If the suggestion had then been promptly acted upon, much loss and anxiety would have been avoided. It is not now too late, by the organization of such a department, if an officer of energy and ability shall be appointed to the command, to accomplish much for the protection of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Apalachicola City should be recovered and held, to avoid an immense loss of slave property and tto prevent incursions of the enemy by land and water. The ordinance of the late confention disbanded the State troops the 10th of March and forcedd the necessity of evacuating Apalachicola; and unless more foresight and energy than have yet been displayed shall be promptly exercised Tallahassee will be in possession of the enemy in less, probably, than sixty days. We have here only a regiment and cavalry company under the latte requisition, and without arms, with the exception of two companies of the regiment armed with muskets. With the exception of Holland's battalion, all the forces that were aat Fernandina and on the Saint Johns's, together with Davis' regiment, are near Jacksonville, and in my judgment will render little or no efficient seervice there, as the enemy are reported to have evacuated Jacksonville. I have no idea that the enemy will return to Jacksonviole, but direct their attention to Apalachicola and Tallahassee. I should have ordered the coton on the Apalachicola River to have been removed or burned, but the officer in Apalachicola River to have been removed or burned, but the officer in command here informed me that he had dreceived instructions on the subject and had issued orders accordingly. Permit me to express the hope that you will urge upon the sPresident the necessity of placing an officer of ability and energy in command here immediately. One regiment will, in my opinion, be sufficient for the defense on the Saint John's, if proper measures of defense shall be promptly adopted. If necessasry, vols will aid in the defense.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

JOHN MILTON.

[6.]

COLUMBIA, April 10, 1862.

President DAVIS:

Your dispach received. All troops now musterd into Confederate service. Not a single State company left. Telegraphed Ripley to send immediately three finest regiments from Charleston and one regular infantry-very fine. He can spare them for the present, I think, as he has enough other troops. Ten regiments left in his district. I tlegarphed Pemberton the same, too. If you telegraph Ripley to send on Colonel Dunovant's regular infantry and Colonel Manigault's he will obey. They are in splendid order. Let me know and I will do any thing I can.*

F. W. PICKENS.

[6.]

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,

Lake City, April 11, 1862.

His Excellency Governor MILTON,

Tallahassee:

SIR: Having heard from common report that the city of jacksonville had beenevacuated by the enemy on the 9th instant, I sent my aide de-camp, Captain J. M. Taylor, to that place to ascertain the codition of things there and to report the same to me. I have the honor

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*For reply, see April 11, VOL. VI, p. 435.

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