purposes. The counties of Greenbrier and Monroe, owing to the excessive drought of last summer, have a surplus of nothing except a little hay and beef-cattle. No pork can be purchased here, but bee-cattle can be had - enough to sustain this army until spring-if forage can be found to feed them when the grass gives out. I have sent an agent to-day to the counties south of the railroad to make arrangements for feeding beef-cattle when the grass here shall be gone. The cavalry force in this department is already too great, and it is hoped that no more authorities will be granted for raising cavalry companies. Would it not be well to let such cavalry companies as chose be transferred to the infantry?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. S. WILLIAMS,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Department.

[Indorsement.]

Referred to the Adjutant-General. As another has been sent to command this department, it is not deemed necessary to reply specially to this communication.

J. A. S.[SEDDON],

Secretary of War.

Abstract from field return of the Department of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, November 20, 1862; headquarters Fredericksburg.

Present for duty.

Infantry. Cavalry.

Command. Staff Officers Men. Officers Men.

FIRST ARMY CORPS.

Lieutenant General 13 --- --- --- ---

J. Longstreet

Anderson's division 23 422 5,717 --- ---

McLaw's division 25 578 7,559 --- ---

Pickett's division 22 551 5,634 --- ---

Hood's division 16 462 5,715 --- ---

Ransom's division 5 270 3,904 --- ---

Alexander's -- --- --- --- ---

battalion artillery

Walton's battalion -- --- --- --- ---

artillery

Total First Army 114 2,283 28,529 --- ---

Corps

SECOND ARMY CORPS.

Lieutenant General 1 --- --- --- ---

T. J. Jackson

D. R. Jones' division 14 407 4,627 --- ---

Ewell's division 29 572 7,018 --- ---

D. H. Hill's division 26 549 7,653 --- ---

A. P. Hill's division 30 723 9,897 --- ---

Brown's battalion -- --- --- --- ---

of artillery

Post of Winchester -- 72 767 --- ---

Total Second Army 100 2,323 29,962 --- ---

Corps

Stuart's cavalry 30 --- --- 603 8,551

division

Pendleton's reserve --- --- --- --- ---

artillery*

Grand total 244 4,606 58,491 603 8,551

Artillery.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate Aggregate

present. present and

absent.

FIRST ARMY CORPS.

Lieutenant General --- --- 13 16

J. Longstreet

Anderson's division --- --- 7,646 13,725

McLaw's division --- --- 9,447 16,278

Pickett's division --- --- 7,498 15,138

Hood's division --- --- 7,113 12,734

Ransom's division --- --- 4,945 8,176

Alexander's 27 517 576 763

battalion artillery

Walton's battalion 15 242 274 349

artillery

Total First Army 42 759 37,512 67,179

Corps

SECOND ARMY CORPS.

Lieutenant General --- --- 1 1

T. J. Jackson

D. R. Jones' division --- --- 6,015 12,629

Ewell's division --- --- 9,122 16,709

D. H. Hill's division --- --- 9,576 18,528

A. P. Hill's division --- --- 12,331 21,781

Brown's battalion 23 479 528 697

of artillery

Post of Winchester --- --- 959 1,260

Total Second Army 23 479 38,532 71,603

Corps

Stuart's cavalry --- --- 10,539 15,008

division

Pendleton's reserve --- --- --- ---

artillery*

Grand total 65 1,238 86,583 153,798

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*Not return received.

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45 R R-VOL XXI