In my return you will find embraced the brigade of Brigadier-General Alcorn. His men are sixty-days' troops from Mississippi, who are armed with every variety of weapon. They are sick with measles, raw, and undisciplined. This brigade cannot be expected to be very effective.

I also send you a weekly report of the troops at this post*, and am sorry to remark that they have been much reduced by sickness.

My effective force is now, as you will see, only about 12,000.

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

L. POLK,

Major-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

Abstract from return of the First Division, Western Department, Major General Leonidas Polk, C. S. Army, commanding, for December, 1861.

Present for duty.

Infantry. Cavalry.

Troops. Officer Men. Officer Men.

s s.

1st Division, Columbus. 277 4,370 - -

2nd Division, Columbus. 222 3,063 21 266

3rd Division, Columbus. 166 2,601 15 244

Stewart's command, 88 1,259 - -

Columbus

Fort Pillow, Henderson and 205 3,014 - -

Trenton.

Fort Henry. 59 1,136 5 100

Fort Thompson. 30 418 - -

Camp Beauregard. 134 1,540 31 429

Total. 1,181 17,401 72 1,039

Artillery.

Officer Men. Aggrega Aggreg

s. te ate

Troops. present presen

t and

absent

1st Division, Columbus. 7 186 5,702 6,519

2nd Division, Columbus. 5 107 4,602 5,147

3rd Division, Columbus. 14 355 4,292 4,589

Stewart's command, 27 431 2,266 2,418

Columbus

Fort Pillow, Henderson and - - 3,870 4,357

Trenton.

Fort Henry. 3 69 1,655 1,820

Fort Thompson. 7 129 817 931

Camp Beauregard. - - 2,577 2,831

Total. 63 1,277 25,781 28,612

AGGREGATE PRESENT FOR DUTY.

Infantry................................................ 18,582

Cavalry................................................. 1,111

Artillery............................................... 1,340

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Grand aggregate......................................... 21,033

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Richmond, January 12, 1862.

General A. SIDNEY JOHNSTON, Bowling Green, Ky.:

SIR: I have the honor of acknowledging receipt of your letter of 5th instant.

I refrain from answering it in detail, because our views will be fully disclosed to Major General Earl Van Dorn, just assigned to the command of the Trans-Mississippi District, of your department, with orders to report to you in person on his way to the West.

He will give you information relative to the condition of the army of General McCulloch, and will of course receive your orders in relation to the movement of forces to New Madrid, as suggested in your letter.

Your obedient servant,

J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War.

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*Not found.

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