judge of the feasibility of the proposition to assign him to duty as proposed. It will be observed that a request is made for the appoitnment of a brigadier-general, but it does not appear that there is a brigade to justify such appointment. If there should be a brigade of local-defense men, a brigadier may be appointed or assigned as may be found best.

J. D. [DAVIS.]

SEPTEMBER 26, 1863.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL:

What is the present position of Colonel Avery? Is he not with General Lee in command of a regiment?

J. A. S. [SEDDON],

Secretary.

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

September 29, 1863.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War.

Colonel Avery commands the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiment, Lieutenant General A. P. Hill's corps, General Lee's army.

By order of the Adjutant and Inspector General:

E. A. PALFREY,

Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from field return of Pickett's division, Major General E. Pickett, C. S. Army, commanding, September 21, 1863.

Present for

duty.

Command. Off Men Aggre Aggre Avera Remarks

ice gate ate ge

rs prese prese last

nt nt field

and repor

absen t

t

Division 8 --- 8 9 7 Petersbur

headquarters g, Va.

Armistead's 69 1,033 1,354 3,109 1,272 Do.

brigade

Corse's brigade -- --- --- --- --- Detached.

Hunton's brigade 71 781 1,050 2,669 1,048 Chaffin's

Farm, Va.

Kemper's brigade 92 1,000 1,349 3,130 1,319 Do.

Total 240 2,814 3,917 8,917 3,646

HEADQUARTERS,
Wilmington, September 22, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond:

SIR: The demands for transportation here have now become so great, and my means so small and so rapidly deteriorating, that I am compelled to ask for one or two steamers at once or two steamers at once, either to be purchased or impressed, for service in the river.

For the engineer service, river obstructions, commissariat, quartermaster's department, transportation of ordnance, assistance to government steamers pursuing the blockade, and for the coal supply from Fayetteville (this most important), I have but two small iron