the arms to be forwarded where they may be more needed. If, however, the arms shall not be very necessary elsewhere, as the Government will have to arm the forces raised in this State, the arms should remain for seervice here. It is very discouraging to soldiers to be in service or soldiers at Smyrna or on the route. But the abandonment of and the sale of arms by Confederate officers, and at a time when it was reported and believed thatt the forces were all to be witthdrawn from this military department, induced in part the nefarious transactions made known by the report of Captain Noyes. Captain Noyes left here this morning with the arms and ammunition he coloected for Corinth, via Savannah, Columbus, and Mobile. Had I known an attempt would have been made to take any of the arms by stteamer down the river, as reported, I should have advised against it. It is a dangerous experiment while the enemy commands the river with gunboats.

Another company will be attached to the Fifth Regiment in a short time. Many causes beyond my control conspird to prevent companies assembling at the camps of instruction. In consequence of the enemy getting possession of Fernandina and the Saint John's River, the counties east of the river and several counties west of it failed to respond to the call for volunteers. Nevertheless enough companies responded to make a regiment of infantry more than the requisition made by the War Department. But I repeat what I have before said, 1,000 men divided into small companies, well armed and acting as guerrillas or rangers and ably commanded, can do more to defend Florida from the enemy than thousands in regular service until there shall be a very decided improvement in the management of forces in this State.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

JOHN MILTON.

P. S.-The necessary orders will be issued to carry into effect the late act of Congress to provide for the public defense as soon as I shall receive the regulations adopted relative to it. I desire at the same time to organize for militia service persons not embraced in the act. I expected you would have been in possession of the reports inclosed before this time, and would have been, but Captain Watlington, to whose care they were intrusted, was prevented by sickness from traveling.

J. M.

[Inclosure Numbers 1.] HDQRS. ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Tallahassee, April 21, 1862.

His Excellency Governor JOHN MILTON:

SIR: I have the honor to report to you the following companies raised for the war, which constitute the Fifth Regiment of Florida Volunteers, at Camp Leon, to wit: Milton Light Infantry, Captain A. Z. Bailey; Dixie Yeomen, Captain R. N. Gardner; Trapier Guards, Captain William D. Bloxham; Wakulla tigers, Captain S. A. Spencer; Madison Guerrillas, Captain J. W. Holleyman; Frink Guards, Captain John Frink; Baker Guards, Captain G. Vanzant; Anderson Infantry, Captain William Bailey, Jr.; Bartow Rebels, Captain A. J. Lea, of which regiment John C. Hateley is colonel, Thompson B. Lamar lieutenant-colonel, and Benjamin F. Davis major.