them. I let a party of my company sally out on the river-bank in full view to try and coax them out. I am now pretty thoroughly convinced in my mind that you have nothing to fear in your section of country from invasion; they willnot come into the woods to fight. With a reasonable guerrillaforce we can keep them back. I am now a guerrilla in every sense of the word; we neither tell where we stay nor where we are going, nor when we shall return; assemble the company at the sound of a cow's horn. We have made some arrests of both white and black, and hung one negro last week belonging to Mays. I have detachments on scout prety nearly all the time; when over a sergeant's command I go myself. I regret very much to have to report to you that at least three-fourths of the people on the Saint John's River and east of it are aiding and abetting the enemy; we could see them at all times through the day communicating with the vessel in their small boats. It is not safe for a smal force to be on the east side of the river; there is great danger of being betrayed into the hands of the enemy. I fear this will be no better until martial law is proclaimed and several of them hung. I have two or three men spotted that outht to be hung. I know some facts that would to Tallahassee; if you have any commands in that direction, command him. I would like to hear from you on his return how our cause progresses in the West, &c.

Very respectfully, yours,

J. W. PEARSON,

Ochalwaha Rangers.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., April 12, 1862.

His Excellency JOHN MILTON,

Governor of Florida:

SIR: I have just received a letter dated Tallahassee, Fla., April 4, 1862, from Colonel Dilworth, the late commander of the Department of Florida, informing me that he was using all the available troops, both cavalry and infantry, and that it was not possible to spare two armed cavalry companies for the defense of Pensacola. Could not the State raise and arm two companies for that purpose? The order for the movement of Colonel Davis' regiment is still in force, but I have not been notified of the cause of its delay.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General, Commanding.

[14.]

LAKE CITY, FLA., April 12, 1862.

Brigadier General R. F. FLOYD,

Commanding Florida State Troops, Lake City, Fla.:

SIR: In obedience to your instructions dated the 28th of March, I left Lake City with Mr. J. S. Purviance, a volunteer for the expedition, on Sasturday morning, the 29th, on the train for Baldwin, and thence by the Florida Railroad to Gainesville, in hopes of obtaining arms and munitions of war for the expedition, but failed to procure any, with the exception of one half keg of powder from Captain Baldwin at Sanderson. I returned to Waldo on the 30th, and thence proceeded, partly on