to inspect the armies and hospitals in the States of Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. His reports will be made direst to the Surgeton-General.

* * * * *

By command of Secretary of War:

JOHN WITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CHARLESTON, February 8, 1865-10 p. m.

(Received 5 p. m. 9th.)

President DAVIS:

The enemy appeared at railroad bridge near Branchville to-day; also at New Bridge, five miles below, and at Binnaker's and Holman's Bridges above. No seriou effort made to cross the Edisto. Enemy have driven our forces from railroad bridge over Salkehatchie, and are active at Combahee Ferry. Nothing heard from Wheeler to-day.

W. J. HARDEE,

Lieutenant-General.

CHARLESTON, February 8, 1865.

General S. COOPER:

The troops in this department have been organized into divisions as far their territorial distribution would allow. Taliaferro's division consists of two brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General Elliott and Colonel Rhett, and numbers about 5. 000 effectives. Its organization is upon Special Orders, Numbers 311, series 1864, from these headquarters, paragraph 4, copy of which was forwarded to your office.

W. H. HARDEE,

Lieutenant-General.

AUGUSTA, GA., February 8, 1865-5 p. m.

General SMITH:

GENERAL: You will please bring your troops here in the mornig, starting at daylight, with two days' cooked rations. Leave General Browne on the river, at the mouth of Spirit Creek. Direct him to impress horses to take the 20-pounder Parrotts to the work there in construction. General Browne must keep a messenger constantly at Allen's Station to carry dispatches to him.

Respectfully,

D. H. HILL,

Major-General.

P. S. - Yankees are between Windsor and Aiken.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF GEORGIA,
Augusta, February 8, 1865-6 p. m.

Major General SMITH:

Captain Kirk informs me that he issued the order last night for that whole of Browne's command to move to Shell Bluff. there is a mistake out somewhere. I understood that Major McCrady was construct