now, and other establishments will soon be in operation throughout the country. I will send you a present supply of rifle poweder from Baton Rouge Arsenal. We shall before long have a small supply of cannon powder from Tennessee. The mills there will soon turn out a ton a day. I give you these items that you may know we are not wholly without resources in prospect. I shall rely confidently upon you, after reading your lette, for the most energetci measures to upply ordnance stores to meet the requisitions upon you. The carriage required for Fernandina was an 8-inch, not a 10-inch. According to Captain Gill, either can be furnished at short notice. A special messenger has been sent to pick up the three guns at Wilmington, two of which are for Savannah and one for Fernandina, and take them forward. Make your requisitions for infantry accountermenst and haversacks, kanpsacks, and canteens on Captain Gill, as there are large contracts out in Georgia. Please continue the constructions of 8 and 10 inch clumbiad carraiges as soon as oak can be had.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. GORGAS,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Ordnance.

[6.]

RICHMOND, October 31, 1861.

Governor JOHN MILTON,

Tallahassee, Fla.:

Will send you some muskets at the earliest possible moment. I do not know what the Gordon has brought, now whther any part of her cargo belongs to the Government.*

J. P. BENJAMIN,

Acting Secretary of War.

SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 198.
Richmond, October 31, 1861.

* * * *

XIII. The following companies will be organized into a battalion, to be designated the First Battalion of South Carolina Cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel John L. Black commanding: Captain Trezevant's, Captain Owen's, Captain Nesbitt's, Captain Twigg's, Captain Walker's.

* * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

CHARLESTON, November 3, 1861.

[General S. COOPER:]

Enemy passing close in, somehwat scattered. Two of his steam-ships reported ashore near Georgetown; crews prisoners. Commander Tattnall at Port Royal. Am in connection with General Lawton and General Anderson. Desire authority to retain the services of General Trapier, should the enemy land, for a time. Port Royal to be re-enforced and supplied to-day and to-morrow.

RIPLEY,

General.

[6.]

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*This in reply to Milton, VOL. VI, p. 299.

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