CHARLESTON, S. C., February 20, 1864.

Brigadier General H. W. MERCER,

Savannah, Ga.:

If the company of the siege train can go without delaying the movement of the Eighteenth South Carolina Volunteers, the Eleventh South Carolina Volunteers, and the Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteers ordered from South Carolina to Florida, you can send it well supplied to Brigadier-General Finegan at Lake City. Otherwise it must remain until the troops from South Carolina are pushed through.

By command of General Beauregard:

JNO. M. OTEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CHARLESTON, S. C., February 20, 1864.

Brigadier General H. W. MERCER,

Savannah, Ga.:

The Eighteenth South Carolina Volunteers will leave here at 7.30 p. m. to-day, the Eleventh South Carolina Volunteers at 8 a. m. to-morrow, and the Forty-sixth Virginia will leave Adams' Run at 5 p. m. to-morrow. Have transportation and subsistence as ordered.

By command of General Beauregard:

JNO. M. OTEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, February 20, 1864.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Charleston, S. C.:

Governor Milton telegraphs earnestly that an officer of superior rank and reputation be sent to Florida. As General Gilmer has been ordered to Mobile, I desire your advice whether such officer is needed, and who should be sent. Would not Major General Patton Anderson, as a Floridian, be advisable?

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

CHARLESTON, February 21, 1864.

Honorable J. A. SEDDON:

This morning's telegram* may not have answered fully yours of yesterday. I consider an able officer of sufficient rank indispensable to success in Florida. Should you send one abler than General Taliaferro he will be very acceptable.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[First indorsement.]

FEBRUARY 22, 1864.

It may not be improper to add that General Beauregard's commendations of General Taliaferro have been elicited by no reference to him in my telegram, which referred simply to Major-General

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*See p. 112.

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