I sincerely desire that, when you have caused the enemy to desist from his attack on Charleston, you will come here and meet his attack on Mobile.

DABNEY H. MAURY.

Abstract from returns of the Department of the Gulf, Major General Dabney H. Maury, C. S. Army, commanding, for December 17, 1863; headquarters, Mobile, Ala.

Command. Offic Men Effec Aggreg Aggrega Pieces

ers tive ate te of

total presen present field

prese t. and artill

nt absent. ery.

Department 10 - - 10 11 -

staff

Engineer 5 85 86 103 130 -

troops

Mobile 104 1,721 1,938 2,226 2,814 16

Forts and 106 1,778 1,968 2,244 2,990 (*)

bay defenses,

Mobile

Pollard and 137 2,063 2,274 2,766 4,575 8

Hall's Mills

Total 362 5,647 6,266 7,349 10,520 24

REMARKS. - Brigadier General J. C. Moore assigned, December 10, to command the district including Pollard, Ala., and region of country west of Dog River and embracing the commands of Brigadier-General Clanton and Colonel Jenifer.

Surgeon J. F. Heustis assumed the duties of medical director of the department December 12.

The First Battalion Texas Sharpshooters transferred to Trans-Mississippi Department.

Organization of the Army in the Department of the Gulf, commanded by Major General Dabney H. Maury, C. S. Army, December 17, 1863; headquarters, Mobile, Ala.

First Brigade.

Brigadier General JAMES CANTEY.

17th Alabama, Colonel V. S. Murphey.

29th Alabama, Colonel J. F. Conoley.

1st Mobile Local, Major . W. S. Moreland

City Redoubts, Lieutenant Colonel J. R. C. Lewis.

Trueheart's battalion, Major D. Trueheart.

Second Brigade.

Brigadier General J. H. CLANTON.

57th Alabama.

59th [61st] Alabama.

6th Alabama Cavalry, Colonel C. H. Colvin.

7th Alabama Cavalry, Colonel Joseph Hodgson.

15th Confederate Cavalry, Colonel H. Maury.

Squadron of cavalry.

Clanton's battery.

Tarrant's battery.

Tobin's battery.

Third Brigade.

Brigadier General EDWARD HIGGINS.

21st Alabama, Colonel C. D. Anderson.

1st Battalion Georgia Volunteers (Confederate), Colonel G. A. Smith.

1st Alabama Battalion Artillery, Major J. T. Gee.

12th Louisiana Battalion Artillery.

Bay batteries, Colonel E. L. Winder.

Louisiana battery, Captain Edward Durrive, jr.

Detached.

Company engineer troops, Captain L. Hutchinson.

Company sappers and miners, Captain J. V. Gallimard.

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*Armament not reported.

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