SPECIAL ORDERS,
AJDT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 234.
Richmond, November 22, 1861.

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III. The Twenty-fourth Regiment Mississippi Volunteers, Colonel Dowd commanding, will immediately proceed to Savannah, Ga., and report for duty to General R. E. Lee, commanding.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Coosawhatchie, November 23, 1861.

Honorable J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I received on my arrival here to-day your letter of the 14th instant.* I have disposed of the arms by the Fingal as you directed. Only 7,520 Enfield rifles were marked for the War Department. One-half of this number, oir 3,760, have been forwarded to General A. S. Johnston by a special messenger. One-ahlf of the equipments and one-half of the fixed ammunition will be sent. The quantity of each cannot now be stated, as the packages, put up to deceive, have not been opened. The ordnance officer thinks there are not more accounterments than for half the number of rifles. I have also directed the 500 sabers to be sent to General Johnston. Besides the rifles for the War Deparrment there were in the Final 1,000 for the State of Louisiana, with a suply of ammunition; 1,000 for the Navy Department, with a supply of ammunition, making in the whole 10,690 Enfield rifles. This, though small, has been a great accession of strength to us. I have also directed 10,000 pounds of cannon powder to be retained as you direct, and the 7,000 to be sent to Richmond. Some of the latter quantity has already been distributed by the captain of ordnance, according to instructions received from Colonel Gorgas. The cannon brought by the Fingal are said to be for the Navy. I had previously ordered Colonel A. R. Wright's regiment to Savannah, and directed it to be armed with the Enfield rifles. Arms will only be given to troops for the war; but I shall only have enough for one regiment from Georgia and two from South Carolina. I am very much obliged to you for permission to use all the resources of the Government within my reach, and your promise to support me with all the means at your disposal. Very little has been organized here, and both in Georgia and South Carolina there are two kinds of troops, Confederate and State, which I fear may not harmonize or prove the most serviceable or economical. It is in proucring supplies, equipments, means of transportation, &c., that they are more apt to come in conflict. Two sets of quartermasters and commissaries in the market will produce embarrassment. I am particularly in need of field artillery. The battery from North Carolina, Captain Moore, is the only one I have in this State, nor have I any cavalry, but the militia of the State. Another brigadier-general, if one of experience could be obtained, would be very desirable. An officer from Carolina would be more acceptable to the State than any other, and theings being

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*See VOL. VI, p. 319.

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