sion there. Why these appointments should create such excitement among the junior officers in Fort Sumter I am at a loss to understand.

With great respect and esteem, your obedient servant,

F. W. PICKENS.

HEADQUARTERS,
Coosawhatchie, December 31, 1861.

General S. R. GIST,

Adjutant and Inspector General South Carolina:

GENERAL: General Ripley, commanding in Charleston, reports that the line of intrenchments for the defense of that city may be considered as completed except those between the Cooper and Ashley Rivers. He also reports that he is entirely without troops to defend them, those not required at the forts and batteries being advanced on James Island and beyond the Stono to check the approach and marauding parties of the enemy.

The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Regiments South Carolina Volunteers, as soon as equipped for the field, will be sent to General Evans for similar service. Will you be kind enough to inform me when you can place in the field the other regiments of the State you have called into service?

It will give me pleasure to meet you in Charleston, as proposed in your dispatch of yesterday, after my return from Savannah, where I shall go to-day.

R. E. LEE.

Abstract from monthly report of the Department of Middle and East Florida, commanded by Brigadier General James H. Trapier, for December, 1861.

Present for duty.

Officer Men. Aggrega Aggreg

s. te ate

Troops. present presen

t and

absent

1st Florida Special 23 386 455 511

Battalion Infantry

3rd Regiment Florida 44 800 889 950

Volunteers

4th Regiment Florida 39 664 823 881

Volunteers

24th Regiment Mississippi 40 409 614 932

Volunteers

Coast-guard on board - - 45 45

steamer General Grayson

Battalion of cavalry 28 628 674 701

Hopkins' independent troop 4 61 68 80

Owens' independent troop 3 93 105 116

Pickett's independent 3 70 73 74

troop

Turner's independent troop 4 90 95 95

Baya's company of 4 62 66 66

artillery

Martin's light battery 3 60 65 76

Grant total 195 3,323 3,972 4,527

HEADQUARTERS,
Coosawhatchie, S. C., January 2, 1861.

Brigadier General J. H. TRAPIER,

Commanding, &c., Fernandina:

GENERAL: I have not yet been informed whether you have determined to remove the guns from the south end of Cumberland Island. The battery at that point, in conjunction with the fire of Fort Clinch,