23 cases arms, 1 open box with 9 rifles (Enfield). I was informed at Gainesville that the following companies had armed themselves from the cargoes landed at Smyrna, viz: Captain Moseley's company, Captain Eichelberger's company, Captain T. Ingram's company, aptain Slone's company, Captain Bullock's company, Captain Owens' cavalry company (150), Captain Hagan's, a militia company, under General Pyles. Also that Lieutenant Hopkins, of Marion County, had 16 Enfield rifles turned over to him by Captain D. B. Bird. I learned further that a Mr. Clark, of Jacksonville, had some 25 rifles for a guerrilla company. It was further reported to me by several responsible citizens that Captain Kendrick, who it is saidd had been sent by General Trapier to assist Major Barnwell to procure teams, and in the removal of the goods from Smyrna, had sold arms and ammunition to the amount of $1,000 ounces of quinine in his possession, and had been retailing the same at $1 and $2 per ounce; that he had also had in his possession 24 cases surgical insruments, with other articles, such as gray cloth, rifle powder, &c. I am authorized to rfer for authority for the statemant relative the proceedings of Captain Kendicck to Mr. Prevatt, on the Central railroad; to Mr. Cone, of Columbia County, and to Mr. McFall, near Gainesville, who turned over to me a case of surgical instruments, for which I eceipted to him. At the time I was making my invesstigation Captains Kendrick and A. Johnson were in charge of the property at Hawkinsville, and from the reports currentt respecting their conduct it would seem due to jusstice that a prompt examination into their proceedings should be had. Captain Simkins left Jacksonville on the evening of the 18th, in the steamer Governor Milton, for Enterprise, with the intention of bringing the balance of the Smzrna cargoes from Hawkinsville to Black Creek or Jacksonville. Mr. R. R. Reid, in his employ, started from Gainesville for Ocala with teams to forward from that point to the,000 stand of arms remaining at Hawkinsville and Ocala that there are some fifty wagon loads of stores at Ocala. I have brought to Madison all the arms and munitions I could find on the line of road, which are being hauled from Madison to Quitman, on the Savannah and Albany Railroad, with as much dispatch. No other arms can reach the road under five days. I propose sending the thirty-five cases now at the Tallahassee depot to Monticello to-morrow morning, where I have six teams employed to carry them to Station 17; from thence I shall proceed to Corinth, Miss.

Very respectfully,

A. B. NOYES.

[14.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF MIDDLE AND EASTERN FLORIDA,
April 26, 1862.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

SIR: I respectfully request authority to reorganize as soon as possible all the twelve-months' volunteers required to be reorganized for the war under the conscription act. Until the elections of the field and company officers are over it will be impossible to maintain that discipline which is deemed essentil to the efficiency of the sesrvice. Colonel Dilworth is very desirous to have the election over in his regiment as

16 R R-VOL LIII