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

men, to consist of eight mounted companies, one regiment of artillery, and the balance infantry; third, at or near Harrisburg, 2,000 men, of which one regiment should be mounted; fourth, at Spring Creek, near Hampstead, 2,000; fifth, at Victoria, 2,000; sixth, on coast from San Luis to head of Matagorda Bay, four mounted companies, six companies of infantry; seventh, on Rio Grande, not less than 3,000, of which one regiment should be mounted; eighth, at Pass Cavallo, three companies; and Aransas, two or more companies. The relative number of rendezvous or stations of these troops may be changed, as circumstance may require, and will be provided for by the proper departments, upon the above basis, until further orders.

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

SAML.BOYER DAVIS, Major, and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, Galveston, November 15, 1861.

HonorableJ.P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor to report that under the apprehension of an invasion by the enemy at any time, and owing to the great distance of this department from General Headquarters, I have taken the responsibility of calling into service troops for the defense of the State. I have experienced great difficulty in regard to arms and ammunition, although the troops now in service form hardly one-half of the number I think necessary to act simply on the defensive. Men also, I am sorry to say, are now more difficult to get, especially for the war. There are now over 5,000 troops in service. I have taken the liberty, it being a matter of absolute necessity, of appointing, subject to the approval of the President, the field officers to the regiments mustered into service and such staff officers as were necessary. I was also compelled to give temporary appointments to persons to secure their services on engineer and special duty, all of which is, of course, subject to the approval or disapproval of the President; the commissions subject to being canceled at any time, and troops disbanded by his order. I have the honor to inclose a list of officers appointed as above for the approval of the President.

Commander W.W.Hunter, C.S.Navy, ordered to report to the general commanding this department, I assigned to the immediate command of the naval defenses, such as they are, of the port and bay of Galveston. Upon his application and representation of an urgent necessity, I authorized him to employ such boats, propelled by steam or otherwise, as the service in his judgment rendered necessary. I am aware that the chartering of boats for this kind of service is rather expensive, but when it is considered that this city is on an island, connected with the mainland by only one railroad bridge, and that it is subject to a disaster similar to that of Fort Hatteras, it seems that prudence would dictate that all proper precautions should be taken to get the troops off in the event of a necessity of abandoning or being driven from the island. There is no doubt but that the defense of Galveston, or any other point on this coast, in the event of a formidable attack, is a very difficult if not an impossible matter; yet an effort must be made in that direction, and this place held as long as possible. It is a cotton port, and if in the possession of the enemy would be a nucleus for the disaffected, of which there are, I am sorry to say, many in this State.