[First indorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

March 15, 1865.

Respectfully referred to General R. E. Lee.

By command of the Secretary of War:

H. L CLAY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES,
March 18, 1865.

Respectfully returned to the honorable Secretary of War.

The action of Lieutenant-General Holmes is approved by General R. E. Lee.

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS NORTH CAROLINA RESERVES,
Raleigh, March 2, 1865.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector-General:

GENERAL: All the Reserves in North Carolina have long been in active service under the different commanders, and I have no men to order, as require by Orders, Numbers 8, just received. I have written to General Bragg for a regiment of Senior Reserves, and I respectfully ask you to order the brigade now at Salisbury to be returned to me. The Federal prisoners there, I presume, will soon be forwarded for exchange.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

TH. H. HOLMES,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF GEORGIA,
Augusta, March 12, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel J. M. OTEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: For the information of the command general I respectfully report as follows: The effective force stationed in this military district consists of the Third Regiment Georgia Reserves, 375; Hannon's brigade cavalry, 500; Twenty-ninth Battalion Georgia Cavalry, 300; Fourth Regiment Georgia Cavalry, 200. The regiment of Georgia Reserves is now stationed three miles east of Augusta. Hannon's Brigade, left here by General Young, I have ordered to guard the approaches to this city from Savannah and Pocotaligo and to operate vigorously against any foraging or other parties the enemy may send out, and to keep them confined as far as practicable to such points ans they hold on the coast. The same instructions have been given to the Twenty-ninth Georgia Battalion and Fourth Georgia Regiment, which are in Liberty and McIntosh Counties. So far as I have been able to learn, the enemy have no considerable force either at Charleston, Savannah, or any of the intermediate poins. But the negroes everywhere within their reach have become much demoralized, and a large number have gone to the enemy. I have instructed the cavalry to prevent this as far as