Abstract from Field Return of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, commanded by General G. T. Beauregard, January 31, 1863.

Present for duty.

Troops. Infantr Cavalry Artille

y. . ry.

Officer Men. Officer Men. Officer Men.

s. s. s.

First 214 2,745 21 443 116 1,755

Distric

of

South

Carolin

a

Second 87 879 35 581 9 171

distric

t of

South

Carolin

a

Third 150 1,373 72 1,223 11 208

Distric

t of

South

Carolin

a.

Fourth 87 906 13 237 6 175

Distric

t of

South

Carolin

a

Distric 99 1,279 93 1,554 123 1,535

t of

Georgia

Distric 24 222 20 418 5 140

t of

East

Florida

Distric 36 357 11 272 3 110

t of

Middle

Florida

Grand 697 7,761 265 4,728 273 4,415

total

Troops. Effective Aggregate Aggregate

total. present. present and

absent.

First 5,526 6,364 7,989

Districof

South

Carolina

Second 1,806 2,120 2,700

district

of South

Carolina

Third 3,161 3,584 4,660

District

of South

Carolina.

Fourth 1,535 1,796 2,161

District

of South

Carolina

District 1,252 5,974 7,344

of Georgia

District 810 927 1,261

of East

Florida

District 751 870 1,110

of Middle

Florida

Grand 18,843 21,655 27,225

total

NOTE.-Heavy artillery included with light artillery in the First District of South Carolina and the District of Georgia.

CHARLESTON, February 1, 1863.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

General Mercer reports serious attack him with iron-elad turret on battery Genesis Point, Ogeechee River; Major Gallie, commander, killed, and 32-pounder disabled. Garrison in good spirits. Ten forty-five a. m., indications of attack on Thunderbolt Battery; also musketry heard from pickets; also reports General Huner in command at Port Royal, and his intention to attack Savannah as weakest point. General Mercer would be materially assisted at such juncture by an officer like Henry C. Wanyne. Can he not be made brigadier and ordered there by telegraph? The substraction of over 2,000 of General Mercer's infantry, now at Wilmington, may prove mischievous.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

HDQRS. DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA.

Brigadier General H. W. MERCER,

Commanding District of Georgia, Savannah, Ga.:

GENERAL: I have ordered nine Rains torpedoes to be sent to you forthwith, to be put in the channel of the Ogeechee within range of Fort McAllister. I hope they will be found to answer, for notwithstanding the great importance of that work and of saving the Nashville, which I consider the sole cause of the attacks of the enemy in that quarter, it is utterly out of my power to send heavy gun to be added to the armament of Fort McAllister. I have ordered two rifled 24-pounders and one smooth-bore 24-pounder to be sent to you from here for the battery on the Altamaha. Meanwhile you will send at once a naval 32-pounder from the lines around Savannah to that work. You will also send to the same locality a 24-pounder and siege carriage, to be returned as soon as