enemy, and incidentally caused much delay in raising the infantry required. But by the 15th instant two regiments and a batalion will be fully organized and subject to your orders, and companies enough have vlunteered for service for three years or during the war to compose three full regiments of infantry. Will three regiments be accepted? Besides the forces alluded to, General Trapier accepted the services for short periods and for local defenses of a cavalry company at this place, and several infantry companies in different parts of the State, of which I have received no official notice. To serve during the war and wherever their services may be necessary, two regiments and a battalion will be subject to your orders by the 15th of this month. One regiment is at Camp Leon, near this place, it being the Fifth Regiment, and commanded by Colonel Hateley. The Sixth Regiment, at the Mount Vernon Arsenal, on the Chattahoo; chee, will be organized by the election of field officers on the 14th instant. Some of the companies which will compose the battalion have been used in saving the arms, &c., landed at Smyrna, but will be at Camp Lee, if I am correctly informed (Camp Lee is near Gainesville, in East Florida), in time to elect a commander during this week. The cavalry regiment commanded by Colonel Davis is still in the State, and your attention is respectfully invited to the inclosed correspondence.* I have heard, but not officially, that General Trapier midified the order to report to General Johnston. The arms, &c., which were landed at Smyrna have been saved from the enemy. The distance to haul has been considerable, and the means of transportation insufficient, but I hope that all will soon by where you may desire. Many reports are in circulation that guns, ammunition, blankets, and shoes were taken possession of and are in the hands of officers and soldiers in the Confederate service, and that arms, shoes, &c., were distrubuted among citizens near Smyrna. I am not correctly informes; but I not only request, but Government into the facts, and that it shall be made promptly. The authority of the State, if necessary, shall be used to sustain the inquiry and recover the property.

With regard to the arms which were received by the steamer Florida, the inclosed correspondence* by telegram will prove to you the misapprehension of Mr. Benjamin. Nine hundred rifles were sent by your order to General Jones, at Pensacila, and taken and sent to the Governor of Louisiana; 160 were placed in the hands of two companies at rico's bluff, and the rest are at the arsenal.

Notwithstanding I felt fully authorized by Mr. Benjamin to rettain all for the use of those mustered into Confederate service here, I should have sent them upon the claim of Governor Moore, of Louisiana, but for the very exposed condition of the State and the threatened approaches of the enemy, not only in ascending the Apalachicola River, but in attacking this place. As soon as arms can be obtained from those landed at Smyrna, I will send those at the arsenal to Governor Moore by a special agent, unless in the meantime you shall supply him with other arms.

The military department composed of Middle, East, South, and a part of West Florida is too large and too much separated for any one brigadier-general too perform the duties. There should be a military department composed of parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, as recommend in a letter from me dated the 29th of October, 1861.

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*Not found as inclosures.

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