OPERATIONS IN N. C. AND S. E. VA. [CHAP.XIII.

For some considerable time our militia have ceased to have any organization, but our legislature, which has just adjourned, has revised our whole militia system, and it is now undergoing a reorganization, and I doubt whether a call now would effect to much extent the desired object. Their great deficiency in arms presents another difficulty.

Among the acts just passed by our legislature is one authorizing the formation of companies for "local defense and special service,: similar to an act (229) of the Confederate Congress, which it is hoped will supersede the necessarily of calling out the militia.

Under these circumstances I would respectfully suggest the propriety of postponing the call for the militia. I need not add that in the mean time I need not add that in the mean time I will give every attention to increase the efficiency of the militia.

Very respectfully,

HENRY T. CLARK.

GENERAL ORDERS,} HDQRS. ARMY OF THE PENINSULA, Numbers 89. } Yorktown, Va., October 3, 1861.

I. The infantry forces on the Peninsula are hereby organized into brigades, as follows: The First Brigade: Tenth Georgia Regiment and Second Louisiana Regiment, Brigadier-General McLaws; Second Brigade; Fifth Louisiana Regiment First Louisiana Battalion, and Louisiana Zouaves, Colonel Hunt; Third Brigade: Fourteenth and Fifteenth Virginia Regiments, Colonel August; Fourth Brigade; Sixth and Sixteenth Georgia Regiments, Colonel Colquitt; Fifth Brigade: Eighth and Thirteenth Alabama Regiments, Colonel Winston, Sixth Brigade: First and Fifth North Carolina Regiments, Colonel McKinney; Seventh Brigade: Tenth and Fourteenth Louisiana Regiments, Colonel Sulakowski; Eighth Brigade: Thirty-second Virginia Regiment, and Montague's, Waddell's, and Tomlin's Virginia battalions, Colonel Ewell. The above organizations take effect upon the promulgation of this order.

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II. The following assignment of troops is hereby made, to wit: To the position known as Young's Mill, and extending from Mr. John Patrick's on the left to the mouth of Deep Creek on the right, are assigned: First, McLaw's brigade; second, Fifteenth Regiment Virginia Volunteers; third, Forno's battalion, Fifth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers; fourth, Montague's battalion, four companies; and , fifth, Second Florida Regiment, to be held reserve in rear of Young's grist-mill. These troops and this position will be command by Brigadier-General McLaws.

III. To the position known as Harrod's Mill, commencing at John Partick's on the right and extending to Bartlett's on the left, are assigned: First, the Fourteenth Louisiana Regiment on the right; second, the Sixth Georgia Regiment; third, the Sixteenth Georgia Regiment; fourth, ten companies of the First North Carolina Regiment; fifth, Cobb's Legion, which will be station at Cockletwon and held in reserve. These troops and this position will be commanded by Brigadier General G. J. Rains.

IV. To the position at Land's End, the Fourteenth Virginia Regiment, Colonel Hodges.

V. To the position at Ship Point; First, the First North Carolina Regiment; second, the remaining companies of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment; third, the One hundred and fifteenth Regiment Virginia