understood at the North that two persons, prompted by heavy bribes, had left there to burn the principal bridges on the Wilmington and Charleston Railroad; that the Burnside expedition is to take that road, and that the other fleet, acting in concert, will take the road from Charleston to Savannah, thus isolating Charleston.

The general is of opinion that this may be reliable, and desire that you take such precautionary measures as may be in your power to insure the safety of the railroad from any incendiary attempts within the limits of your district.

Respectfully, &c.,

T. A. WASHINGTON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

RICHMOND, January 30, 1862.

General R. E. LEE,

Savannah:

I send you to-morrow three heavy guns, two of them 10-inch and one 8-inch, equipped complete. Will send three more in three or four days. They are all we can give you. We h ave no iron carriages, and send wooden carriages.

J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War.

Abstract from monthly report of the Department of Middle and East Florida, commanded by Brigadier General J. H. Trapier, for January, 1862.

Present for duty.

Infant Infant Cavalr Caval

ry ry. y. ry.

Troops. Office Men. Office Men.

rs. rs.

4th Regiment Florida 37 474 - -

Volunteers

3rd Regiment Georgia 28 551 - -

Volunteers

24th Regiment Mississippi 39 443 - -

Volunteers

Bailey's company of infantry 4 74 - -

Evans' company of infantry 3 80 - -

Simmons' coast-guard 4 41 - -

1st Florida Special Battalion 18 331 - -

1st Florida Cavalry - - 35 761

Hopkins' independent troop - - 3 76

Owens' independent troop - - 2 75

Pickett's independent troop - - 2 68

Turner's independent troop - - 4 100

Baya's company of artillery - - - -

Martin's light battery - - - -

Grant total 133 1,994 46 1,080

Artillery.

Office Men. Aggreg Aggre

rs. ate gate

presen prese

Troops. t. nt

and

absen

t.

4th Regiment Florida - - 721 777

Volunteers

3rd Regiment Georgia - - 655 823

Volunteers

24th Regiment Mississippi - - 787 895

Volunteers

Bailey's company of infantry - - 78 78

Evans' company of infantry - - 83 84

Simmons' coast-guard - - 45 45

1st Florida Special Battalion - - 502 577

1st Florida Cavalry - - 827 867

Hopkins' independent troop - - 81 82

Owens' independent troop - - 99 120

Pickett's independent troop - - 74 74

Turner's independent troop - - 115 115

Baya's company of artillery 3 29 34 67

Martin's light battery 3 60 65 76

Grant total 6 89 4,166 4,680

[FEBRUARY 2, 1862.-Requisitions made by the Confederate Government for two and a half war regiments from Florida, twelve from Georgia, and five from South Carolina.*]

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*Requisition will be found in Series IV, Vol. I.

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