the Yankees or whether they will be allowed to enjoy their new houses in quietness. When I say all are ready for an attack, I express but feebly the feeling which pervades the army.

* * * * * * * * *

BOHEMIAN.

Abstract from of the Department of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, for the month of December, 1861.

Present for duty. .

.

Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. .

Command Officer Men. Officer Men. Officer Men.

s. s. s. s.

Potomac

Distric

t:

First 1,123 16,554 33 584 63 1,279

Corps

Second 882 12,815 11 233 27 568

Corps

Reserve 416 6,428 ....... ....... 7 170

Divisio

n

Cavalry ....... ....... 185 2.200 ...... ......

Brigade

Artille ...... ...... ....... ...... 30 540

ry

Corps

Total

Potomac

Distric 2,421 35,795 229 3,017 127 2,557

t

Aquia 400 5,418 31 400 23 439

Distric

t

Valley 746 9,236 40 571 22 424

Distric

t

Grand 3,567 50,451 300 3,988 172 3,420

Total

Command Effective Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

s. total. present. present and artillery

absent. .

Potomac

Distric

t:

First *19,853 24,914 31,155 ........

Corps

Second +14.543 18,301 22,132 38

Corps

Reserve 7,163 8,278 10,139 12

Divisio

n

Cavalry 2,430 3,006 3,793 ........

Brigade

Artille 574 666 828 ........

ry

Corps

Total

Potomac

Distric 44,563 55,165 68,047 50

t

Aquia 6,597 8,244 10,050 30

Distric

t

Valley 10,952 12,922 19,953 29

Distric

t

Grand 62,112 76,331 98,050 109

Total

Notes from original return:

*Effective total (2,770) near Leesburg, under Brigadier-General Hill, to be deducted.

+Effective total (7,601) near Dumfries, to be deducted.

HEADQUARTERS, Centreville, January 1, 1862.

Honorable J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War:

SIR: I had the honor to receive this morning your letter of the 27th ultimo, conveying the President's orders in relation to Brigadier-General Whiting.

I beg to be allowed to intercede in this case, partly because this officer's service as brigadier-general are very important to this army, and partly because I also share the wrong. I am confident that he has in his heart neither insubordination nor disrespect. Had I returned the letter to him, pointing out the objectionable language in it, it would, I doubt not, have been promptly corrected. I regret very much that in my carelessness it was not done. No one is less disposed than I to be instrumental in putting before the President a paper offensive in its character.

Brigadier-General Whiting has a very important command-that of the troops near Evansport and on the Lower Occoquan; is a soldier of high ability; has studied his situation and circumstances; his removal now might be unfortunate should the enemy attack before his successor had equally qualified himself for that command. The only officers who can be intrusted with it are in command of division from which they cannot be taken. I therefore beg the President to pass over this matter.

Should the President adhere, to his decision, I respectfully ask that his orders may be so far modified as to place this "able engineer" on duty in this department, instead of in one of its districts. Major