XIII. Captain J. R. Waddy, assistant adjutant-general, Provisional Army, will proceed to Coosawhatchie, S. C., and report to General R. E. Lee, commanding, for duty with Brigadier General J. C. Pemberton.

By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[6.]

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tallahassee, December 23, 1861.

Honorable J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War, Richmond:

Three regiments of infantry for the Confederate service for twelve months are being raised upon a requisition of General Trapier-presumed that it is by authority of the Secretary of War-upon the Executive of the State. Shall the Executive furnish forces as they may be called for by Generals Lee and Trapier? Let me know immediately and oblige,

Respectfully,

John MILTON,

Governor.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Coosawhatchie, December 24, 1861.

General R. S. RIPLEY,

Commanding Second Mil. Dist. of South Carolina, Charleston, S. C.:

GENERAL: Colonel John S. Preston, adjutant and inspector general, C. S. Army, reports that up to the 23rd instant he had received from the adjutant-general of South Carolina, and mustered into the Confederate service, twenty-one companies of infantry for twelv e months. Two companies of cavalry, also two companies of infantry, for the war. These troops he states he had forwarded to Charleston to report to you, or, by special request of the Governor, to Colonels Stevens or Elford. When I directed the State troops to report to you I had supposedd that they would have been organized into regiments. Please inform me whether the regiments of Colonel Stevens, Elford, and Means are full. As soon as the two latter are equipped, armed, &c., I request that you will send them to General Evans. In a letter received from him to-day he reports that he has only 610 men, including the two batteries of Captains Walter and McCord, a force not sufficent to defend his position. The enemy drove in his pickets at Bennett's Point on the night of the 22d. He desires the use of a steam-boat to make a demonstration against the enemy at Rockville. Can you furnish him with one? I will direct him to apply to you.

I am, &c.,

R. E. LEE,

General, Commanding.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Coosawhatchie, December 24, 1861.

General N. G. EVANS,

Commanding Third Military Dist. of South Carolina, Adams Run, S. C.:

GENERAL: Your letter of the 23rd has been received. I have written to General Ripley to know whether there was a steam-boat in Charles-