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

your action in stopping the supply of blankets at Nashville which had been collected for the army in Virginia, inasmuch as we had luckily succeeded in obtaining a certain number from Europe by the Bermuda with which to replace those detained by you, and which served to supply our troops that were suffering in the mountains.

The President, however, begs that I should urge on you not to permit in your department a system of action which cannon fail to produce the most unfortunate results in every possible aspect of the case. Two of your subordinates have lately assumed the power to interfere with the passage of supplies destined to different points,and have subjected the Government to annoyances and embarrassments that paralyze its best efforts for the common defense. i will state them both: First. General Pillow intercepted a supply of forage, collected with care and for urgent use in Alabama. The result is breaking up of some cavalry forces collected by General Bragg for the cost defenses between Mobile and Pensacola, and bitter and somewhat intemperate remonstrance on the part of some of General Bragg's officers, and an appeal to this Department for censure of General Pillow.

Second. A wagon trains was collected and supplied with clothing, bought and paid for out of an appropriation specially made by Congress for the relief of our suffering brethren in Missouri, who are making so gallant a fight without an exchequer or an organized government. The clothing brought with this particular fund, and specially promised to General Price's forces, was seized by General McCulloch, and distributed amongst his won troops without semblance of authority, and, so far as I am informed, without even stress of necessity.

To you, general, comment is unnecessary on such proceedings. They render the administration of the affairs of this Department on any systematical plan absolutely impossible. It was in this same spirit ( that seems to have seized upon many of our leaders) that General Lovell sent a special messenger to Nashville for a supply of powder after I had refused to furnish any more to New Orleans until I had received some account of what had become of a large supply sent there within the last thirty days.

Our means are inadequate to furnish everywhere all that is required. We divide out to the best of our ability, as fairly as possible, according to the exigencies of the service, such supplies as we can command. This equitable system cam only be conducted from one common head. Let me pray you to give such instructions to your subordinates as shall put an end to this reprehensible practice, and trust me that you shall have to the utmost extent of my power every possible facility and aid in the accomplishment of your arduous takes in defending so vast a frontier as that which has been confided to you.

Your want of arms is felt by us as severely as by yourself. I have news of a cargo from Liverpool that must be off the coast just at this time, and we are all most eagerly looking out for it. If the steamer succeeds in running the blockade safely I may be able to send you some 10,000 stands of arms, and thus put you at once on a footing to enable you to commence active operations.

The President has appointed Humphrey Marshall a brigadier-general, to take command of the forces collecting at Prestonburg. He goes with arms enough for a regiment, with a regiment of Virginians that is to join him at Christiansburg, and still another will be with him in a few days. This will, we hope, suffice as a nucleus to hold together the forces now at Prestonburg and on the eve of dispersing, as we are informed, and enable Colonel Williams to succeed in uniting two or three