CHAP.XI.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-CONFEDERATE.

GALVESTON, TEX., October 19,1861.

General P.O. HEBERT, C.S.A., Commanding Department of Texas:

GENERAL: I have the honor to state that, upon a critical investigation as to the most suitable points to station 10,000 troops, in view of subsisting them, as well as for the defense of this city, there should be in Galveston and Virginia Point, 5,000; at Magnolia, Clear Creek, and near the railroad, 2,000; at Spring Creek, near Millican, 2,000; at the State camp, near Harrisburg, 1,000. These troops, thus stationed, could protect the city, as well as forage for the quartermaster's department. From the most reliable information I can obtain I have no doubt the troops can be subsisted without difficulty. There can be subsisted on the lower Rio Grande, 5,000 troops-3,000 at Fort McIntosh and vicinity, and 500 near Edinburg, 55 miles from Fort Brown. I propose making Ringgold Barracks, 120 miles from Fort Brown, a depot for the support of these troops.

With the view of making the different departments efficient, I propose Francis I.Lynch assistant quartermaster, Thomas N. Minter and James H.French commissaries, with the rank of captain, to be located at Harrisburg and Ringgold Barracks, whose duties shall be to keep the depots supplied. These officers, in addition to those already in the department, with suitable details from the line, will be sufficient.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SACKFIELD MACLIN, Major, Confederate States Army, Acting Chief Q.M. and Com.of Sub., Dep't of Texas.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Austin, Tex., October 22, 1861.

General P.O. HEBERT:

SIR: Your communication of the 16th instant was duly received. I am gratified that you have ordered Colonel Parsons, with his regiment, south. He was anxious to obtain service in Texas.

One object of my writing at this time is to procure, if possible, the acceptance of Colonel Locke's regiment. From information just received I fear that he has taken up the line of march in the direction of the coast. If so, it has been done without orders from me, and I presume in consequence of advices given him by Colonel Parsons. Though the duty of the soldier is to await and obey orders, I am disposed to excuse his non-observance of this obligation, for the reason that they have promptly responded to my call for their services and are exceedingly anxious for service. This regiment would have gone to Missouri without hesitation, but are now of the opinion that Texas may need them; and, if so, they prefer to stay at home. I am aware that you do not desire a very large cavalry force, not more perhaps than you now have. It may occur, however, that you may need additional cavalry troops; and, indeed, I see through the papers that you are in some instances authorizing the raising of cavalry companies. Would it not suit your views to receive this regiment now, in expectancy of future contingencies? Might it not be well employed at Brownsville until the forces desired for that post be obtained? We have an extended seaboard, and, if invaded in that quarter, I should think a considerable cavalry force would be needed. It is now very