to review proceedings, &c. If General Martin does not succeed, Colonel Palmer, whom I believe to be an excellent officer, can be tried. I also recommend that General Leventhorpe, in the State service, be commissioned in the Confederate service, and ordered to report to General Bragg. He is the best officer in that district, and General Bragg will want him.

R. E. LEE,

General.

[Sixth indorsement.]

Respectfully returned to Secretary of War, with General Lee's views indorsed hereon, and a telegram just received from General Lee; also the letter from Governor Vance for the transfer of General Leventhorpe from The State service to the Confederate service.

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

[Seventh indorsement.]

Nominate Colonel Leventhorpe.

J. D[AVIS].

[Eighth indorsement.]

ADJUTANT-GENERAL:

Nominate General Leventhorpe.

J. A. S[EDDON],

Secretary.

[Ninth indorsement.]

FEBRUARY 3, 1865.

Respectfully submitted to the President, requesting his instructions as to the proposed department.

The nomination of Colonel Leventhorpe as brigadier-general will be submitted.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary.

[Inclosures to Cooper's indorsement of February 2.]

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Raleigh, December 13, 1864.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

DEAR SIR: I earnestly desire to secure your action on behalf of the mountain country of Western North Carolina, now under command od Colonel J. B. Palmer. There are troops enough there to afford ample protection both against the enemy and the tore and deserters, who throng the mountains, murdering and robbing the citizens, if under proper control and management. Colonel Thomas is worse than useless; he is a positive injury to that country. His command is a favorite resort for deserters; numbers of them, I learn, are on his rolls, who do no service. He is disobedient of orders, and invariably avoids the enemy when he advances. Colonel Palmer is a good bureau officer,