now at Charleston awaiting the completion of gun-boats, was referred for the consideration of the honorable Secretary of the Navy, who replies that "there are at this time no navy rifles available for the purpose specified, and as the enemy's guns now employed in shelling Charleston are fired at considerable distance, they are probably covered by heavy parapets, and the chance of dismounting them by direct fire would be very slight."

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF FLORIDA,
Lake City, October 5, 1864.

Captain H. W. FEILDEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit herewith certain reports* of officers in relation to the recent raid of the enemy in West Florida. Colonels Turney and Smith, commanders of sub-districts, are both sick and not on duty. Colonel Montgomery has been captured. The sub-districts are now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, being the officers highest in rank who are on duty.+

I am, captain, &c.,

JOHN K. JACKSON,

Brigadier-General.

CHARLESTON, S. C., October 6, 1864.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:

I have the honor to report that, in obedience to the orders of His Excellency the President, I, on the 5th instant, assumed command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

W. J. HARDEE,

Lieutenant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF S. C., GA., AND FLA., Numbers 249.
Charleston, S. C., October 12, 1864.

I. Major-General Samuel Jones is assigned to the command of a district to be known as the District of South Carolina, which will comprise all of that State except the Third Military District. He will establish his headquarters for the present at Mount Pleasant.

* * * * * *

By command of Lieutenant-General Hardee:

H. W. FEILDEN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

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*Not found.

+For report of Union commander (Asboth) see Part I, p. 444.

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