look. If you can hold Thomas in check with the addition to your present force of Polk's old corps, restored to your department, and the cavalry of Hood's army, which cannot be profitably sent to the East, then, as fast as it can be done consistently with the efficiency of the troops, the rest of Hood's army should, I think, be sent to look after Sherman. The presence of those veterans will no doubt greatly increase the auxiliary force now with Hardee. You may show this to General Beauregard.

JEFF'N DAVIS.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST,
Montgomery, January 12, 1865.

Lieutenant General RICHARD TAYLOR,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: General Beauregard instructs me to ask whether the block-houses and small field-works for the protection of the bridges and trestles on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad have been constructed?

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEORGE WM. BRENT,

Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[First indorsement.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, &C., ENGINEER OFFICE,
Meridian, January 21, 1865.

Respectfully referred to Major D. Wintter, engineer in charge, District Mississippi and East Louisiana.

WALTER J. MORRIS,

Captain and Actg. Chief Engineer, Dept. of Ala., Miss., and East La.

[Second indorsement.]

ENGINEER OFFICE,

Meridian, Miss., January 21, 1865.

Respectfully returned, with the information that no block-houses or small field-works have been erected on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

D. WINTER,

Major, Engineers.

ENGINEER OFFICE,

Mobile, January 21, 1865.

Colonel A. L. RIVES,

Assistant Chief Engineer, Richmond, Va.:

COLONEL: Inclosed I have the honor to forward your letter of the 15th ultimo to Lieutenant Colonel V. Sheliha, chief engineer, District of the Gulf, with the accompanying indorsement of the major-general commanding. I beg leave to submit the following statements in addition:I think the arrangements already made for commanding Garrow's Bend sufficient to prevent any fleet of the enemy lying in that bay to bombard the city. Major General M. L. Smith and myself have of late given particular attention to the works on the eastern shore and carefully