well known to Mr. Memminger, and would refer you also to our Representative, Hines Holt, Vice-President Stephens, and others from our State to whom we are known.

Yours, respectfully,

W. H. YOUNG,

president Bank of Columbus.

JAS. F. BOZEMAN,

Mayor of Columbus.

W. T. WOOD,

Of Apalachicola.

The Chattahoochee is a swift and narrow river and easily defensible at proper pints.

[6.]

RICHMOND, March 1, 1862.

Honorable J. P. BENJAMIN,

Secretary of War, &c.:

SIR: We respectfully ask your early attention to the inclosed communication, addressed to us, and earnestly hope you will, as soon as practicable, relieve the portion of Florida to which it relates from its present exposed condition. Be pleased to advise us of your action in the premises.

Yours, very respectfully,

A. E. MAXWELL.

JAMES M. BAKER.

R. B. HILTON.

J. B. DAWKINS.

[Inclosure.]

TALLAHASSEE, February 14, 1862.

Honorable Messrs. MAXWELL, BAKER, HILTON, and DAWKINS,

Senators and Representatives of the State of Florida,

Richmond, Va.:

GENTLEMEN: The undersigned citizens of this portion of the State feel called upon to represent to you the utter defenseless condition of this section, containing so large an amount of wealth innegroes, cotton, stock, provisions, and capital, and ask yuour prompt and immediate attention to the matter, and that you use your influence with the proper Department at Richmond to give protection to this section of the State, offering such tempatation to our enemis tto invade and make desolate our homes and all we have of value. It may be true that points on the coast exposed to the approach of the enemy in their gunshould be made to have troops stationed on a line from Saing mark's to the Ocklockonce Bay, at which pints the enemy can land, and by an easy march of from twenty to forty miles reach the capital of the State, which is within a short distance of the railroad leadintg from Thomas ville to Savannah. We are informed by the general in command here that only three and half companies are stationed between this place and the coast, and these partly armed with inferior wapons and almost destitute of ammunition. The enemy have reconnoitered and are reconnoitering at Saint Mark's, Shell Point, and Ocklockonee Bay, and there is a well-founded apprehension, nay, a conviction, on the part of the citizens here that we are entirely at their mercy, and that an army of several thousand men could land att any of the points specified and reach this place in from five to ten hours, and we have no means of