HEADQUARTERS SUB-MILITIA DISTRICT OF HOUSTON,
Houston, Tex., October 1, 1862.

Captain SAMUEL BOYER DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, &c.:

SIR: I received a report from Beaumont, stating that on Saturday, 26th instant, in the evening, the Federals came with two launches, about 50 in number, inside of Taylor's Bayou and attempted to destroy the railroad bridge. Their attempt was unsuccessful; the bridge was repaired in two hours. They arrested three men who live near the bridge, probably to exact information from them. The bridge is not guarded. I shall send Major Kellersberg to Beaumont and Orange to erect a field work for the protection of the bridge at Beaumont and to command at Orange the navigation of the river. I must protect from an attack Niblett's Bluff, which is our great thoroughfare to Louisiana. Troops ought to be stationed there, but I have no infantry to send and besides it is situated in Louisiana. If I can do no better I shall use at Beaumont and Organe three mortars which here, although these pieces can be of little advantage against a moving object like a launch.

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

X. B. DEBRAY,

Colonel, Commanding Sub-Military District of Houston.

P. S.-The yellow fever is reported at Matagorda.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 73.
Richmond, Va., October 1, 1862.

I. The State of Mississippi and that part of Louisiana east of the Mississippi River is constituted a separate military department, the command of which is assigned to Major General John C. Pemberton.

* * * * *

By order:

S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.

Abstract from Monthly Report of the District of Western Louisiana, commanded by Major General R. Taylor, October 1, 1862 (headquarters Alexandria, La.)

Present for duty.

Infantry Cavalry

Troops Officers Men Officers Men

Infantry 112 1,634 .......... ..........

Cavalry .......... .......... 83 1,319

Artillery .......... .......... .......... ..........

Grand 112 1,634 83 1,319

total

Artillery

Troops Officers Men Aggregate Aggregate present

present and absent

Infantry ....... ..... 2,676 3,425

Cavalry ....... ..... 1,775 2,033

Artillery 6 193 246 382

Grand total 6 193 4,697 5,840

[SPECIAL] ORDERS,
MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, No. 20.
Galveston, Tex., October 2, 1862.

Galveston Island, Virginia Point, and adjacent bay coast, and the