and this day I am notified by telegram, that upon a requisition to pay a debt due in notes drawn by 109 me one month ago, one-third of the amount was sent to New Orleans in bonds, which, of course, the creditor declines to recieve. Embarrassment to creditors has also arisen in New Orleans from the following circumstances : Captain Ilollins, without the knowledge or authority of the department, without acquainting it with his ac- tions, and when no oppropriation existed for meeting the payment, made contracts for ordnance and ordnance stores, amounting to about $500,001). The amount of these contracts was for a long time un- known to the department, and information of their extent was first acquired through the contractors themselves. The navy agent and an officer sent specially for the purpose, were instructed to ascertain their amount, and an estimate was submitted to Congress, and an ap- propriation obtained to pay tbem at the earliest possible moment there- after, and on the very day I received the act of Congress, I made a requisition for the funds, and they have been placed in New Orleans to meet all demands which have come to hand. The statement of the committee of safety, as to the amount of in- debtedness is totally incorrect. No such amount as from $6()0,000 to $800,000 has been outstanding, and if the treasury department has sent to the disbursing agents of this department, the money fur its requisition of the 1st of March for §3it(),0(i(), they have funds in hand more than sufficient to meet every cent due by the department, and of which it has any knowledge. I annex copies of my letters to the treasury department, and here- with return the communica'ion of the committee of safety. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, S. R. MALLORY, Secretary of the Navy. A copy of the foregoing report was forwarded to the "committee of safety," by the President's direction, by his Private Secretary as soon as received. BURTON N. HARRISON, Private Secretary. Richmond Ya., March 6, 1863. (No. 33.) New Orleans, March 4, 136 2. J. P. Benjami.v, liichmond : Am rapidly organizing troops under Beauregard's call for ninety day men, dated February twenty-eighth, in accordance with act twenty-first August. They will, I have no doubt, re-enlist. Did the Nashville bring arms for me ? If so, pray order them forward at once, as the troops going away will leave so few arms behind that we shall have a panic, I fear. (Signed,) TIIOS. 0. MOORE, Governor. no (Xo. 34.) Richmond, MarcL 6, 18C2. Governor T. 0. Moore, New Orleans: The Nashville brought no arms. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. ( No. 35.) New Orleans, March 6, 1862. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond: On the second (2d) of February, G. T. Ilaoul offered to build certain gun-carriages at five hundred and fifty dollars each. Offer accepted by Colonel Gorgas on fifteenth. Letter received two days ago. Price of iron so much advanced that he cannot build under six hundred and fifty. Shall he build at that price ? The longer the delay the higher will be the price of iron. If the proposition be accepted, forward drawings imn^ediatelv. Answer. (Signed,) " T. 0. MOORE. (No. 36.) Richmond, March 12, 1862, Governor- Thomas 0. Moorf, New Orkans' If you vrant the gun-carriages in New Orleans, you may take what you want from G. T. Raoul at six hundred and fifty dollars, as you suo^gest, but we do not want any here at that price. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. (No. 37.) TELEGRAM. Richmond, Va., March 13, 1862. Governor Thomas 0. Mooue, New Orleans, La.: You are requested to proclaim martial law in my name over the Parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAA^S. A true copy : Burton N. Harbison, Private Secretary. Ill ( No. 38.) New Orleans, March 22, 18G2. J. P. Benjamin, Richmond: Steamship which left Enghnd about first (1st) Fobriiarj, must be in Nassau now. I have a supply of arms on her, so have you'. Telegraph immediately if you intend to send for the cargo. If you do not, I will send for ray share. ( Signed,) THOS. 0. MOORE, Governor. (No. 39.) GoTcrnor T. 0. Moore, New Orleans: RiCHMONn, March 22, 1862. Am making arrangements to get cargo from Nassau, I will act for the State of Louisiana in the same manner as for the Confederate States, if you iiuthorize me. (Signed,) J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. (No. 40.) New Orleans, April 1, 1862. President Davis, Richmond : I purchased, eight mouths ago, eighteen hundred and eighty (1880) rifles, and thirty thousand (3t),()l)U) cartridges, and have just suc- ceeded, after infinite trouble, and over sixty thousand (6", 000) dollars of outlay, in having them landed on the Florida coast. The^^ were at once seized by Governor Milton, and I telegraphed they must be sent to me. I have received his reply, in which he coolly informs me he has taken one half (]), and your Secretary of War the other. This unpardonable and unparallelled outrage is nothing less than robbery, and just as bad. I cannot use Louisiana's money to buy arms when they arc to be seized by the first free-booter that meets them. I have given out all the arms I had, expecting that these would be in the Ltuids of my own troops. Now that thirty-seven sail of the enemy are in the river, in God's name, in the name of my State, I ask you to order them to be sent to me immediately. (Signed,) THOMAS 0, MOORE. 112 (No. 41.) ^ New Orleans, April 1, 1862. J. P. Benjamin, Richmond : Please sec the dispatch sent the President to-day, and urge the for- vrarding Louisiana arms to me. (Signed,) THOMAS 0. MOORE. (No. 42.) Richmond, April 2, 1862. Governor Moore, Neto Orleans : I was not aware that the arms in the hands of Governor Milton belonged to the State of Louisiana. One half of them sent to Pen- sacola have been ordered to be placed subject to your order, and I have requested Governor Milton to make the same disposition of the remainder. He took them, supposing that they were arms given him by Mr. Benjamin, when, in fact, they were part of a different cargo. I did not know, until Mr. Benjamin informed me of it, that the arms .held by Governor Milton were a part of the cargo of the Florida. Col. T. M. Jones, commanding at Pensacola, will communicate to you the arrival of the arms at that place. (Signed,) G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No 43.) TELEGRAM. New Orleans, April 4, 1862. President Davis : Can you get guns and ammunition that came by Florida. Is pos- sible they were seized by Secretary of War. (Signed,) THOMAS 0. MOORE, Governer, (No. 44.) TELEGRAM. Richmond, April 5, 1862. Governor T. 0. Moore, New Orleans, La. : * * * * The mistake of Governor of Florida has been cor- rected, and arms are reported to be en route to you. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS. A true copy, Burton N. Harrison, Private Secretary, 113 (No, 45.) TELEGRAM. Richmond, April 10, 1862. To the Governors of Mississippi^ Louisiana^ South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama : General Beauregard must have reinforcements to meet the vast ac- cumulation of the enemy before him. The necessity is imminent ; the case of vital importance. Send forward to Corinth all the armed men you can furnish. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS. (No. 46.) t TtLEGRAM. New Orleans. April 11, 1862. Jefferson Davis : Can troops be armed if I send them ? I have no arms here except those General Lovell thinks "we should keep — those just received'from x^PTl ^3.0 Oil (Signed,) , THOMAS 0. MOORE. (No. 47.) telegram. I ' Richmond, April II, 1862. Gevernor T. O. Moore : No arms to furnisk. You vrill not fail to appreciate the necessity ^hich caused the application to you. If you could spare armed troops for a few weeks, they might then be returned to you. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS. A true copy. Burton N. Harrison, Private Secretary. 8' 114 (No. 48.) New Orleans, April II, 1863. O. W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Bichmond : Governor Milton will not forward my guns. John Leeds, my agent, has been waiting at Columbus, Ga., one week. Order them sent. I am greatly annoyed. (Signed,) THOMAS 0. MOORE. Governcr of LcuiAana. (No. 49.) ^ Richmond, April 14, 18G2. Governor Moore, New Orleans: I have telegraphed to Governor Milton to deliver the arras to your agent on his exhibiting his authority from you, and identifying the arms as the property of Louisiana. If, however, the arms were ori- ginally taken by the agents of the Governor of Florida, and not by our own, we have no control over them. Under the circumstances of the landing, it was impossible to distribute the cargo at the time. Signed, G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. (No. 50.) TELEGRAM. New Orleans, April 17, 1SG2. President Davis Forts bombarded an hour and a half yesterday. General Dun- can telegraphs none of our guns will reach them. Com. Whittle has orders from Secretary Navy to send the Louisiana to Tennessee. Duncan and Higgins both telegraph she is absolutely a necessity at the forts for the safety of New Orleans, and that it is suicidal to send her elsewhere. With the enemy's plan of attack our safety may depend apon her timely arrival there. I earnestly beg her destination may be changed, and protest against her being sent up the river. Excite- aaent among the people great on the subject, (Signed) THOS. 0. MOORE, Governor of Louisiana. t 115 (No. 51.) TELEGRAM. Richmond, April 17, 1862. ov. T. 0. Moore : A dispatch was sent yesterday to General Lovell on the subject of the attack on the forts below. His answer was required in connec- tion with the question proposed by you. The wooden vessels are below ; the iron gunboats arc above. Tho forts should destroy the former if they attempt to ascend. The Louisiana may be indispcnsabb to check the descent of the iron boats. The purpose is to defend the city and valley; the only question is as to the best mode of effecting the object. Military men mast ^cide; and to-day their discretionary power has been enlarged. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS. A true copy. Burton N. H.vrrison, Frivaie Secretary. (No. 52.) telegram. New Orleans, April 24, 1862. Jefferson Davis, President : Enemy's ships passed the forts this morning, after several days' bombardment. (Signed,) THOS. 0. MOORE.' (No. 53.) telegram. Richmond, Va., April 24, 1862. Governor T. 0. Moore : ******* Your dispatch in relation to enemy's ships this day received. I am in hopes that, while the fort^ivide the fleet, tho Louisiana will not lose the opportunity. In painful anxiety wait further int^ligence. (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS, A true copy. Burton N. Harrison, Private Secretary. 116 (No. 54.) GOVERNOR MOORE TO THE PRESIDENT. OpELOusis, May 21, 1862. President Davis : Dear Sir: Orders have already been issued by my Adjutant Gene- ral for the enrollment of conscripts, and notice has been given that the two camps will be at Monroe and this place, but as I have already informed you, there will be no tents or provisions at either of them until you send them. Should any conscripts reach the camps before these things are provided, they will have to return home. I am stripped of everything I have — guns, munitions, forces and commissary stores. I must express my great regret that martial law could ftot be declared in the Parishes indicated to you ; if it had been done, and the Provost Marshals appointed by you, much, very much, serious trouble would have been avoided. It was not to be expected that I would ever again consent to the proclamation of martial law by Gen- eral Lovell, after the urgent and persistent complaints I made to you of the action of his Provost Marshals which received his silent acquiescence, if not his open approval. A part of my State is now in possession of our ruthless enemy — the remainder is a prey to internal dissension and the perils of demoralization produced by thel disorganized condition of the Confederate forces, while there is not a Confederate oflBcer in the whole of the State, except a single Parish (St. Helena) bordering the State line. 1 have sent more than thirty thousand men into the field, every one fully armed and equipped, besides emptying the arsenal I seized for the benefit of neighboring States, with my own have clothed them since they have been there, have given all the arms I bought to Confederate troops, and have now, in this our calamity, not an ofiicer to advise with or a man to execute an order. I beg that a general may be assigned to whatever depart- ment Louisiana may be placed in, very soon. A steamer, (name not known,) reached Grand Caillon on the night of the 7th, with three hnndred and fifty thousand pounds powder and four thousand five hundred rifles. The Federals, duly informed of it by telegraph, which has not been cut from Terrebonne to New Orleans, came by Opelousas railroad, which has not been interrupted, and took possession of her on night of the 8th. A party of determined citizens started on the 10th to recapture her. Eight hundred Federals were sent out from New Orleans and secured her, and have sent her to the city. They have taken with them sixteen citizens, four of whom they threaten to han^ declaring they are not prisoners of war, but persons taken in rebellion svice the authority of the Union has been restored. The fort at Grand Caillon had been evacuated on the 27tTi April by order of General Lovell — the guns spiked, and the powder thrown into the bayou. Eleven days after, the enemy made their first appearance there. This is the manner in which all our forts (of course I do not include Jackson and St. Philip) were evacuated. There was not a 117 jTankee near one of tlicm until more than a week after the powder was llll destroyed, and the interior of fort burned— ample time was had to have saved the guns as well as powder, etc. ^If, for these acts, some of the officers are not cashiered or shot, we need not expect either a brave or a discipliued army. The navy emulated this conduct of the army— the fleet in Pontchartrain being run up the bayous and scut- tled or burnt. It is absolutely necessary that some steps should be taken to stop the incursions of the enemy in the lower part of the State. The only means I now have is to organize bands of Partisan Rangers. If I wait for Captains to apply through General Lovell to Secretary of War, the delays will be ruinous, and I therefore have given to-day authority to Ctptain Goode to raise a company of rangers for opera- tion in Terrebonne. I shall grant similar privileges to'such others as circumstances may suggest, and shall report all of them to Secretary of War, who I hope, will confirm these authorizations. I am, very respectfully, etc.. (Signed,) THOMAS 0. MOORE, Governor. Upon this letter, the following endorsement was made by the Presi- dent : ** Secretary of War for special attention. Call on General Lovell for report as to fort at Grand Caillon. J. D." ( No. 35.) C. S. A., War Djipartment, ) Richmond, June 10, 1S62. \ Major General M. Lovkll, Camp Moore, Tangipola, La.: General: Your attention is respectfully called to the annexed copy of a letter received from a person in* Louisiana, in regard to the evao- uation of the forts at G:and Caillon, and you are requested to report to this department the facts of the case. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, (Signed,) GEO. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. [ The enclosure was a paragraph from the foregoing letter of Gov- ernor Moore.] * 118 (No. 56.) * GEN, LOVELt TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. Confederate States of America, ^ Headquarters Department No. 1 , s Jackson, Miss., 19th June, 1862. ) Gen. G, W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. : General: In reply to your letter of tlie 10th instant, requesting the reasons for evacuating Fort Quitman on the Bayou Grand Caillon, I have to state that it was a little earthwork, with two smooth bore thirty-two pounders, established by me to prevent ingress for maurad- ing purposes by the enemy in small vessels, through the Caillon and other inlets, into the Southern parishes of Louisiana. The fall of New Orleans laid open the route to those parishes, and as the troops, stationed in the fort, were supplied from the city, and were at, any moment liable to be taken in rear and captured by way of theOpelousas railroad, which was in the enemy's hands, I ordered the guns to be spiked and the garrison, (a small company of twelve months' volunteers,) to bring away their small arms, the ammunition, and the stores, and to rejoin me at Camp Moore. The enemy did not go down, it is true, for some days, but they could have gone at any hour and any day and taken the men, with their arms, which I was anxious to preserve. The order I gave was not obeyed. Instead of joining me at Camp Moore, the men mutinied and disbanded and both officers and men returned to New Orleans. It would be well, as your correspondent suggests, to punish the officers, but, as they are now in New Orleans, such a 8tep is impracticable. A glance at the map, which I sent to the department some tnonths ago, will show that after the city fell, the little works on the coast must be abandoned, being altogether unnecessary. The report of the cargo of the vessel and her capture, as in all other instances, is grossly exaggerated. Some few citizens fired upon two or three Federals. In retaliation, a number of them were taken prisoners and threatened with death if they did not produce the par- ties who had committed the act, but the penalty was not inflicted. I had no force to protect the people in that district of country, but sent an officer to raise a partizan corps for that purpose, yet the prominent citizens earnestly entreated that the corps should not be raised there, unless I could send a large body of troops to protect them from the additional outrages to which they would -be subject from the Yan- kees, for having raised such a corps. Having no large force to send, and objections being raised to a small one, I countermanded the order. The fact is, that that part of the country is inhabited by two classes • of people ; the rich, fearful of their property and not anxious to resist unless supported by an army in every parish ; and the poor, miserable, mixed breed, commonly called Dagos or Acadians, in whom there ia . not the slightest dependence to be placed. I gave authority to seve- 119 ral persons to raise partizans there, but they met with no success. When I urged that the bridges over the raih-oad be destroyed, a parish delegation entreated that it be not done, as it would bring down upon them Yankee vengeance; they would only consent to assist on con-, dition that I should send a large body of troops there. Moreover, if the railroad had been destroyed, the stage of water was such that free access could have been had to Thibodeux through Bayou Lafouche. I therefore concluded, at the request of many of the most influential citizens, to delay operations until the subsiding water should have de- prived the enemy of the means of entering the interior at pleasure. Had a contrary course been pursued, the whole country would have been devastated, without a possibility of preventing it. Nine out of every ten persons from that part of the country warmly approved of my decision. I trust that the department will not give ear to the many false and absurd rumors that are set afloat by persons who think there should be an army stationed on every plantation for its protection. 1 am satis- fied that our present condition is to bo attributed, in a great measure, to the fact that we have followed this plan too much already, dispers- ing, instead of concentrating our troops, and thus rendering them an easy prey to the enemy. Very respectfully^ Your obedient servant, (Signed,) M. LOVELL, Major General commanding. Upon this letter the following endorsements were made, viz : By The Secretary of War : ** Respectfully submitted to the President for his information. " G. W. RANDOLPH, *' Secretary of War^ By The Pre.sident : ** Read — it might be well to furnish the complainant with a copy of this reply. The abandonment of the fort was a necessary consequence of the fall of New Orleans and the subsequent events. Whether it was possible to save the armament for use elsewhere, was a ques- tion which the commanding general, of course, duly considered. As he established the post under the discretionary power conferred en him. The application of his remark about the error of dispersion is not perceived. "J. D." Slkl^ INDEX. Letter of Governor Moore to President, September 20, 1861 — Encloses resolution of Legislature; asks for General Officer to command. No. L 93 Letter of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 22, 1861 — Expecting commanding officer; small arms in Cuba; wants salt- petre. No. 2, ------- 94: Letter of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 22, 1861 — officers and saltpetre. No. 3, - - - - - 95 Telegram of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, September 22, 1861 — Answer to above. No. 4, - - - - - 95 Letter of Oovernor Moore to Secretary of War, September 25,. 1861 - Seizing pork. No. 5^ >__--- 95 Letter of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, September 25, 1861 - Answer to above. No. 6, - - - - - - 96 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, September 25, 1861 — Cannon powder and saltpetre. No. 7, - * - 96 Letter of President to Governor Moore, September 26, 1861 — Answer to letter of 20th September. No. 8, - - - .96 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 27, 1861— Seizing pork. No. 9, - - - - - 97 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 28, 1861 — Want guns; seizing pork. No. 10, - - - 97 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 29, f 1861 — Seizing pork; muskets. No. 11, - - - - 97 Letter of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, September 29, 1861 — Wants arms for men in camp; progress of fortifications; wants officers; clothing for troops ; arms from Europe. No. 12, - 98 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, September 30, 1861 — Against seizing pork. No. 13, - - - - 99 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, September 30, 1861 — Acknowledges telegram about arms and generals: full in- formation in two or three days, No. l-t - - - - 99 Letter of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, October 13, 1861 — Answer to letter September 29; General Lovell assigned to com- mand ; powder, saltpetre and clothing. No. 15, - - - 100 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, October 14, 1801 — Wants muskets. No. 16, - - - - - - 100 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, October 16, 1861 — Reply to above. No. 17, - - - - - - 100 Dispatch of Governor Moore V"> Secretary of War, October 23, 1861 — Wants Pearson to drill troops. No. 18, - - - - 101 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, October 26, 1861 — Reply to above'. No. 19, - - - - - - 101 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, November 8, 1861 — Powder mill ready ; no saltpetre. No. 20, _ _ - Id 122 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, November 8, 1861 — Shipment of saltpetre Why not received ? No. 2!, - - 101 Letter of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, December 2, 1801 — I. A. Stevenson ; Commander Ilollins ; Naval matters in New Orleans. No. 22, - - - - - . - 102 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, January 11, 1562 — Asks return of 13th Louisiana regiment, No. 23, - - 102 Letter of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, January 31, 18G2 — Steamers to Havana for arms, etc. No. 24, - - - 103 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, February 15, 1802— Liability of foreign residents to militia duty. No. 25, - - 103 Dispatch of Secretatry of War to Governor Moore, February 16. 1862— Ans\ver to last. No. 26, - - - - - - 104 Letter of J. P. Benjamin to Governor Moore, February 24, 1862 — Ar- rangements for arms in West Indies. No. 27, - - - 104 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, February 20, 1862 — Volunteers for special service. No. 28, - - - - 104 Secretary of War to Governor Moore, dispafch, March 1, 1802— Reply to above. No. 29, - - - - - - ■ - 105 Letter of Governor Moore to President, February 26, 1862— Memorial from Committee of Safety. No. 30, - - - - 105 Committee of Safety to President, February 26, 1862— Navy Depart- ment; condition of defences, &c. No. 31, - - - 106 Letter of Secretary of Navy to President, March 8, 1802— Reply to communication from Committee of Safety. No. 32, - - 107 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, March 4, 1862— Progress in raising troops; wants arms. No. 33, - - 109 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, March 6, 1802 — Nashville brought no arms. No. 34, - - - - 110 Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, March G, 1862— Raoul's contract for gun carriages. No. 35, _ _ - 110 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Gov. Moore— Reply to above. No. 30. 110 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore, March 33, 1802- Martial Law in certain parishes. No. 37 - - - - - HO Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, March 22, 1862— Arms in West Indies. No. 38, - - - - - 111 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore. March 22, 1862— Reply to above. No. 89, - - - - - - 111 Dispatch of Governor Moore to President, April 1, 1802 — Arms seized by Governor Mihon. No. 40, - - - - - HI Dispatch of Governor Moore to Secretary of War, April 1, 1862— Same subject. No. 41, .------ - 112 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, April 2, 1802 — Ex- planation in reply to two last. No. 42, - - - - 112 Dispatch of Governor Moore to President, April 4, 1862— Guns and ammunition by Florida. No. 43, - - - - - 112 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore, April 5, 1802 — Answer to above. No. 44, - , - - - - - - 112 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore and others, April 10, 1862 — Reinforcements for General Beauregard. No. 45, - - - 113 Dispatch of Governor Moore to President, April 11, 1862 — Reply to above ; can troops be armed. No. 46, - - - - 113 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore, April 11, 1862— Reply to above ; no arms. No. 47, - - - - - - 113 Dispatch of Governor Moore to ::5ecrctary of War, April 11, 1862 — Gov- nor Milton will not send arms. No. 48, _ - - - 114 Dispatch of Secretary of War to Governor Moore, April 14, 1862 — Re- ply to above. No. 49, .__-__ 114 Dispatch of Governor Moore to President, April 17, 1802 — Bombard- ment of Forts and attack. No. 50, - - - - - Il4 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore, April 17, 1802— Reply to above. No. 51, _-__-__ 115 123 Dispatch of Governor Moore to President, April 24, 1862 — Enemy ships passed forts. No. 52, ■ - - - - - - 115 Dispatch of President to Governor Moore, April 24, 1862 — Reply to above. No. 53. _______ 115 Letter of Gov. Moore to President, May 51, 1862 — Affairs in Louisiana; wants an ofJiccr assigned to that Departmcnc; evacuation of forts at Grand Caillon, &c. No. 54. - _ _ _ _ 116 Letter of Secretary of War to General Lovcll, June 10, 18')2 — Enclosing copy of paragraph from No. 54, for report in regard to Fort at Caillon. No. 55, ------ - 117 Letter of General Lovell to Secretary of War, June 10, 1S62- Report on evacuation of Forts at Grand Caillon, &c. No. 5«, - - 118 Endorsement of President on last, - - - - - 119 penmAlife* pH8.5