embracing some of the richest plantations upon its banks. If labor can be furnished by the planters, the establishment of the work below Chapman's Fort is worthy of consideration, and I beg leave to call your attention to it.

Very respectfully, &c.,

R. E. LEE,

General, Commanding.

[6.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 265.
Richmond, December 13, 1861.

* * * *

III. Colonel Walton Ector's Thirteenth Regiment Georgia Volunteers and Captain Latham's Virginia light artillery company, with its battery, will immediately proceed to Coosawhatchie, S. C., and report for duty to General R. E. Lee, commanding.

* * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 266.
Richmond, December 14, 1861.

* * * *

IX. The Fouth Battalion Louisiana Volunteers will immediately proceed tocoosawhatchie, S. C., and report for duty to General R. E. Lee, commanding. The members of this battalion who have been detached as a guard to prisoners at Tuscaloosa, Ala., will rejoin their proper companies so soon as they are relieved from that duty.

* * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

CHARLESTON, S. C., December 16, 1861.

His Excellency Governor PICKENS, Columbia:

The necessity for troops in the field is so urgent that I beg leave to request Your Excellency to inform me whether you hae any from the State of South Carolina ready to receive the arms placed in y hands to arm regiments that enter the Confederate service "for the war." My orders to issue none to those who enter for a less period have been reiterated, and I have been further instructed that unless troops for the war can be obtained from the State immediately to arm some regiments that have offered themselves for that period from other States for service in this department. By this means we shall have the service of additional troops to those that may be organized by the State. Please answer me at your earliest convenience.

R. E. LEE,

General, Commanding.

[6.]

CHARLESTON, S. C., December 16,1 861.

General S. R. GIST,

Adjt. and Insp. General of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C.:

GENERAL: I have had the honor to receive to-day your letter of the 12th instant, and beg leave to express my thanks for the confidence