important point. With raw troops and disbursing officers unacquainted with their duties the service and the Treausry are suffering for the want of an experienced commander near enough to be appealed to in all important matters. Not knowing the resources of the Department in this regard, and seing by the newspapers that Colonel Lafayette McLaws has been appointed a brigadier-general, I respectfully request that he be ordered to this duty if not otheriwse disposed of and the Department does not desire to make a new appointment. I will add that a recent division into districts of the Department of South Carolina is found to be productive already of good results, and I am exceedingly anxius that the same arrangement should be made here with the least possible delay.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. R. LAWTON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[6.]

RICHMOND, October 9,1 861.

Brigadier General E. K. SMITH,

Saint Augustine, Fla.:

General John B. Grayson is seriously ill. You will immediately assume command of the Department of Florida east of Pensacola Harbor and confer with the Governor of Florida.

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector-General.

[6.]

RICHMOND, October 10, 1861.

General JOHN B. GRAYSON,

Tallahassee, Fla.:

GENERAL: The president having heard with regret of your ill state of health, deisres, while hoping to hear of your speedy recovery and ability to return to duty, enabling him to exhibit the confidence heretofore felt in your zeal and ability, that you be informed that General E. K. Smith has been ordered for the present to take command of the Department of East and Middle Florida. The urgent necessity for active and energetic measures in view of apprehended attack having been strongly presented to his consideration, it is desired that any information you can give to aid General Smith in the performance of his responsible duties which your military experience and observation may have rocured while in command of the department will be freely communicated to General Smith upon his assumption of the command.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. H. CHILTON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, October 14, 1861.

Captain R. M. CUYLER,

Ordnance Officer, Savannah, Ga.:

SIR: I have read your letter of the 9th instant with great satisfaction, and thank you for the list of armaments on the Georgia sea-coast, a copy of which I will send to the Chief Engineer. It is a subject of painful regret that arms are so scarce, but I trust a few months hence will see us better supplied. The armory here turns out 1,000 a month