STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, HEADQUARTERS,

May 11, 1861.

Colonel L. M. HATCH,

Quartermaster-General:

SIR: You will please furnish for me to-morrow morning the steamer Clinch, with suitable provisions for a party of ten for a week. The steamer will be required to visit all the entrances south of Charleston on the South Carolina coast, and arrangements for this object must be made.

F. W. PICKENS.

[6.]

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tallahassee, May 13, 1861.

(Via Columbus. Received 15th.)

Honorable L. P. WALKER:

Troops ready. A few days required to complete equipment. When wanted, and where? Cannot furnish above 1,000 muskets. Can you supply? Florida claims the privilege of sending a regiment to Washington. Will you authorize me? Can I concentrate troops at Certain defenseless points on coast? Will you send officers to drill and instruct?

Respectfully,

M. S. PERRY.

[1.]

CHARLESTON, May 15, 1861.

L. P. WALKER:

I consider two regiments of volunteers aboslutely necessary for the defense of this coast, and require authority to muster them into service.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
May 15, 1861.

[General BEAUREGARD:]

DEAR GENERAL: I am sorry you are sick, but you will excuse for stating what I desire to say to you. I can get no answer from Montrgomery as to what they will do. I have distinctly offered to muster into the Confederate service the eight regiments of volunteers now under orders. I am confident I can get six full regiments from them for the Confederate Army absolutely; but, as they give no answer, I suppose under your original orders to take charge of this command and to bring under your orders troops not to exceed 5,000, that you still have authority to order as many regiments as you think necessary to protect Charleston and the sea-coast, to which your command was extended. I therefore respectfully suggest that your order and direct that at least two, if not three, of the regiments now under your orders be directed to take up their permanent positions. We will muster in to-day eight regular infantry companies and five artillery, and the 150 men you have here of the regular Army of the Confederate States can be, at your discretion, added. This would give ten infantry and five artillery companies. Two companies of this artillery could be permanently stationed in Moultrie and three in Sumter; two regular infantry