this department, and report to General A. S. Johnston, commanding Department of the West, for further orders.

* * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Bragg:

FRANCIS S. PARKER, JR.,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

JACKSON, TENN., February 25, 1862.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant:

Scouts report heavy re-enforcements received at Cairo and Paducah, detailed from Federal Army of the Potomac. Appearance of early attack on Columbus. Need more general officers for the proper organization of the troops at Columbus and for new levies. No proper subdivision of the troops at Columbus has been or can be made without more general officers. Time in pressing.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Murfreesborough, February 25, 1862.

The commanders of brigades are remained that the citizens must not be stripped of every means of support, even for the necessities of the army; and on the appeal of any citizen that his means are reduced to the wants of his family, they will at once, by authority of General Johnston, order an investigation, and if the complaint is verified, they will give the former a safeguard.

By command of General Johnston:

W. W. MACKALL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 45.
Richmond, February 25, 1862.

* * * * * * * *

XX. Major General E. K. Smith will proceed to Knoxville, and assume command of the troops in East Tennessee, reporting by letter to General A. S. Johnston, at Murfreesborough, Tenn.

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[FEBRUARY 26, 1862.-For Governor of Louisiana to Secretary of War, in reference to re-enforcements for Beauregard's command, see Series I, Vol, p. 830.]

MEMPHIS, February 26, 1862.

(Received Richmond, February 27, 1862.)

J. P. BENJAMIN:

Great excitement here and depression in public mind. To correct misapprehension and explain necessity which compelled capitula-