Abstract from return of the army in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, General G. T. Beauregard commanding, for November 15, 1863; headquarters Charleston, S. C.

Present for duty.

Command. Officer. Men. Effective

total

present.

First Military District 315 4,998 5,646

(Ripley)..

Second Military District 48 896 1,029

(Robertson)..

Third Military District 170 2,795 3,089

(Walker)..

Fourth Military District 79 1,080 1,208

(Trapier)..

Fifth Military District 106 1,399 1,474

(Rhett)..

Sixth Military District 124 1,640 1,717

(Wise)..

Seventh Military District 453 7,606 8,301

(Taliaferro)..

District of Georgia 233 3,534 4,170

(Mercer)..

District of Middle 112 1,516 1,685

Florida (Gargner)..

District of East Florida 75 1,035 1,074

(Finegan)..

Total.. 1,715 29,499 29,393

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

present. present artillery.

and

absent.

First Military District 6,640 9,042 4

(Ripley)..

Second Military District 1,146 1,606 14

(Robertson)..

Third Military District 3,644 5,186 22

(Walker)..

Fourth Military District 1,446 2,394 8

(Trapier)..

Fifth Military District 1,705 2,694 ...

(Rhett)..

Sixth Military District 2,067 2,458 ...

(Wise)..

Seventh Military District 9,583 13,118 20

(Taliaferro)..

District of Georgia 5,101 6,901 18

(Mercer)..

Districtof Middle Florida 2,350 3,790 ...

(Gargner)..

District of East Florida 1,259 2,318 8

(Finegan)..

Total.. 34,941 49,507 98

CHARLESTON, S. C.,

November 16, 1863 - 8.30 a. m.

General COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:

Bombardment of Sumter continues as last reported, with little material damage and few casualties. Ironside still silent at her usual anchorage; apparently undergoing repairs outside.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

CHARLESTON, S. C.,

November 16, 1863.

Brigadier General B. H. ROBERTSON,

Commanding, Adams Run:

Halt Anderson's regiment at Adams Run, and keep sharp lookout no enemy's movements on Seabrook Island.

THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF OF ARTILLERY,
James Island, November 16, 1863.

Brigadier General THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: It is obvious that the constructions of new lines has given to the peninsula of Secessionville an importance it had not before. The reasons will be apparent to the commanding general. Hence, every effort should be made to make that position impregnable, and to guard it against surprise by every possible means. While Battery Haskell, with but one creek running along its shore, the months of which are guarded at either extreme by 8-inch guns, has, altogether twelve guns to prevent approach to it, the eastern and northern portions of Secessionville, in their long extent, approachable by several creeks, have but one 32-pounder, smooth, on the former, and one of the same character on the latter (ordered to be rifled) as